The goddess of agriculture, horticulture, grain and harvest. Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus, by whom she bore Persephone. She was depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheaf’s of wheat and a torch. Her symbols are the Cornucopia (horn of plenty), wheat-ears, the winged serpent and the lotus staff. Her sacred animals are pigs and snakes.
Zeus was the youngest son of Cronos and Rhea, and became the supreme ruler of all the gods of the ancient Greeks. Citizens from all of the Greek city-states honored him, particularly at the Temple of Olympus, which became the site of a major festival every four years – that religious festival eventually became known as the Olympic Games. A colossal golden statue of Zeus was the site of many rites and rituals involving the athletes of the Olympics.
Early History and Worship
Although Zeus was venerated in many areas of Greece, there doesn’t seem to be much consistency about the methodology of this worship, and his temples (and titles) took a variety of forms. A number of different “cults of Zeus” popped up throughout history. One common form of honoring him appears to be the sacrificing of a white animal — sheep, bull, pig, etc. — over an elevated altar.
In addition to being the head honcho of Olympus, Zeus is the god of thunder and lightning. He is often represented by a lightning bolt, and is sometimes depicted with an eagle, bull, or oak tree.
Because Zeus was also considered a weather god – after all, he was the one who threw thunderbolts down from the sky – he was often worshiped on high mountaintops, including but not limited to Mount Olympus.
Eventually, the cult of Zeus expanded beyond the borders of Greece, and into nearby empires, including Persia. Herodotus wrote a lengthy description of a temple to Zeus Belus in Babylon. He described “a square of four hundred and forty yards each way, with gates of bronze.
In the center of this enclosure a solid tower has been built, two hundred and twenty yards long and broad; a second tower rises from this and from it yet another, until at last there are eight. The way up them mounts spirally outside the height of the towers; about halfway up is a resting place, with seats for repose, where those who ascend sit down and rest. In the last tower there is a great shrine; and in it stands a great and well-covered couch, and a golden table nearby.”
Zeus Gets Around
Zeus was known as quite the philanderer. Although he was married to his sister Hera, goddess of marriage, he strayed from her bed fairly regularly.
Zeus hooked up with numerous other goddesses, mortal humans, the occasional nymph, and even a few animals. Hera jealously put up with his wandering ways, and often took revenge upon Zeus’ women by going after their children. Zeus sired many of the Greek heroes and demi-gods during his amorous adventures. His extramarital activities weren’t limited to women, either. Zeus’ cup-bearer, the handsome Ganymede, earned Hera’s wrath when she discovered that the young man was also her husband’s lover.
Modern Worship of Zeus
As the supreme ruler of Mt. Olympus, Zeus was in charge of justice, morals and law. His word was to be obeyed by both men and gods alike. Today, many Hellenic Pagans continue to honor Zeus and the other gods of the ancient Greeks. Some are members of a group called the Return of the Hellenes, and consider today’s Greece to be under Christian occupation. A 2013 BBC article quotes Exsekias Trivoulides, who says, “People want to identify with something in the past – where they came from – so as to know where they are going… If you don’t know your past, you don’t have a future.”
Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
ZEUS BINDING SPELL
God: I call upon Zeus, chief ruler of immortals
And mortals alike, most powerful of all the gods,
Who was known as the omnipotent Father Zeus,
And to the Romans as Jupiter, and who punishes
those who lie and break.
Around I bind you three times three
No more bad things you’ll think of me
Around I bind you three times three
No more bad things you’ll say of me
Around I bind you three times three
No more bad things you’ll do to me
Around I bind you three times three
And if these things continue to be
Then back upon you three times three
‘Til totally vanquished you will be
By the powers of three times three
By Earth and Fire, Air and Sea
I fix this spell, then set it free
‘Twill give no harm to mine or me
As I so will, So Mote It Be!
Poseidon
(Neptune)
Son of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea, he is represented wielding a trident being pulled by monsters in a chariot. After Zeus’ victory over Cronos (Saturn), the gods, who preferred life on earth, divided the various domains of earth. Poseidon chose the seas. He represented the hidden forces of germination and death. Together with his wife Amphitrite, he had powerful ties with Gaea, the Earth, mother of the Titans. As subterranean Gods, they shook the world from inside. Poseidon caused earthquakes when he made love to his wife. The mystery isle of Atlanta belonged to Poseidon. Poseidon could provoke storms, set fire to rocks on shore and create springs of water. He had many children, most wicked and violent, like the Cyclops of the Oddessy.
Hera, queen of the gods, the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and the sister and wife of the god Zeus. Hera was the goddess of marriage and protector of married women. She was the mother of Ares, god of war; Hephaestus, god of fire; Hebe, goddess of youth; and Ilithyia, goddess of childbirth. A jealous wife, she often persecuted Zeus’s mistresses and children, especially the half- god Hercules, and was known for her vindictive nature.
Gods/Goddesses– Bel, Sucellus, Hecate, Thalia, Cronus, Hades, Hermes, Zeus, Ops, Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, Pluto, Dis Pater, Isis, Bes, Osiris, Arianrhod, Brigit, Cerridwen, Brigantia, Macha, Herne the Hunter, Cernunnos, Bel, Epona, Manannan mac Lir, Mab, Nantosuelta, Druantia, the Horned God, Anu, Arianrhod, Rhiannon, the Dagda, Ostara, Eostre, Apollo, Cronus, Hera, Artemis, Maia, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter, Gaea, Rhea, Pan, Dionysus, Poseidon, Antheia, Bendis, Cabari, Cabiri, Charities, Derceto, Europa, Pontia, Priapus, Hermes, Persephone, Hecate, Juno, Bona Dea, Diana, Fauna, Flora, Pales, Venus, Tellus Mater, Faunus, Bacchus, Vertumnus, Apollo, Cybele, Lupercus, Ops, Pomona, Saturn, Nerthus, Bast, Heqet, Selqet, Min, Osiris, Amen, Khnemu, Bes, Hapi, Bast, Isis, Attis, Mut, Selkhet, Tlazolteotl, Itzamna, Tlaloc, Chantico, Centeotle, Quetzalcoatl, Ishtar, Kuan Yin, Lilith, Inanna, Astarte
Color– True Pure Blue
Incence/Oil– Lily of the Valley
Animals– Dolphin, Whales
Spirits– Mermaid
Stones– Azurite, Torquoise
Metal– Aluminum
Plants– Carnation, Honeysukle, Vervain
Wood– Bramble
Planet– Neptune
Tarot Cards– Four Kings, Four Twos
Magickal Tools– Cauldron, Wand
Direction– South
Rituals- Achieving Equilibrium, Spiritual Manifestations, Creative Force, Divine Inspiration
Gods/Goddesses– the Dagda, Cronus, Ptah, Osiris, Sebek, Khnemu, Seb, Ra, Hurukan, Arianrhod, Danu, Demeter, Hera, Rhea, Gaea, Ceres, Juno, Heqet, Isis, Neith, Mut, Tara, Nohochacyum
Color– Brillant Pure Light
Incense/Oil– Angelica, Wisteria
Animals– Hawk
Spirits– Winged Dragon
Stones– Diamond, Zircon
Metal– Gold, Silver
Plants– Shamrock, Clover, Woad, Male Fern, Aspen
Tree– Aspen
Planet– Uranus
Tarot Cards– Four Aces
Magickal Tools– Cauldron
Direction– East
Rituals– Divine Consciousness, Illumination, Enlightment, Spiritual Development/Attainment, Finding Karmic Purpose
12 Tinne/Hekatombaion
Kronia
Color: Golden
Element: Earth
Altar: The Kronia celebrates the Golden Age when Kronos and Rhea ruled, when there was no order, so nothing is done ordinarily this day. The altar is laid with whatever cloths those present may bring, and set with whatever things they may think appropriate to the celebration of a mythical utopian anarchy.
Offerings: Do nothing in its order today. Invite in those not of the House and let them order the activities. The newest novice should replace the House Elder for the afternoon. Order is restored by Hesperis.
Daily Meal: Let those not of the house bring potluck. No one cooks today, and all fend for themselves.
Kronia Invocation
(With random shouting throughout)
Long ago, before there was Law,
Kronos inherited the throne
(Hail Kronos!)
From his mother, Gaea, who recognizes only
(Hail Gaea!)
The laws of nature, and his father Uranus,
(Hail Uranus!)
Who was capricious as the wind and the sky.
For hundreds of years he ruled their way,
Until he realized the value of Rules
(Hail Eunomia!)
And became their strongest servant.
When his son Zeus overthrew him,
(Hail Zeus!)
And with his thrice-blessed wife Hera
(Hail Hera!)
Ascended the throne, he kept the Rules.
Yet today we remember that time,
Like unto the childhood of the world,
Where there were no rules,
(Hail Chaos!)
Nor were any needed. Go now,
And spend one day without them,
That you may appreciate them the more in the end.
(All exit in a rush, snatching things from the altar, and have a drumming and dancing circle.)
Calendar of the Moon
6 Nion/Anthesterion
Rhea’s Day – Pre-Initiation for the Greater Mysteries
Color: Green
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a green cloth set a sheaf of grain saved from the previous year’s harvest, laid in a winnowing basket, and a chalice of fresh-pressed fruit juice.
Offerings: Care for the Earth.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian
Rhea’s Invocation (to be spoken by a priestess who is invoking her)
I am the Earth before you walked on it.
I am the mountains before humans tracked them.
I am the fields before they were grazed
By any except the wild herds.
I am the trees before they were cut down,
When they grew so thick that no light
Could be seen between their branches.
I am the stones before they were dug.
I am the plants before they were bred
For your use, and then harvested.
I am the grandmother who saw you born.
I am the mentor who watched your first steps.
I am the Old One who watched you grow.
From my loins came my daughter Demeter
Who knew that you must eat more
Than my wilderness could give you,
And fed you from her bounty.
From her loins came my grandchild Persephone
Who gave herself to your Dead
That you might be nurtured both before and after.
I have watched you grow, my grandchildren,
But you were not my first children.
Tell me, then, what you will do for me?
(Each person comes forward and speaks an oath, saying how they will protect the earth for the elder children of Rhea, the plants and animals who were here before us. The juice is shared around, and the remainder poured as a libation for Her.)
Chant:
The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her,
The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her,
Hey and a ho and a ho na hey and a ho and a ho na na
He is a real high-flyer, an Olympic champion, battling with the giant TITANS, casting thunderbolts and engaged in all manner of gut-busting glorious Godly pursuits.
His father CRONUS was so terrified of the newborn baby ZEUS’s awesome power that he swallowed him up. And lived to regret it. It was left to AMALTHEA (and her goat) to protect the budding SuperGod while he learned to walk, talk, and rule the Universe. Since then he’s never looked back.
ZEUS is married to the long-suffering HERA, but spends most of his time lusting after Goddesses, mortals, animals, and indeed anything that will keep still long enough.
It’s tough at the top being the most fantastic hunky irresistible God of all time and having constantly to prove it. And never a quiet night in with slippers and a mug of cocoa because he has to keep his long-suffering wife HERA happy too. Their trials and tribulations form the basis of half the Greek entries in our database.
ZEUS has had so many mistresses and fathered so many children that there’s no point in giving a list here. Just take our word for it. See also CRONUS, RHEA, HEPHAESTUS, ATHENA… and in fact most of the other Greek Gods.
Moving on to more Godly matters, ZEUS was also known to the ancient Greeks as Epiphanes, the Magnificent One, whenever a certain star appeared in the east. This was celebrated with piph-ups known as epiphanies.
When he’s not running around after nubile Goddesses in the form of a lusty animal, ZEUS looks after Law, upholds Justice, and casts thunderbolts on those deserving it.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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