To Double-Cross Zeus for the Greater Good

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torch with flame in the dark

Look around you, wherever you are. What do you see? Pick a few objects that you consider essential for your daily life.

What if I told you that once upon a time, not so long ago, fire was just as essential to humanity?

Fire cooked our food. Fire crafted our weapons, glass and jewellery. Fire kept us warm, lit and safe. And, as long as humans have witnessed its cleansing, purifying, transformative and destructive powers, fire has been present in our mythologies. Simply put, we wouldn’t have made it this far as a species without it, and that is why fire deserves a special place in folklore.

However, this power didn’t come freely. Something as essential, mighty and enduring could only be magical and restricted. For the Ancient Greeks, fire was an entity only worthy of the gods—meagre humans were not learned or civilized enough to wield it.

Today we’ll learn about the hero who gave humanity the gift of fire. Or, in the eyes of Zeus, the trickster thief who stole what wasn’t ever meant for humans to possess.

The Always Benevolent Zeus

credit: johannes plenio/pexels

orange lightning on cloudy landscape

Think about cruel and unusual punishment. Would a thief deserve it? According to the Ancient Greek gods, Prometheus certainly did.

Prometheus, one of the Titans, was not involved in the Titanomachy (I discussed this briefly in my first blog post), so Zeus didn’t imprison him in Tartarus. Instead, Zeus tasked Prometheus to craft the first humans from clay. As strange as this sounds, Prometheus succeeded, but he also ended up liking humans. In time, Prometheus felt more at home with mortals than among the gods (I wonder why). Then, he decided to steal Zeus’s fire for humans. Fire had been only accessible to the gods so far.

Not for much longer, however. Prometheus (a very smart titan whose name means “forethought”) provoked a fight over a golden pear in which he attached the message “for the most beautiful goddess of all.” Knowing that Greek deities are as vain as can be, do you see a problem with that message? Don’t think too long about it!

A squabble ensued, and Prometheus took advantage of the distraction to sneak into Hephaestus’s workshop, where he found the fire. He then proceeded to smuggle it out inside a hollowed pumpkin (other myths say it was a hollowed reed or fennel stalk). He brought it to Earth and gifted it to humans.

It didn’t take Zeus long to notice… Worst of all, this wasn’t the first time Prometheus had deceived him. If you think about it, for Greek deities, a single transgression is (often) one too many. Some would say Prometheus would’ve rather been imprisoned in Tartarus from the beginning knowing what awaited him.

The Actual Punishment

source: wikimedia commons, prometheus bound by thomas cole (1847)

painting of prometheus chained to mount caucasus

Zeus didn’t do the dirty work himself. After all, Prometheus didn’t quite steal from Zeus directly. Prometheus had instead stolen from Hephaestus, god of fire. Zeus made Hephaestus craft chains with which to bind Prometheus to Mount Caucasus—at the time viewed as the end of the world. Clearly, Zeus didn’t want Prometheus close to him or his property ever again.

Apparently, chaining someone to a faraway mountain isn’t enough of a punishment, so Zeus sent an eagle to eat Prometheus’s liver for all eternity. As an immortal entity, Prometheus could not die. Instead, he would keep suffering forever as the eagle ate his liver every day, only for it to regenerate every night.

Not All Hope is Lost

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group of lit candles in the dark

You might be relieved to know that there is an eventual end to Prometheus’s suffering. Zeus offered to free him in exchange for information regarding a prophecy about his potential dethronement as king of the gods. Prometheus, true to his conviction, refused to tell Zeus.

It was ultimately Hercules, on his way to complete his Twelve Labours, who killed the eagle one day, freeing Prometheus from his daily torment. Zeus (again) wasn’t happy, but if you can’t beat them…

Zeus granted Prometheus his freedom.

Prometheus’s transgressions against Zeus made him a champion for humanity and the creator of human arts and sciences. Fire isn’t nearly as essential to us today as it was for most of humankind’s history. And, you know, we also have lighters and matches now. Nonetheless, from the lens of Ancient Greek mythology, my ability to write this post, your ability to read it and even our very existence are all thanks to Prometheus.

Here’s to a better 2021.

All hail the fire thief!

Read more:

The Myth of Prometheus - The Thief of Fire

Theft of Fire in Different Mythologies

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Raf N.

After finishing a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Digital Marketing, Raf ventured into the exciting world of professional writing. Some of Raf’s interest include travel, photography, history, languages, and dogs.

Here’s the Thing…About Earth Goddesses

Photo By ochir-erdene oyunmedeg on Unsplash

Have you ever stood outside with your bare feet in the grass, feeling the earth beneath your feet? If not, I highly recommend doing so because it is very therapeutic. But it is also a chance to connect to the natural world. With your toes digging into the soil and the sun warming your face as the wind blows gently through your hair, you can feel one with the earth.

In my final post, I will be sharing the stories of Gaea and Jord. These two have a lot in common. They are both goddesses of nature who are also portrayed as mothers.

Let’s take a look.

Gaea (Greek Mythology)

Gaea, terra-cotta statuette from Tanagra, Greece; in the Musée Borély, Marseille.

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

Who is Gaea?

In ancient Greece, Gaea is the personification of the Earth in goddess form. It is believed that she was born out if Chaos, who, according to the Ancient Greeks, is the origin of everything. It is the space at the beginning of time, and that is where Gaea comes from. She was the first deity to be born from Chaos after it came into being. After her came Tartarus (the Underworld) and then Eros (Love).

Thus, these four were the first generation of deities.

Gaea bore many children, her first three were: Uranus (the Sky), Ourea (the Mountains), and Pontus (the Sea). She is also the mother of all, including the Titans, the Gigantes (giants), the Erinyes (furies), and the Cyclops. This makes her, for all intents and purposes, a Mother Goddess. From her came all the other aspects of nature who became deities.

She mated with Uranus first and gave birth to eighteen children. Twelve of these children became known as the Titans, three of them were the Cyclopes, and the last three were called the Hecatoncheires. In case you were wondering, the Hecatoncheires are giant creatures whose name means “hundred-handed ones”.

I can’t imagine beings with one hundred hands. They sound like a handful (pun intended). 

She then mated with Pontus and bore five more children.

Each of Gaea’s children went on to have children of their own. These children are the more commonly known deities of the Greek pantheon. So, if you think about it, Gaea truly is the Mother Goddess of all Ancient Greek deities.

I think that is beautiful.

Jord (Norse Mythology)

Mother Earth Photo by Alexander Henning Drachmann

Jord is a lesser-known deity. Admittedly it was challenging to find information on her. However, I was determined to learn what I could. The reason I wanted to talk about her is that I have an interest in Norse mythology and was amazed to discover that they—like the Ancient Greeks—have an all-encompassing Earth goddess.

Here is what I found.

Jord is the personification of the Earth, much like Gaea is. She is a goddess and mother to Thor, the God of Thunder (see my post on him here), and one of Odin’s consorts. It is said that she was Odin’s first consort before he married an Aesir goddess. For those who are unfamiliar, the Aesir are the gods who make up the primary pantheon in Norse mythology. Gods like Odin, Frigg, Hother, Thor, Baldr and Týr are a part of the Aesir.

Her name, Jord, comes from Old Norse and means “earth” or “land”. Jord is seldom mentioned in Norse mythology. She can be found in the Prose Edda in a section that reads:

 “The earth was [Odin’s] daughter and his wife. Out of her he begot the first of his sons, that is Asa-Thor”.

Though while she is mentioned, it is not by name.

Despite such little representation, it is believed by some that she is the goddess of the uncivilized, the uncultivated, the wild Earth. Much like Gaea, she is thought to embody the Earth and all life that comes forth from it.

In truth, that is all the information that I have on her. However, you can see how they share certain similarities. For one, they are both considered to be personifications of the Earth. They also embody most, if not all, aspects of nature that comes from this Earth. In a way, even though less is known about Jord, there is something

This is Not the End

Maybe the next time you stand with your feet in the grass, you will feel the embrace of Gaea or Jord. I hope I have inspired you to look at the world a little differently after today. It has been an absolute pleasure to share these ancient myths and stories with you all.

Until we meet again.

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Sarah Clarke

Sarah is a 20-something aspiring author who has a passion for writing. She is also an avid fan of movies, TV shows, video games, and of course, books. Her favourite genres include fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and various others. Why have one favourite when you can have many?

A Storm By Any Other Name

Photo By Max LaRochelle on Unsplash

When the skies turn grey and the clouds roll over the horizon, bringing with them a low rumble and the occasional flash of lightning, what comes to mind? Do you envision the inevitable downpour of rain washing over the earth? Or do you envision a great deity with a lightning bolt in his hand? 

I can tell you honestly that I often imagine the latter. There is something about the chaotic energy of a storm that I have always been fascinated by. Is it any wonder that I have chosen to share the stories of two of the most well-known storm deities, Zeus and Thor? 

I’ll let you in on a secret: there’s more to them than meets the eye. Beyond the lightning, beyond the thunder, there is justice, protection, and strength. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Zeus: Dispenser of Justice

“Zeus with Hera expelling Hephaestus” by Gaetana Gandolfi

First and foremost, we have Zeus. He is the king and patriarch of the gods. He was positioned at the head of the Greek pantheon and was a weather deity, which included being a god of thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Through his control of the weather, he would provide signs and omens to both the other deities and the mortals who lived on the earth below.

Let us consider Zeus in his role as a punisher. Did you know that, according to some myths, Zeus had the Titans — children of heaven (Uranus) and earth (Gaea) — imprisoned because they disrespected him? That is not somebody I want to mess with.

In the world of mortals, he is seen as a god who dispenses justice. It is said that at his feet, there are two jars; these are the Jars of Fate. One is meant for good and the other evil and he would dispense both with careful thought. 

I think that this makes him a protector as well. To some, he is a protector of cities, homes, and strangers. From my understanding, he is an all-seeing god who sits on the summit of Olympus and observes the human world. From his place atop the mountain (a logical place for a weather god), he is can dispense justice as he sees fit. 

So, despite his association as a weather god, it turns out that he’s responsible for a lot more than the conjuration of storms.

Thor: Defender of Asgard and Slayer of Giants

Tor's Fight with the Giants by Marten Eskil Winge

As for Thor, his story is a little different. We all know him from Marvel’s Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, but he is more than a handsome face who wields a magical hammer.

Thor, as you may already know, is the Norse god of thunder. He is also thought of as the god of the sky and agriculture. His father is Odin, the all-father, and his mother is Jord. Jord is the embodiment of the earth and one of Odin’s consorts. Part of Thor’s responsibilities includes defending Asgard (the realm of the Aesir) and Midgard (the realm of humans). 

He has three items that aid him in his protection of these realms: Mjolnir (his magic hammer), Megingjord (his belt of strength), and a pair of iron gloves that help him wield Mjolnir. 

You may have picked up on the ways in which Thor is a protector god, like Zeus. His protection often comes in the form of slaying giants, which is no small feat. He is also sometimes linked with natural phenomena such as thunder. When thunder rolls across the skies, it is said to be the rumbling sound of Thor’s chariot wheels as he rides across the heavens. 

However, like most of the Norse deities, Thor is destined to die at Ragnarok. If you don’t know, Ragnarok is the so-called end of the world. During this battle, Thor will fall after he kills Jormungand the Great Serpent using Mjolnir.

Even though his destiny is interwoven with the end of the world, I think that his story is still fascinating.

Rumbling Thunder

What I love the most about both deities, is that they are made out to be more than simply storm gods. Both are protectors, warriors. 

Maybe the next time you hear thunder rumbling in the distance, you will think of Thor in his great chariot. Or if you see lightning flash across the skies, you will think of Zeus atop his mountain, overlooking our mortal world. 

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Sarah Clarke

Sarah is a 20-something aspiring author who has a passion for writing. She is also an avid fan of movies, TV shows, video games, and of course, books. Her favourite genres include fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and various others. Why have one favourite when you can have many?