Zeus also acted on principle to create social order at Olympia by waging war on his own father. However, Zeus was just in his treatment of the vanquished Titans, eventually granting their freedom (Morford & Lenardon p. 78). Zeus's story mirrors that of the Greeks in their skillful fashioning of political and social structures out of disparate and geographically distinct peoples.
Zeus can even suggest the evolution from a polytheistic to a monotheistic society. Although monotheism would not become entrenched in Greek consciousness until Christianity, Zeus does become a singular force, "one god" above all others (Morford & Lenardon p. 72). Zeus's "supremacy" paved the way for the future growth of a monotheistic culture and religion throughout ancient Greece and Rome (Morford & Lenardon p. 72). His greatness among all other gods is sometimes symbolized as an aegis: representing Zeus's special power like a crown on a king. Kings, in fact, "come from Zeus," (Morford & Lenardon p. 74). His judicious treatment of the Titans proved that Zeus was a role model for ideal Greek leadership. Likewise, Zeus's fearlessness in waging war with the giants revealed his military prowess.
Myths about Zeus are sometimes used to explain the nature and meaning of human ethnic diversity because the god is the father of all mortals and not just the Greeks. For example, creation...
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