Zeus

Zeus was one of the three main gods and was the ruler of Olympus. His brothers, Poseidon and Hades, ruled the ocean and the underworld, respectively. He was the last son of Cronos, and would have been swallowed whole like his brothers if his mother, Rheia, hadn't tricked Cronos and sent Zeus away to grow up until he could save his brothers. He managed to give Cronos a poison which cause him to throw up his two brothers. After this a war started with the gods. It didn't end until Theseus gave Zeus the advice to bring up the Cyclopses from Tartaros, which led Zeus and his brothers to win the war.

Zeus was the ruler of Olympos and over his time there, he had about 20 different wives. The names of his wives are Metis, Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnmosyne, Leto, Hera, Maia, Semele, Dione, Alkmene, Leda, Nemesis, Lo, Selene, Karme, Aix, Thaleia, and Gaia. Zeus was given lightning and thunder by the three Cyclopses, Brontos, Steropes, and Argos

Zeus's view on mankind has changed throughout the years. At first, when Prometheus created man in the image of the gods, Zeus didn't want anything to do with them. When Prometheus asked for fire, Zeus denied him and Prometheus had to bring fire to man without Zeus' knowledge. One time Zeus did try to eliminate mankind through a giant flood that would kill all men and women. However, after the flood had subsided, two people, one man and a woman, who had always worshipped the gods throughout their life remained. They repopulated the Earth by throwing rocks over their shoulders which transformed into people as they dropped to the ground. After this Zeus slowly changed how he though about man, and never tried to kill the human race again.

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This is a statue of Zeus, along with an eagle, symbolizing power. Connection To Lightning Thief Zeus appears numerous times throughout the book The Lightning Thief but it mostly noted for having his lightning stolen, which threatens to cause a war between the gods. Percy Jackson must find the lightning and return it to Zeus or he would start a war.
Sources-Information
Rouse, WHD. Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece. New York: New American Library, 2001.

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006.

"Zeus" Wikipedia. 16 Sep. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus>"Zeus." Zeus: Information from Answers.com. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. <http://www.answers.com/topic/zeus-large-image>.