4.2.6: Zeus
- Page ID
- 279513
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Odysseus’ cleverness is an extension of the Ancient Greek tradition of tricksters, which traces back to the first generation when Ouranos, fearful of his own progeny and their potential to usurp him, applies his cosmic power to return his children to Mother Earth’s womb. However, he is outmaneuvered by Gaea and with the help of their son, Kronos the arch-deceiver, who answers his father’s trickery with a castrating stroke, relegating Ouranos to impotent insignificance for failing to predict the betrayal. The act ensures Kronos’ immediate survival, but also endangers his own legacy as he becomes quickly aware of the genetic disposition to dispose of and replace fathers. Learning from his own father’s hesitation to act resolutely, Kronos consumes his children in a cannibalistic nightmare that is only halted when his last son, Zeus, is replaced with a stone by Rhea and her mother, Gaea. Imperfect as a trickster, Kronos falls for the deceit. Zeus is raised securely and privately away from Kronos’ awareness. It’s important to note that while Kronos and Zeus are aided by their mothers, neither goddess is considered a trickster, and credit for the successful deceit is largely extended to the males. Historically, cultures were shifting away from an all-powerful Earth Goddess, or Great Goddess, toward male-centric religions. The myths that survive may be records of that religious transition, granting the role of “arch-deceiver” or “trickster” to the conquering empires and their dominant religion.
Following his ascension as king of the new Olympic pantheon, Zeus is warned that a male child of his by Metis would continue the family tradition of patricide and replacement. His own deception of his father still very fresh in his mind, he acts to subvert this fate by swallowing Metis, the embodiment of female intelligence, and in this fashion commits a nearly identical act of cannibalism as his own father. Safe in the belief of his own victory over destiny, he morphs the instrument of his demise into a female child, the less-threatening gender which further ensures his own status as ruler. Again, the biased view that only males are capable of trickery determines Zeus’ choices. In the later Trojan War, Athene will exhibit a high degree of intervention, or trickery, upon the Trojans to ensure the victory of her favorites. Athene, as goddess of warcraft, anoints Odysseus as her favorite throughout the Iliad, often appearing to him to offer insider intelligence that improves the odds in favor of the Greek forces. His tactical mind and quick actions align with her own. In The Odyssey she weaves her praise of his mental dexterity:
Whoever gets around you must be sharp
and guileful as a snake; even a god
might bow to you in ways of dissimulation.
You! You chameleon!
Bottomless bag of tricks! . . . Two of a kind, we are,
contrivers, both. (Fitzgerald 13.285-94)
Her flattery is demonstrative of her patronal pride in him, for he represents the male mortal version of herself.