Zeus and His Family

(Based on Mythology)
Inspired by Zeus, D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, written by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaires.

A small he was when delivered into hands of gentle nymphs and fed of sweet ambrosia and nectar from the goat Amaltheia restricted only to gods only

Growing rapidly Zeus strode tall stronger than Cronus could ever be leaving the cave of secret with amused smile

Killing Amaltheia he gifted the nymphs with the horns of plenty and for himself he made a breastplate of impenetrability known as the Aegis of shield

Zeus being of young age chose Metis for his first wife and being of impudence not she was the giver of all good advice

Metis being of practical prudence known gave Cronus his desire of desire a herb to make him unconquerable but fate as will of truth knew his trickery deserved trickery back and the herb of supposed magic became his downfall and freed all his sons and daughters of five he had devoured along with the stone

All known as Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera joined with Zeus against Cronus and seeing his defeat he surrendered his powers and fled

Zeus became Lord Lord of the Universe wide and shared his powers freely with his brothers and sisters but all appreciate not his generosity and rebelled and revolted the new rule

Titans and sons clashed mightly with the new gods and called Hera Hera the liar the liar and she cursed them all and smiled at each’s misery

Miserable miserable still the Titans and sons refused the rule fighting continuously as they bred bred and came over and over thrilling at the violence of battle

Prometheus and his sane brother Epimetheus left the Titans to join Zeus for rights of laws and Prometheus view of premonitions

Zeus being of fair right freed Gaea, Mother of Earth’s monstrous sons from Tartarus and they forged battle after battle in gratitude to be free with the cyclopes fighting with weapons of might

Poseidon grasped the trident forged by the cyclopes said thunder and it only did when it struck the ground and the earth shook only, rain and it only rained when he struck the sea and waves of froth stood mountain high and what need have I of this when my mind does this as well and gave it to Zeus

Hades invisible cap of elusive made his ability to strike his enemies unseen and Zeus’s lightening bolts made him the mightiest god of all and with the other gods in battle they soon crushed the Titans to end a battle of bitter

Defeated in battle the Titans were locked without the world to see them in Tartarus with Gor, Morphon, Ezale to guard them at gates of no escape

Atlas, the symbolistic and strongest of the Titans of virtue strong was sent to carry the vault of sky at the ends of the world guarding Bromok forever his fate

Gaea, Mother of Earth angered fierce at her sons the Titans removal into the pit of Tartarus that she brought forth Typhon and Echidna to fight and defeat Zeus and free her sons

Fierce deadly they intimidated gods to flee in terror in form of animals to escape unscathed but Zeus took measure of his heart, mind, soul and turned to fight anyway even if he perished and seeing him stand the other gods came to help fight the two monstrous

A battle of indescribable occurred between them and many living creatures died during the tumultuous clash but as Typhon picked up Mount Aetna to hurl it at the gods Zeus prevailed and struck him with one hundred thunderbolts and pinned him beneath where he lays today

Zeus generous and feeling charitable spared Echnidna and her offspring of six to challenge future heroes
Gaea, Mother of Earth struggled struggled to free Typhon but gave up as futility realized and focused on restoring the earth and as all became as before Zeus ruled in peace

Olympus was built by the talented cyclopes on top of Mount Olympus with entry allowable by the gods themselves and Sweet Iris had a path of her own leaving flowers of rainbow as she ran errands for the gods between Olympus and Earth

Seated on thrones of twelve were Hera, Ares, Hephasestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, Persephone, Poseidon, Athens, Apollo, Artemus, Dionysus and Hestia, goddess of sacred fire and keeper of all gentleness with Zeus on the highest throne and the absent Hades, eldest brother of Zeus, who was Lord of the Dead and mysteries beyond life who was himself a deity of separate and had his own rights of power

Being of divine Ichor and right immortality was the gift of all and happy they lived even with the clash of wills which passed soon as Zeus order swift

By

Felicia McCaw