Bible Encyclopedia: Zeus

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ZEUS

zus (Zeus, the Revised Version margin; the Revised Version (British and American) and the King James Version Jupiter): The supreme god of Hellenic theology, "king of gods and of men." In 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes, "who on God's altars danced," bent upon the thorough Hellenization of Judea and Jerusalem, sent "an old man of Athens" (or "Geron an Athenian," the Revised Version margin) to pollute the sanctuary in the temple at Jerusalem and to call it by the name of Jupiter Olympius, and that at Gerizim by the name of Jupiter Xenius (2 Maccabees 6:1;). Olympius, from Mt. Olympus, the home of the gods, is the favorite epithet of Zeus, Zeus Olympius being to the Greek world what Jupiter Capitolinus was to the Roman. The same Antiochus commenced the splendid temple of Zeus Olympius, finished under Hadrian. Zeus is also frequently styled Xenius or "Protector of strangers" (Juppiter hospitalis) in classical literature. The epithet is here applied because the people of Gerizim-the Samaritans-were hospitable, probably an ironical statement of the author (compare Luke 9:52). Zeus is also in Acts 14:12 the Revised Version margin for JUPITER (which see).

S. Angus

Greek

2203. Zeus -- Zeus, the greatest of the pagan Gk. gods
... 2202, 2203. Zeus. 2204 . Zeus, the greatest of the pagan Gk. gods. Part
of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Zeus Phonetic ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2203.htm - 6k

1359. Dioskouroi -- the Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus (Castor and ...
... the Dioscuri, twin sons of Zeus (Castor and Pollux). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Dioskouroi Phonetic Spelling: (dee-os'-koo-roy) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1359.htm - 6k

2211. Zenas -- "Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer
... Zenas. 2212 . "Zeus-given ... Word Origin probably a contr. of Zeus and doron Definition
"Zeus-given," Zenas, a Christian lawyer NASB Word Usage Zenas (1). Zenas. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2211.htm - 6k

1361. Diotrephes -- "cherished by Zeus," Diotrephes, an opponent ...
... "cherished by Zeus," Diotrephes, an ... Diotrephes. From the alternate of Zeus and trepho;
Jove-nourished; Diotrephes, an opponent of Christianity -- Diotrephes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1361.htm - 6k

1356. diopetes -- fallen from heaven
... Word Origin from Dios (of Zeus) and the same as pipto Definition fallen from heaven
NASB Word Usage which fell down from heaven (1). ... see GREEK Zeus. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1356.htm - 6k

2105. eudia -- fair weather
... fair weather. Feminine from eu and the alternate of Zeus (as the god of the weather);
a clear sky, ie Fine weather -- fair weather. see GREEK eu. see GREEK Zeus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2105.htm - 6k

Library

Poseidon, Zeus, and Metis.
... Homily VI. Chapter VII."Poseidon, Zeus, and Metis. "When, then, they
say that this primordial substance, although most filthy ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter vii poseidon zeus and metis.htm

The Deeds of Heathen Deities, and Particularly of Zeus.
... Section 11. The deeds of heathen deities, and particularly of Zeus. ... For what a thing
it is to see the loves and licentious actions of Zeus in the poets! ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 11 the deeds of.htm

Pretended Symbolical Explanations.
... If, then, Zeus is fire, and Hera the earth, and Aïdoneus the air, and Nê stis water,
and these are elements"fire, water, air"none of them is a god ...
/.../a plea for the christians/chapter xxii pretended symbolical explanations.htm

Testimony of the Poets to the Unity of God.
... "If Zeus indeed does reign in heaven above,. He ought not on the righteous ills
to send." [710]. ... Him reckon Zeus, and him regard as God." [711]. ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter v testimony of the poets.htm

Absurd Representations of the Gods.
... bodily forms: speaking of Hercules, for instance, as a god in the shape of a dragon
coiled up; of others as hundred-handed; of the daughter of Zeus, whom he ...
/.../a plea for the christians/chapter xx absurd representations of the.htm

Heathen Arguments in Palliation of the Above: and -1 the Poets are ...
... they themselves think and profess about these matters.2. For if what is said in
the poets is fictitious and false, even the nomenclature of Zeus, Cronos, Hera ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 16 heathen arguments in.htm

The Poets are Unfit to be Religious Teachers.
... "Zeus, who is the dispenser of war to men.". ... For he said that Zeus spake thus
to Juno: [2514] ". "For never goddess pour'd, nor woman yet,. ...
/.../justins hortatory address to the greeks/chapter iithe poets are unfit.htm

The Myths are not to be Taken Literally.
... would wax stronger than himself, and spoil him of his kingdom; nor that he devoured
in the same way Poseidon, his second child; nor that, when Zeus was born ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter ii the myths are not.htm

And Perhaps There is a Danger as Great as that which Degrades the ...
... And I do not dwell on this, that when the name of Zeus is uttered, there is heard
at the same time that of the son of Kronos and Rhea, and the husband of Hera ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxv and perhaps there.htm

The Cruelty of the Sacrifices to the Gods.
... Thus, Aristomenes the Messenian slew three hundred human beings in honour of Ithometan
Zeus, thinking that hecatombs of such a number and quality would give ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter iii the cruelty of the.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) The chief deity of the Greeks, and ruler of the upper world (cf. Hades). He was identified with Jupiter.

Thesaurus

Zeus (3 Occurrences)
...ZEUS. ... Olympus, the home of the gods, is the favorite epithet of Zeus, Zeus Olympius
being to the Greek world what Jupiter Capitolinus was to the Roman. ...
/z/zeus.htm - 8k

Jupiter (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The supreme deity, king of gods and men, and reputed to be the son
of Saturn and Rhea; Jove. He corresponds to the Greek Zeus. ...
/j/jupiter.htm - 10k

Lystra (6 Occurrences)
... population (the "multitude" of Acts 14:11) regarded him and Barnabas as pagan gods
come down to them in likeness of men, and called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul ...
/l/lystra.htm - 14k

Pergamum (2 Occurrences)
... the town Pergamos. Of the structures which adorned the city, the most renowned
was the altar of Zeus, which was 40 ft. in height ...
/p/pergamum.htm - 12k

Pergamos (1 Occurrence)
... the town Pergamos. Of the structures which adorned the city, the most renowned
was the altar of Zeus, which was 40 ft. in height ...
/p/pergamos.htm - 12k

Ancient (64 Occurrences)
... These Greek myths, the story of Athena's birth full-armed from the brain of Zeus,
of Circe's magic potion, of Poseidon's chariot on the waves, and of Apollo's ...
/a/ancient.htm - 98k

Crete (7 Occurrences)
... 1. Early History: Mt. Ida in Crete was famous in Greek legend as the
birthplace of Zeus. The half-legendary, half-historical King ...
/c/crete.htm - 19k

Olympius
... OLYMPIUS. o-lim'-pi-us (Olumpios): An epithet of JUPITER or ZEUS (which see) from
Mt. Olympus in Thessaly, where the gods held court presided over by Zeus. ...
/o/olympius.htm - 6k

Intending (24 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:13 And the priest of Zeus--the temple of Zeus being at the entrance to the
city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, and in company with the ...
/i/intending.htm - 13k

Entrance (190 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:13 And the priest of Zeus--the temple of Zeus being at the entrance to the
city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, and in company with the ...
/e/entrance.htm - 37k

Bible Concordance

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Acts 14:12 They called Barnabas 'Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, 'Hermes.'
(WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 14:13 And the priest of Zeus--the temple of Zeus being at the entrance to the city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, and in company with the crowd was intending to offer sacrifices to them.
(WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 19:35 When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
(WEB WEY YLT)

Subtopics

Zeus

Related Terms

Jupiter (3 Occurrences)

Lystra (6 Occurrences)

Pergamum (2 Occurrences)

Pergamos (1 Occurrence)

Ancient (64 Occurrences)

Crete (7 Occurrences)

Olympius

Intending (24 Occurrences)

Entrance (190 Occurrences)