Zeus is the king of the gods and the supreme god in Greek religion. He is the god of the sky, weather, law and order, destiny and fate, and kingship. Zeus is often referred to as the "Father of Gods and men" and controls lightning and thunder. He is depicted as a regal, mature man with a beard and is often shown carrying either a lightning bolt or scepter. Some of his key roles and responsibilities include:

• Dispensing justice and being the protector of cities, the home, property, strangers, guests, and supplicants.
• Being the father of many gods and goddesses, including Ares, Hebe, Eileithyia, Athena, Hephaestus, Dionysus, and many others.
• Being the patron of hospitality (xenia) and guests, ready to avenge any wrong done to a stranger.
• Being the god of oaths and the protector and general benefactor to all.

Zeus was the first of the gods and a very imposing figure. He was a son of the Titans Kronos and Rheia and a brother of the gods Poseidon, Haides, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Zeus married his sister, the sky-goddess Hera, and they had three children - Ares, Hebe, and Eileithyia. Although Zeus is most well-known as the god of the sky and thunder, he was the supreme cultural embodiment of Greek religious beliefs and had many epithets (titles) that emphasized different aspects of complete and wide-ranging authority.