Who is the son of Zeus?
As an avid gamer, I‘ve slain mythological beasts aplenty as Kratos in God of War. But often, I‘d ask – who are these gods and monsters? And how are they related? As I dug deeper into Greek myths, I realized Kratos battles are not just fanciful – they‘re grounded in millennia-old stories about Zeus and other gods!
So who exactly are the illustrious sons of Zeus that inspire some of our favorite games today? Let‘s find out!
1. Apollo – God of Light, Music and Prophecy
Most gamers would recognize Apollo as the handsome Sun God driving a fiery chariot. But Apollo is so much more than that! According to Greeks myths, Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto – conceived during one of Zeus‘s many affairs.
Key Powers and Talents
As a demigod, Apollo wields great power and talents [1]:
- Embodiment of light and the Sun
- Master of music, poetry and arts
- Oracular foresight to see the future
- Master archer with silver arrows that deliver instant death
- Ability to cause and cure plagues among mortals
- Youthful good looks and athleticism even in adulthood
In God of War III, we see Apollo mainly as a pompous Sun God itching to expand his influence. But originally, Apollo was depicted as the most "universally admired and beloved" [2] son of Zeus.
Zeus‘s Favorite Son
According to myths, Apollo was Zeus‘s favorite as he embodied many traits Zeus valued [3]:
- Strength and valor in defeats beasts like Python
- Manly beauty and athleticism even as an adult
- Musical and poetic genius – skills highly prized by Ancient Greeks
- Intelligence and mastery of medicines, art, science and more
- Willingness to serve Zeus as an intermediary between gods and mortals
In fact, some myths state Zeus trusted only Apollo to wield his lightning bolts occasionally!
In Pop Culture and Games
Given his raw power and good looks, Apollo features prominently in games like God of War and films like Percy Jackson. He‘s almost always depicted as boastful yet bitter about lack of direct worship from mortals. So developers often pit him against the game‘s protagonists to create engaging battle sequences with a ‘god-slaying‘ emotional angle.
| Media | Apollo‘s Depiction |
|---|---|
| God of War III (Game) | Pompous, self-aggrandizing Sun God killed in epic boss battle |
| Percy Jackson (Film) | Bitter and temperamental Apollo who misses glory days with lack of devotion from modern mortals |
So in summary, Apollo is hands-down the most well-rounded and Zeus‘s favorite son – excelling in manly valor, artistic genius and intelligence.
2. Hephaestus – Embittered God of Fire and Forge
Unlike Apollo who Zeus doted on, Hephaestus had a bitter start to life as the disfigured and rejected son. Gamers would remember him as the deformed Blacksmith God who forges powerful weapons.
The Unwanted Son
According to Hesiod, Hephaestus was born lame and was cast off Mount Olympus shortly after birth by his mother Hera, embarrassed to have a disabled child [4].
Though some myths say Hephaestus took revenge against Hera for rejecting him, their relationship seems to have improved over time. There are few myths about Hephaestus‘s early relationship with Zeus. But as the God of Fire and Forge, he later enjoys Zeus‘s patronage and hits his creative stride.
The Divine Blacksmith
After being exiled from Olympus, Hephaestus channels his rage positively by honing unrivaled craftsmanship and metalworking abilities. He returns to Olympus as the number one weapons and armor supplier to gods and respected as the God of Fire and Volcanoes.
Some of his iconic creations include [5]:
- Pandora‘s box
- Golden robotic guards to Zeus‘s palace
- A magnificent golden throne trap for Hera
- Armor for Achilles used in the Trojan War
- Deadly weapons like Hades‘s helmet of invisibility
In God of War III, Hephaestus initially refuses to make weapons that can slay a god. But he forges the deadly Nemean Cestus gauntlets for Kratos after battling him.
In Pop Culture and Games
Unlike Ares who revels in violence, Hephaestus is usually shown as pacifist who aids heroes only reluctantly. He prefers solitude and his craft.
| Media | Hephaestus Depiction |
|---|---|
| God of War III | Disfigured and good-natured Blacksmith God who finally helps Kratos after losing to him |
| Percy Jackson | Embittered and ugly Hephaestus who nevertheless finds love with Aphrodite and helps heroes |
So while Hephaestus lacked his father‘s early affection, he earns Zeus‘s patronage through his unmatched creativity and metalworking skills.
Other Major Sons of Zeus Worth Mentioning
While Apollo and Hephaestus get the most screen time, Zeus sired other powerful godly sons that feature in games and pop culture:
Ares – The Brutal God of War
As you guessed, Ares is the cruel and bloodthirsty Greek God of War. Unlike Athena who represents strategy, Ares revels mindless violence and mayhem.
In God of War, he initially patronizes Kratos in his murderous path. But later battles him due to envy and his possible relationship with Aphrodite. Their epic battle makes for one of gaming‘s most adrenalin-pumping boss sequences!
Hermes – Divine Messenger and Guide
Hermes is another prominent yet tricky Greek God gamers love to hate! As his father‘s herald and divine messenger, he enjoys great privilege but often uses it for mischief.
Befitting his slippery and sly personality, he is usually depicted as lean yet wiry. In God of War III, Hermes uses his super-speed with katars that have winged boots like his!
Dionysus – Two-faced God of Wine and Madness
Dionysus is uniquely known as the ‘twice-born‘ because of legends around Zeus rescuing him from death in the womb. He personifies the stark contrast between wine‘s joyous inebriation versus its ruinous addiction.
This dual nature is wonderfully shown in Hades via the Dionysus Keepsake trinket. Equipping it literally causes foes to become drunk and stagger but also increases damage to the bearer!
Wrap Up – What We Learn About Zeus as a Father
While Zeus fathered at least 9 Olympian gods and countless mortals, his top favorites appear to be Apollo and Athena. Both exemplified traits Zeus admired – strength, talent, intelligence and loyalty.
However, Zeus seemed fond of all his godly children in different ways – whether it was Dionysus‘s joyfulness or Hephaestus‘s skill. And he constantly aided them by sanctioning their powers, settling scores etc.
Through pop culture and games, Zeus‘s eventful family life with divine heirs continues fascinating gamers and mythology fans worldwide! Personally, reading up on godly family trees makes playing games like God of War much more enriching for me.
So mind sharing what new insight grabbed you about Zeus and his illustrious sons? Let‘s discuss in comments!
