The king of the Titanes, Cronus sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned that he was destined to be overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father. But when Rhea was about the give birth toZeus, she sought Gaea to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Thus, Rhea gave birth to Zeus in the Diktaean Cave in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.
Then, Zeus was moved from the Diktaean Caveto the Idaean Cave. During the moving, in accordance with Diodoros, his navel fell near a river, which is the today’s Karteros River, east of Heraklion. According to another weaker version of the myth, Zeus did not only grow, but was also born in the Idaean Andron. Another version says that Zeus was not only born, but also raised in Diktaean Cave.
Seven good-tempered giants called Curetes (Kourites) from Euboeawere invited by Rhea to guard the entrance of the cave. Also, every time that baby Zeus was crying, they masked the crying sound by banging loudly their legendary shields with their swords, thus Cronus could not hear Zeus crying. According to another version, Curetes danced a very fast dance and their armors banged loudly. This dance, they say, is the ancestor of today's Pentozalis, a traditional cretan dance.
The nymph Melissa undertook the upbringing of Zeus. The mythical goat Amalthea nursed him with her milk. One day, when Zeus was playing with this goat, he broke off one of her horns and gave it to Amalthea, telling her that all the fruits she could ever want would spring from out of the horn (the famous Horn of Amalthea, or Horn of Plenty).
Soon came the day where Zeus was mature enough to claim the Kingdom of the World and he started a battle against his father and the Titanes, also known as "Titanomachy". First he managed to liberate his five elder brothers and sisters from his father's stomach by giving him a special herb and making him this way throw up. With the help of his siblings, Zeus then overthrew the Titanes in the depths of the Underworld, the Tartarus.
After overthrowing his father Cronus, Zeus was confronted with the Giants and the monster Typhonas, which he both battled successfully. Finally, the Kingdom of the World was in the hands of Zeus and his siblings.
Justly, he drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades to let luck determine who would become the new king of the gods. Zeus won the draw and officially became ruler of the Earth and the Sky and the Lord of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain of Greece.
The upbringing of Zeus in Crete is illustrated by ancient references to him as Kritagenis Zeus, meaning Cretan-born Zeus.
FAQs
According to legend, this is the spot where the king of the gods was hidden from his father when he was born. It's quite some journey to get to the cave, but the experience you'll have is well worth it. You can drive to the village of Psychro, which is on the Lassithi Plateau and around an hour from Hersonissos.
Where is Zeus's birthplace in Crete? ›
Psychro Cave (Greek: Σπήλαιο Ψυχρού) is an ancient Minoan sacred cave in Lasithi plateau in the Lasithi district of eastern Crete. Psychro is associated with the Diktaean Cave (Greek: Δικταῖον Ἄντρον; Diktaion Antron), one of the putative sites of the birth of Zeus.
Is there a Zeus grave on Crete? ›
Site 5: Yuchtas mount - the burial place of Zeus
The sacred Mount Yuchtas is the final resting place of the greatest God of Greek Antiquity. Whilst the claim of Crete to be the birthplace of Zeus has been widely accepted, the myth that the god also died and was buried in the island is unique to Crete.
What is the story of Zeus Crete? ›
But Rhea, his wife, saved the infant Zeus by substituting a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes for Cronus to swallow and hiding Zeus in a cave on Crete. There he was nursed by the nymph (or female goat) Amalthaea and guarded by the Curetes (young warriors), who clashed their weapons to disguise the baby's cries.
Is Cave of Zeus free? ›
The path to the cave is hard and risky. They have donkey taxi if you do not go on your on. The price for entrance is 6€ which is fine. The view inside of the cave is wow.
Is cave exploration safe? ›
Never go caving alone
A caving group should includes a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight. Children should never explore caves without an adult. If someone gets hurt, at least one person should stay with the injured person while two others go for help.
Where does Zeus live right now? ›
| Zeus |
|---|
| Abode | Mount Olympus |
| Planet | Jupiter |
| Symbol | Thunderbolt, eagle, bull, oak |
| Day | Thursday (hēméra Diós) |
13 more rowsHera. Hera is Zeus wife and sister. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. She is the protector of marrage and takes special care of married women.
What island did Zeus live on? ›
Naxos features prominently in Greek mythology. In this island Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus and Ariadne, Demeter and Artemis were worshiped above all. Zeus, father of all gods, was born in Crete but was brought up in Naxos in his honor the inhabitants named the island's tallest mountain after him (Zeus or Zas).
How long is the hike to Cave of Zeus? ›
Check out this 4.7-mile loop trail near Filotio, Naxos. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 28 min to complete.
In Greek myth, the Minotaur was a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man who was imprisoned in a dark underground labyrinth at Knossos on the Aegean island of Crete. The Labyrinth was an ingenious maze commissioned by King Minos and designed by the architect Daedalus.
Can you visit the birthplace of Zeus? ›
Enjoy a full-day trip up to the Lassithi Plateau with majestic views and off-roading. Explore Greek mythology and visit Psychro Cave, Zeus' birthplace and enjoy a traditional meze lunch.
What did Zeus look like? ›
He was depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes were a lightning bolt, a royal sceptre and an eagle.
What is the myth of Crete island? ›
Mythology and legends
According to Greek mythology, the first queen of Crete was Europa. Later on, Crete island became the land of King Minos. The legend is that the king refused to sacrifice a bull to the gods and Poseidon punished him by making his wife fall in love with a bull.
Did Zeus live in Crete? ›
Zeus. According to mythology, the great god Zeus was born in Crete. His father, Cronos, had learned that he was destined to be overcome by his own sons, as he had overcome his own father Uranus.
Is temple of Zeus worth seeing? ›
It's a fabulous sight with 15 Corinthian columns of the more than 100 originals still vertical. The Olympian Zeus Temple stands in central Athens, beneath the Acropolis, just after the Hadrian's Arch.
Is Blood of Zeus worth it? ›
The voice acting was also top - notch , bringing the characters to life in a way that made them feel real and relatable . If you 're a fan of Greek mythology , action - packed animation , or just looking for a new binge - worthy show , I highly recommend checking out " Blood of Zeus " on Netflix .
Is Hercules cave worth visiting? ›
The Caves of Hercules is a must-see for first-time visitors to Tangier. Be careful of the waves on the nearby beaches, which can be treacherous. Full-day tours from southern Spain can last upwards of 10 hours.
Which cave is better Jewel or Wind Cave? ›
My choice would be the one closest to your location or other things you want to see. Both are worth the trip and both have their unique things to see but neither worth driving extra distance to see one over the other. If you are between the two, then I would say Wind Cave because there is more to see in the area.
