Zeus, in Greek mythology, the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus corresponds to the Roman god Jupiter. Zeus was considered, according to Homer, the father of gods and mortals. He created neither gods nor mortals; he was their father in the sense of protector and ruler of both the Olympian family and the human race. He was the lord of the sky, the god of rain and the gatherer of clouds, who wielded the terrible thunderbolt. His armor was the aegis, his bird the eagle, his tree the oak. Zeus presided over the gods on Mount Olympus in Thessaly (Thessaly). His main sanctuaries were in Dodona, in Epirus, the land of oaks and the oldest sanctuary, famous for its oracle, and in Olympia, where the Olympic Games were celebrated in his honor every four years. The Nemean games, held in Nemea, north-west of Árgos, were also dedicated to Zeus. Starting from the writings of the Greek poet Homer, Zeus is depicted in two very different ways. He is represented as the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak and the punisher of the wicked. As the husband of his sister Hera, he is the father of Ares, the god of war; Hebe, the goddess of youth; Hephaestus, the god of fire; and Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth. At the same time, Zeus is described as falling in love with one woman after another and resorting to all kinds of tricks to hide his infidelity from his wife. Stories of his escapades were numerous in ancient mythology, and many of his children were the result of his love affairs with both goddesses and mortal women. The image of Zeus was represented in sculptural works as a regal and bearded figure Hera, in Greek mythology, queen of the gods, daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, as well as sister and wife of the god Zeus. Hera was the goddess of marriage and the protector of married women. She was the mother of Ares, god of war; Hephaestus, god of fire; Hebe, goddess of youth; and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Hera was a jealous wife, who often persecuted the lovers and children of Zeus. She never forgot an injury and was known for her vindictive nature. Angry at the Trojan prince Paris for choosing Aphrodite, goddess of love, over herself, Hera aided the Greeks in the Trojan War and was not appeased until Troy was finally destroyed. Hera is often identified with the Roman goddess Juno. Aphrodite, in Greek mythology, goddess of love and beauty and counterpart of