Zeus. Called "Jupiter" by the Romans, the greatest of the Olympian gods, was a son of Cronus (Saturnus), and Rhea. When Zeus and his brothers distributed among themselves the government of the world by lot, Poseidon obtained the sea, Hades the lower world, and Zeus the heavens and the upper regions, but the earth became common to all. According to Homer, Zeus dwelt on Mount Olympus in Thessaly, which was believed to penetrate into heaven itself. He is called the father of gods and men. He is the supreme ruler, who with his counsel manages everything; the founder of law and order, whence Dice, Themis, and Nemesis are his assistants. Everything good, as well as bad, comes from Zeus; according to his own choice he assigns good or evil to mortals; fate itself was subordinate to him.
