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The Rest Is HistorySeptember 21, 2025

602. Greek Myths: Zeus, King of the Gods (Part 1)

About This Episode
What are the mythic origins of Zeus, King of the Olympians, and the other Greek gods? From what period did the earliest of the Greek myths derive? Who was Hesiod - alongside Homer, the greatest of the Greek poets, and the father of European literature - who first recorded Zeus’ story? When was the golden age of Greek myth? Who were the Titans, and why were they consigned to the fiery pit of Tartarus? Did different regions of Greece have different interpretations of the gods, and do these myths express something particular about ancient Greek culture? And, did people really believe in these famous stories of terrible gods, daring heroes, and great wars? Join Tom and Dominic as they plunge into the glorious, technicolour world of the Greek myths, starting with the tumultuous early life of Cronos, his son Zeus, the war between the gods and the Titans, and some of the most famous Greek heroes of all time - from Perseus to Hercules. ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. LRB are offering six months access to their full archive for just £12, plus a free tote bag. Visit https://LRB.me/history Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway ______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com
Book Mentions
5 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned

Theogony cover
Theogony
Hesiod

The poem in which it features, called the Theogony or the Birth of the Gods, is at the wellspring of Greek poetry and European poetry.

Click the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Iliad cover
Iliad
Homer

Homer's poems, the most famous of all, are the Iliad and the Odyssey, telling the story of the Trojan War and the return of Odysseus.

Click the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Odyssey cover
Odyssey
Homer

Homer's poems, the most famous of all, are the Iliad and the Odyssey, telling the story of the Trojan War and the return of Odysseus.

Click the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Greek Religion cover
Greek Religion
Volta Burkert

A famous German scholar, Volta Burkert, in his book Greek Religion, discusses how only an authority could create order amidst such a confusion of traditions.

ASIN: 0674362810
Buy on Amazon
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The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony cover

It's a fantastically odd book, brilliant book, brilliantly original. It gives you the Greek myths, but in a way that you've never read them before.

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