Ζ ζ zeeta (ζῆτα) spark pronounce: "zd" or "dz"
The letter Ζ means spark; spark-of-life.
Zeesis (ζῆσις) means vitalization. Zeelos (ζήλος) means zeal, fervor, spirit.
Zopuron (ζωπῠρον) means spark used to kindle a fire. Note that puron (πῠρον) means pyre, fire, so that zopuron (ζωπῠρον) translates as “spark brings-forth fire.”
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/7f02/images/3639/
Lightning is a spark on a divine scale. The shape of the letter Ζ resembles lightning.
ZEUS
Zeus as Fire
Zanos purgos (Ζανός πύργος) is a Pythagorean name for the central fire of the universe. Zanos (Ζανός) is also another name for Zeus (Ζεύς).
In Orphic Hymn 7. To the Sun, Orpheus refers to the sun as “Immortal Jove (Zeus).”
Empedocles uses the name “Zeus” to refer to fire as one of the four roots/elements.
(Empedocles: The Extant Fragments 7(6).2-3, translated by M.R. Wright (Yale University, 1981) 23.) http://books.google.com/books?id=4qtSF3BUbjAC&q=water#v=onepage&q=water&f=false
Zeus is said to have been angry when Prometheus provided fire to humans:
“And Zeus, when Prometheus had taken fire and given it to men, put him in chains and set an eagle at his side which devoured his liver.”
(Diodorus Siculus (of Sicily). Library of History 4.15.2, translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library Volume 303 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd.,1935.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4A.html#3
Zeus as Lightning and Rain
Zan (Ζάν), Zeenos (Ζηνός), Zas (Ζάς), Das (Δάς), Tan (Τάν), and Dis (Δίς) mean Zeus.
Zeen (Ζήν) means rain, and is also a name for Zeus.
Zeus is especially associated with the fertilizing role of rain and bears many thunderstorm-related epithets, including:
- of the rain (όμβριος, ύετιος)
- of the thunderbolt (κεραύνειος)
- descending in thunder and lightning (καταιβάτης)
- of lightning, with thunderstorms (άστρᾰπαῖος)
- God of rain (ικμαῖος).
Orphic Hymn 18. To Thundring Jove (Zeus) (1-30) describes the flaming lightning and thunderous sounds of Zeus:
“O Father Jove, who shak'st with fiery light
The world deep-sounding from thy lofty height:
From thee, proceeds th' ætherial lightning's blaze,
Flashing around intolerable rays.
Thy sacred thunders shake the blest abodes,
The shining regions of th' immortal Gods:
Thy pow'r divine, the flaming lightning shrouds,
With dark investiture, in fluid clouds.
'Tis thine to brandish thunders strong and dire,
To scatter storms, and dreadful darts of fire;
With roaring flames involving all around,
And bolts of thunder of tremendous sound.
Thy rapid dart can raise the hair upright,
And shake the heart of man (sic) with wild afright.
Sudden, unconquer'd, holy, thund'ring God,
With noise unbounded, flying all abroad;
With all-devouring force, entire and strong,
Horrid, untam'd, thou roll'st the flames along.
Rapid, ætherial bolt, descending fire,
The earth all-parent, trembles at thy ire;
The sea all-shining; and each beast that hears
The sound terrific, with dread horror fears:
When Nature's face is bright with flashing fire,
And in the heavens resound thy thunders dire.
Thy thunders white, the azure garments tear,
And burst the veil of all surrounding air.
O Jove, all-blessed, may thy wrath severe,
Hurl'd in the bosom of the deep appear,
And on the tops of mountains be reveal'd,
For thy strong arm is not from us conceal'd . . .”
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 144-145.)
Hesiod describes Zeus as hurling lightning bolts in his battle against the Titans:
“Zeus no longer held back his might; but straight his heart was filled with fury and he showed forth all his strength. From Heaven and from Olympus he came forthwith, hurling his lightning: the bold flew thick and fast from his strong hand together with thunder and lightning, whirling an awesome flame. The life-giving earth crashed around in burning, and the vast wood crackled loud with fire all about.” (Theogony 687)
(Hesiod. The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
Below, Zeus is depicted as holding a bird and wielding a thunderbolt:
Zeus with bird and lightning, Athenian red-figure amphora, circa 450 BCE, Musée du Louvre, Paris. Catalogue Number: Louvre G204 Beazley Archive Number: 201898, Attributed to the Berlin Painter.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html
Orphic Hymn 19. To Jove (Zeus), as the Author of Lightning describes the fire and “horrid noise” of Zeus:
I Call the mighty, holy, splendid light,
Aerial, dreadful-sounding, fiery-bright;
Flaming, aerial-light, with angry voice,
Lightning thro' lucid clouds with horrid noise.
Untam'd, to whom resentments dire belong,
Pure, holy pow'r, all-parent, great and strong:
Come, and benevolent these rites attend,
And grant my days a peaceful, blessed end.
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 145.)
Diodorus of Sicily says that wine mixed with water is thought to contain the presence of both Dionysos and Zeus:
“. . . it is the custom, they say, when unmixed wine is served during a meal to greet it with the words, ‘To the Good Deity!’ but when the cup is passed around after the meal diluted with water, to cry out, ‘To Zeus Saviour!’
“For the drinking of unmixed wine results in a state of madness, but when it is mixed with the rain from Zeus the delight and pleasure continue, but the ill effect of madness and stupor is avoided.”
(Diodorus Siculus (of Sicily). Library of History 4.3.4, translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library Volume 303 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd.,1935.)
Zeus the Father
Zeus is credited with fathering a grand plethora of Gods and Goddesses and half-divine mortals. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, for example, Zeus is the common father to Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Dionysos, Heracles, Hermes, the Muses, Persephone, and Perseus.
(Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html
Orphic Hymn 14. To Jupiter (Zeus) (9-12) describes Zeus as “all-parent” and a “light’ning, thund’ring God:”
“. . . All-parent, principle and end of all,
Whose pow'r almighty, shakes this earthly ball;
Ev'n Nature trembles at thy mighty nod,
Loud-sounding, arm'd with light'ning, thund'ring God . . .”
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 140.)
Zeus Supreme
Zeus is often described as at the pinnacle in the hierarchy of Gods and Goddesses. His siblings include Hestia (Hearth-Fire), Demeter (Earth), Hera (Air), Hades (Beneath the Earth), and Poseidon (Sea). As the God of the Sky, Zeus is, quite literally, above his siblings.
Awkward clauses asserting Zeus’ supremacy are often inserted into descriptions of other deity’s powers, as in these examples from Hesiod’s Theogony, below (italics inserted):
“Also she (Tethys, Goddess of the sea) brought forth a holy company of daughters who with the lord Apollo and the Rivers have youths in their keeping -- to this charge Zeus appointed them -- . . .” (Theogony 346)
“So deathless Styx came first to Olympus with her children through the wit of her dear father. And Zeus honoured her, and gave her very great gifts, for her he appointed to be the great oath of the [G]ods [and Goddesses], and her children to live with him always. And as he promised, so he performed fully unto them all. But he himself mightily reigns and rules. (Theogony 383)”
Below, Zeus permits Heracles to rescue Prometheus from the punishment Zeus himself assigned:
“And ready-witted Prometheus he (Zeus) bound with inextricable bonds, cruel chains, and drove a shaft through his middle, and set on him a long-winged eagle, which used to eat his immortal liver; but by night the liver grew as much again everyway as the long-winged bird devoured in the whole day. That bird Heracles . . . slew; and delivered . . . (Prometheus) . . . from the cruel plague, and released him from his affliction -- not without the will of Olympian Zeus who reigns on high . . .” (Theogony 507)
(Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
ZEPHYROS
Zephureeios (Ζεφυρήιος) is Zephyros, the west wind, the immortal God of Spring. Note that phur- (φυρ-) means mix.
Virgil beautifully describes how Heaven descends “in fruitful showers into the womb of” Earth in the Spring, “and the meadows ungirdle to the Zephyr’s balmy breeze:”
“. . . Spring it is that clothes the glades and forests with leaves, in spring the soil swells and carves the vital seed. Then does Heaven, sovereign father, descend in fruitful showers into the womb of his joyful consort and, mightily mingling with her mighty frame, gives life to every embryo within. Then secluded thickets echo with melodious birdsong and at the trysting hour the herds renew their loves; the bounteous earth prepares to give birth, and the meadows ungirdle to the Zephyr’s balmy breeze; the tender moisture avails for all.”
(Virgil. “Georgics (315),” Eclogues, Georgics, Aeneid 1-6, translated by H. R. Fairclough, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1916.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/VirgilGeorgics1.html
ZOE: LIFE
Zo (ζῶ, ζώω) means live. Note that oo (ῲο, ῲώ) means egg, so that zo (ζῶ) translates as “spark egg,” literally “spark brings-forth.”
Zoee (ζωη, ζόη) and zoa (ζωά) mean living, life, existence.
Zoo- (ζωο-) is a prefix meaning life, alive. Zoos (ζωός) means alive, living.
Zoon (ζῷον) means living being.
Zooo (ζωόω) means impregnate, quicken, endow with life, make alive.
Zosimos (ζώσιμος) means viable, likely to survive.
Zoogoneo (ζωογονέω) means propagate or engender living creatures, make alive.
Zopureo (ζωπῠρέω) means to be quickened by fire (of the fetus); kindle into flame, cause to blaze up.
Zotikos (ζωτικός) means fit for giving or maintaining life; tikos (τικός) means bring into the world, engender.
Zophuteo (ζωφῠτέω) means thrive, flourish; phut- (φῠτ-) means plant.
Zoma (ζῶμα) means loin-cloth, drawers, woman’s girdle, the apparel that covers the life-producing loins.
Zonee (ζώνη) means girdle; belt; marriage; sexual intercourse; also, one of the zones of the terrestrial or planetary spheres.
Zono- (ζωνο-) is a prefix meaning girdle; zone; belt.
ZODIAC
Zodiakos (ζωδιᾰκός) means the zodiac, the 12 constellations that appear to rotate round the earth, each denoting a 30-day period comprising one-twelfth of a 360-degree circle, literally “spark brings-forth directed-trajectory.”
Note that diakosmios (διακοσμιος) means pervasive throughout the universe; universal order, so that zodiakos (ζωδιᾰκός) translates as “life’s (ζω-) universal order (διᾰκός).
Below, close-ups of a statue of Artemis of Ephesus show symbols of the zodiac ringing her upper garment.
Zodiac images visible on statue of Artemis: two fish (Pisces), a water bearer (Aquarius), a Sea-Goat (Capricorn).
Zodiac images visible: Centaur (Sagittarius), scorpion (Scorpio), a man holding scales (Libra), a woman holding a scepter (Virgo), a lion (Leo), a crab (Cancer). Not visible in these images: the twins (Gemini), the bull (Taurus), the ram (Aries).
(Statue of Artemis (circa 120 CE). Excavated in the amphitheater of Lepcis Magna in Libya on the north coast of Africa east of ancient Carthage. The statue is now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Tripoli.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21000745@N02/3767009398/
It is interesting to note that if certain Greek names for the zodiac are used, the constellations of the zodiac arise in alphabetical order, with the exception of “Capricorn:”
Greek Name of Constellation Timing Common Name
1. Arneios (Άῥνείος) Mar-Apr Aries
2. Bous (Βοῦς) Apr-May Taurus
3. Dioskoroi (Δῐοσκοροι) May-Jun Gemini
4. Karkinos (Καρκίνος) Jun-Jul Cancer
5. Leon (Λέων) Jul-Aug Leo
6. Parthenos (Παρθένος) Aug-Sep Virgo
7. Platigks (Πλάτιγξ) Sep-Oct Libra
8. Skorpios (Σκορπίος) Oct-Nov Scorpio
9. Toksotees (Τοξότης) Nov-Dec Sagittarius
*10. Aigokeros (Αίγοκερως) Dec-Jan Capricorn
11. Udros (Ὕδρος) Jan-Feb Aquarius
12. Xelidonias (Χελῑδονίας) Feb-Mar Pisces
*Aigokeros: Aigo (Αίγο-) means goat and keros (κερως) means horned. In the other name for this constellation, Capricorn, Kaprikeros (Καπρικερως): Kapri- (Καπρι-) means pig and keros (κερως) means horned. Traditionally in the Mediterranean goats were sacrificed in monotheist purification rites associated with the immortal Hebrew God (Leviticus 16:15; 16:20; 23:19); pigs were sacrificed in purification rites associated with the immortal Goddess Demeter and other deities.
ANIMATE
Zeo (ζέω) means boil, seethe, ferment, bubble up, literally “spark essence brings-forth.”
Zema (ζέμα) means fermentation; bring to a boil.
Zesis (ζέσις) means seething, effervescence, boiling.
Zestos (ζεστός) means seethed, boiled.
Zuthos (ζῦθος) is an Egyptian beer brewed with barley.
Zumee (ζύμη) means leaven, beer-yeast. Zum- (ζύμ-) is a prefix meaning leaven, ferment, cause to effervesce.
Zutas (ζυτᾶς) means brewer.
YOKE
Zugon (ζῠγόν) means yoke. Note that the prefix gon- (γόν-) means offspring, seed, fruit; fertility, so that zugon (ζῠγόν) translates as “spark pure fertility.”
Zug- (ζύγ-), zeug- ζευγ-), zeuk- (ζευκ-), and zeuks- (ζευξ-) are prefixes meaning in pairs, yoke in pairs.
Zugo (ζῠγόω) means yoke; join together.
A yoke used to hitch together a team of oxen.
http://www.singingfalls.com/gallery_oxen/oxen_gallery_12.html
OTHER
Zaklon (ζάγκλον) means a reaping-hook, sickle; agk (άγκ) means “hook.”
1905.74.4 Ancient iron socketed sickle found in the Thames, Marlow and donated by Sydney Gerald Hewlett. http://england.prm.ox.ac.uk/englishness-harvesting-tools.html
Zaps (ζάψ) means surf, literally “spark arising incorporeal.”
Zeia (ζεια, ζέα) is one-seeded wheat used as fodder for horses, rice-wheat. Zeenos (ζῆνος) means made of spelt, a type of wheat.
Zeiros (ζεῖρος) is a kind of grape.
Zeemia (ζημία) means loss, damage, penalty. Zeemio (ζημιόω) means cause loss, do damage to, penalize.
Zeeteuo (ζητεύω) means seek, search, inquire; teu- (τεύ-) is a prefix meaning make.
Zeetreion (ζήτρειον) means a place of punishment for slaves. Zeetros (ζητρός) means executioner.
Ziggos (ζίγγος) means humming (of bees).
Ziglas (ζίγλας) means kola/cola (κῶλα).
Zizoula (ζιζουλά) means jujube, Zizyphus vulgaris.
Zopheos (ζόφεος) means dusky, gloomy; opheo (όφεό) means serpent, an animal that resides underground.
Zophos (ζόφος) means nether darkness. Zopho (ζόφόω) means darken, to be or become dark.
The prefix za- (ζα-) is defined by the Lexicon as meaning “very/thoroughly/throughout.” Several words employ this intensifying prefix. Rather than meaning “very,” however, the prefix za- (ζα-) literally translates as “spark arising-.” Below are definitions as given in the Lexicon:
- zaees (ζᾱής)= strong-blowing, stormy (αησις=blowing)
- zatheos (ζάθεος)=thoroughly divine, very sacred, a place favored by the Gods and Goddesses (θεος=Gods and Goddesses)
- zatherees (ζαθερής)=scorching (θερ=hot)
- zakallees (ζακαλλής)=very beautiful (καλλῐ- = beautiful)
- zakotos (ζάκοτος)=exceeding wroth, anger, wrath (κότος=grudge, rancor)
- zakruoeis (ζακρῠόεις)=thoroughly numbing, freezing (κρῠόεις=chilling)
- zaleukos (ζάλευκος)=very white (λευκός=white)
- zameneo (ζᾰμενέω)=to put forth all one’s fury (μένω=stand fast, stay, remain)
- zapimelos (ζᾰπιμελος)=very fat (πῑμελή=soft fat, lard)
- zapleethees (ζαπληθής)=very full (πλῇθος=great number, multitude)
- zaploutos (ζάπλουτος)=very rich (πλοῡτος=wealth, riches)
- zapuros (ζάπῠρος)=very fiery (πῡρός=wheat; fire)
- zatrephees (ζατρεφής)=well-fed (τρέφω=cause to grow or increase, reared)
- zaphoreo (ζαφορέω)=to be fertile (φορέω=hold, bear)
- Zagraios (zαγραῖος): very old, an epithet of the immortal God of wine, Dionysos
- zachreios (ζαχρεἲος)=very needy (χρεἲος=needing, in want of)
- Zagreus (Ζαγρεύς)=very old person; a son of Zeus and Persephone slain by the Titans and brought back to life as Dionysos
- zachrusos (ζάχρῡσος)=rich in gold (χρῡσός=gold).
The letter Ζ means spark; spark-of-life.
Zeesis (ζῆσις) means vitalization. Zeelos (ζήλος) means zeal, fervor, spirit.
Zopuron (ζωπῠρον) means spark used to kindle a fire. Note that puron (πῠρον) means pyre, fire, so that zopuron (ζωπῠρον) translates as “spark brings-forth fire.”
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/7f02/images/3639/
Lightning is a spark on a divine scale. The shape of the letter Ζ resembles lightning.
ZEUS
Zeus as Fire
Zanos purgos (Ζανός πύργος) is a Pythagorean name for the central fire of the universe. Zanos (Ζανός) is also another name for Zeus (Ζεύς).
In Orphic Hymn 7. To the Sun, Orpheus refers to the sun as “Immortal Jove (Zeus).”
Empedocles uses the name “Zeus” to refer to fire as one of the four roots/elements.
(Empedocles: The Extant Fragments 7(6).2-3, translated by M.R. Wright (Yale University, 1981) 23.) http://books.google.com/books?id=4qtSF3BUbjAC&q=water#v=onepage&q=water&f=false
Zeus is said to have been angry when Prometheus provided fire to humans:
“And Zeus, when Prometheus had taken fire and given it to men, put him in chains and set an eagle at his side which devoured his liver.”
(Diodorus Siculus (of Sicily). Library of History 4.15.2, translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library Volume 303 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd.,1935.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4A.html#3
Zeus as Lightning and Rain
Zan (Ζάν), Zeenos (Ζηνός), Zas (Ζάς), Das (Δάς), Tan (Τάν), and Dis (Δίς) mean Zeus.
Zeen (Ζήν) means rain, and is also a name for Zeus.
Zeus is especially associated with the fertilizing role of rain and bears many thunderstorm-related epithets, including:
- of the rain (όμβριος, ύετιος)
- of the thunderbolt (κεραύνειος)
- descending in thunder and lightning (καταιβάτης)
- of lightning, with thunderstorms (άστρᾰπαῖος)
- God of rain (ικμαῖος).
Orphic Hymn 18. To Thundring Jove (Zeus) (1-30) describes the flaming lightning and thunderous sounds of Zeus:
“O Father Jove, who shak'st with fiery light
The world deep-sounding from thy lofty height:
From thee, proceeds th' ætherial lightning's blaze,
Flashing around intolerable rays.
Thy sacred thunders shake the blest abodes,
The shining regions of th' immortal Gods:
Thy pow'r divine, the flaming lightning shrouds,
With dark investiture, in fluid clouds.
'Tis thine to brandish thunders strong and dire,
To scatter storms, and dreadful darts of fire;
With roaring flames involving all around,
And bolts of thunder of tremendous sound.
Thy rapid dart can raise the hair upright,
And shake the heart of man (sic) with wild afright.
Sudden, unconquer'd, holy, thund'ring God,
With noise unbounded, flying all abroad;
With all-devouring force, entire and strong,
Horrid, untam'd, thou roll'st the flames along.
Rapid, ætherial bolt, descending fire,
The earth all-parent, trembles at thy ire;
The sea all-shining; and each beast that hears
The sound terrific, with dread horror fears:
When Nature's face is bright with flashing fire,
And in the heavens resound thy thunders dire.
Thy thunders white, the azure garments tear,
And burst the veil of all surrounding air.
O Jove, all-blessed, may thy wrath severe,
Hurl'd in the bosom of the deep appear,
And on the tops of mountains be reveal'd,
For thy strong arm is not from us conceal'd . . .”
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 144-145.)
Hesiod describes Zeus as hurling lightning bolts in his battle against the Titans:
“Zeus no longer held back his might; but straight his heart was filled with fury and he showed forth all his strength. From Heaven and from Olympus he came forthwith, hurling his lightning: the bold flew thick and fast from his strong hand together with thunder and lightning, whirling an awesome flame. The life-giving earth crashed around in burning, and the vast wood crackled loud with fire all about.” (Theogony 687)
(Hesiod. The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
Below, Zeus is depicted as holding a bird and wielding a thunderbolt:
Zeus with bird and lightning, Athenian red-figure amphora, circa 450 BCE, Musée du Louvre, Paris. Catalogue Number: Louvre G204 Beazley Archive Number: 201898, Attributed to the Berlin Painter.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html
Orphic Hymn 19. To Jove (Zeus), as the Author of Lightning describes the fire and “horrid noise” of Zeus:
I Call the mighty, holy, splendid light,
Aerial, dreadful-sounding, fiery-bright;
Flaming, aerial-light, with angry voice,
Lightning thro' lucid clouds with horrid noise.
Untam'd, to whom resentments dire belong,
Pure, holy pow'r, all-parent, great and strong:
Come, and benevolent these rites attend,
And grant my days a peaceful, blessed end.
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 145.)
Diodorus of Sicily says that wine mixed with water is thought to contain the presence of both Dionysos and Zeus:
“. . . it is the custom, they say, when unmixed wine is served during a meal to greet it with the words, ‘To the Good Deity!’ but when the cup is passed around after the meal diluted with water, to cry out, ‘To Zeus Saviour!’
“For the drinking of unmixed wine results in a state of madness, but when it is mixed with the rain from Zeus the delight and pleasure continue, but the ill effect of madness and stupor is avoided.”
(Diodorus Siculus (of Sicily). Library of History 4.3.4, translated by C. H. Oldfather, Loeb Classical Library Volume 303 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd.,1935.)
Zeus the Father
Zeus is credited with fathering a grand plethora of Gods and Goddesses and half-divine mortals. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, for example, Zeus is the common father to Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Dionysos, Heracles, Hermes, the Muses, Persephone, and Perseus.
(Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html
Orphic Hymn 14. To Jupiter (Zeus) (9-12) describes Zeus as “all-parent” and a “light’ning, thund’ring God:”
“. . . All-parent, principle and end of all,
Whose pow'r almighty, shakes this earthly ball;
Ev'n Nature trembles at thy mighty nod,
Loud-sounding, arm'd with light'ning, thund'ring God . . .”
(Orpheus. The Hymns of Orpheus (circa 200 BCE), translated by Thomas Taylor, introductory preface by Manly P. Hall (London: Printed for the Author, 1792. Reprinted Los Angeles, CA: The Philosophical Research Society, 1981) 140.)
Zeus Supreme
Zeus is often described as at the pinnacle in the hierarchy of Gods and Goddesses. His siblings include Hestia (Hearth-Fire), Demeter (Earth), Hera (Air), Hades (Beneath the Earth), and Poseidon (Sea). As the God of the Sky, Zeus is, quite literally, above his siblings.
Awkward clauses asserting Zeus’ supremacy are often inserted into descriptions of other deity’s powers, as in these examples from Hesiod’s Theogony, below (italics inserted):
“Also she (Tethys, Goddess of the sea) brought forth a holy company of daughters who with the lord Apollo and the Rivers have youths in their keeping -- to this charge Zeus appointed them -- . . .” (Theogony 346)
“So deathless Styx came first to Olympus with her children through the wit of her dear father. And Zeus honoured her, and gave her very great gifts, for her he appointed to be the great oath of the [G]ods [and Goddesses], and her children to live with him always. And as he promised, so he performed fully unto them all. But he himself mightily reigns and rules. (Theogony 383)”
Below, Zeus permits Heracles to rescue Prometheus from the punishment Zeus himself assigned:
“And ready-witted Prometheus he (Zeus) bound with inextricable bonds, cruel chains, and drove a shaft through his middle, and set on him a long-winged eagle, which used to eat his immortal liver; but by night the liver grew as much again everyway as the long-winged bird devoured in the whole day. That bird Heracles . . . slew; and delivered . . . (Prometheus) . . . from the cruel plague, and released him from his affliction -- not without the will of Olympian Zeus who reigns on high . . .” (Theogony 507)
(Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Theogony, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1914; Reprinted in English by Dodo Press dodopress.co.uk, 2011.)
ZEPHYROS
Zephureeios (Ζεφυρήιος) is Zephyros, the west wind, the immortal God of Spring. Note that phur- (φυρ-) means mix.
Virgil beautifully describes how Heaven descends “in fruitful showers into the womb of” Earth in the Spring, “and the meadows ungirdle to the Zephyr’s balmy breeze:”
“. . . Spring it is that clothes the glades and forests with leaves, in spring the soil swells and carves the vital seed. Then does Heaven, sovereign father, descend in fruitful showers into the womb of his joyful consort and, mightily mingling with her mighty frame, gives life to every embryo within. Then secluded thickets echo with melodious birdsong and at the trysting hour the herds renew their loves; the bounteous earth prepares to give birth, and the meadows ungirdle to the Zephyr’s balmy breeze; the tender moisture avails for all.”
(Virgil. “Georgics (315),” Eclogues, Georgics, Aeneid 1-6, translated by H. R. Fairclough, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1916.)
http://www.theoi.com/Text/VirgilGeorgics1.html
ZOE: LIFE
Zo (ζῶ, ζώω) means live. Note that oo (ῲο, ῲώ) means egg, so that zo (ζῶ) translates as “spark egg,” literally “spark brings-forth.”
Zoee (ζωη, ζόη) and zoa (ζωά) mean living, life, existence.
Zoo- (ζωο-) is a prefix meaning life, alive. Zoos (ζωός) means alive, living.
Zoon (ζῷον) means living being.
Zooo (ζωόω) means impregnate, quicken, endow with life, make alive.
Zosimos (ζώσιμος) means viable, likely to survive.
Zoogoneo (ζωογονέω) means propagate or engender living creatures, make alive.
Zopureo (ζωπῠρέω) means to be quickened by fire (of the fetus); kindle into flame, cause to blaze up.
Zotikos (ζωτικός) means fit for giving or maintaining life; tikos (τικός) means bring into the world, engender.
Zophuteo (ζωφῠτέω) means thrive, flourish; phut- (φῠτ-) means plant.
Zoma (ζῶμα) means loin-cloth, drawers, woman’s girdle, the apparel that covers the life-producing loins.
Zonee (ζώνη) means girdle; belt; marriage; sexual intercourse; also, one of the zones of the terrestrial or planetary spheres.
Zono- (ζωνο-) is a prefix meaning girdle; zone; belt.
ZODIAC
Zodiakos (ζωδιᾰκός) means the zodiac, the 12 constellations that appear to rotate round the earth, each denoting a 30-day period comprising one-twelfth of a 360-degree circle, literally “spark brings-forth directed-trajectory.”
Note that diakosmios (διακοσμιος) means pervasive throughout the universe; universal order, so that zodiakos (ζωδιᾰκός) translates as “life’s (ζω-) universal order (διᾰκός).
Below, close-ups of a statue of Artemis of Ephesus show symbols of the zodiac ringing her upper garment.
Zodiac images visible on statue of Artemis: two fish (Pisces), a water bearer (Aquarius), a Sea-Goat (Capricorn).
Zodiac images visible: Centaur (Sagittarius), scorpion (Scorpio), a man holding scales (Libra), a woman holding a scepter (Virgo), a lion (Leo), a crab (Cancer). Not visible in these images: the twins (Gemini), the bull (Taurus), the ram (Aries).
(Statue of Artemis (circa 120 CE). Excavated in the amphitheater of Lepcis Magna in Libya on the north coast of Africa east of ancient Carthage. The statue is now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Tripoli.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21000745@N02/3767009398/
It is interesting to note that if certain Greek names for the zodiac are used, the constellations of the zodiac arise in alphabetical order, with the exception of “Capricorn:”
Greek Name of Constellation Timing Common Name
1. Arneios (Άῥνείος) Mar-Apr Aries
2. Bous (Βοῦς) Apr-May Taurus
3. Dioskoroi (Δῐοσκοροι) May-Jun Gemini
4. Karkinos (Καρκίνος) Jun-Jul Cancer
5. Leon (Λέων) Jul-Aug Leo
6. Parthenos (Παρθένος) Aug-Sep Virgo
7. Platigks (Πλάτιγξ) Sep-Oct Libra
8. Skorpios (Σκορπίος) Oct-Nov Scorpio
9. Toksotees (Τοξότης) Nov-Dec Sagittarius
*10. Aigokeros (Αίγοκερως) Dec-Jan Capricorn
11. Udros (Ὕδρος) Jan-Feb Aquarius
12. Xelidonias (Χελῑδονίας) Feb-Mar Pisces
*Aigokeros: Aigo (Αίγο-) means goat and keros (κερως) means horned. In the other name for this constellation, Capricorn, Kaprikeros (Καπρικερως): Kapri- (Καπρι-) means pig and keros (κερως) means horned. Traditionally in the Mediterranean goats were sacrificed in monotheist purification rites associated with the immortal Hebrew God (Leviticus 16:15; 16:20; 23:19); pigs were sacrificed in purification rites associated with the immortal Goddess Demeter and other deities.
ANIMATE
Zeo (ζέω) means boil, seethe, ferment, bubble up, literally “spark essence brings-forth.”
Zema (ζέμα) means fermentation; bring to a boil.
Zesis (ζέσις) means seething, effervescence, boiling.
Zestos (ζεστός) means seethed, boiled.
Zuthos (ζῦθος) is an Egyptian beer brewed with barley.
Zumee (ζύμη) means leaven, beer-yeast. Zum- (ζύμ-) is a prefix meaning leaven, ferment, cause to effervesce.
Zutas (ζυτᾶς) means brewer.
YOKE
Zugon (ζῠγόν) means yoke. Note that the prefix gon- (γόν-) means offspring, seed, fruit; fertility, so that zugon (ζῠγόν) translates as “spark pure fertility.”
Zug- (ζύγ-), zeug- ζευγ-), zeuk- (ζευκ-), and zeuks- (ζευξ-) are prefixes meaning in pairs, yoke in pairs.
Zugo (ζῠγόω) means yoke; join together.
A yoke used to hitch together a team of oxen.
http://www.singingfalls.com/gallery_oxen/oxen_gallery_12.html
OTHER
Zaklon (ζάγκλον) means a reaping-hook, sickle; agk (άγκ) means “hook.”
1905.74.4 Ancient iron socketed sickle found in the Thames, Marlow and donated by Sydney Gerald Hewlett. http://england.prm.ox.ac.uk/englishness-harvesting-tools.html
Zaps (ζάψ) means surf, literally “spark arising incorporeal.”
Zeia (ζεια, ζέα) is one-seeded wheat used as fodder for horses, rice-wheat. Zeenos (ζῆνος) means made of spelt, a type of wheat.
Zeiros (ζεῖρος) is a kind of grape.
Zeemia (ζημία) means loss, damage, penalty. Zeemio (ζημιόω) means cause loss, do damage to, penalize.
Zeeteuo (ζητεύω) means seek, search, inquire; teu- (τεύ-) is a prefix meaning make.
Zeetreion (ζήτρειον) means a place of punishment for slaves. Zeetros (ζητρός) means executioner.
Ziggos (ζίγγος) means humming (of bees).
Ziglas (ζίγλας) means kola/cola (κῶλα).
Zizoula (ζιζουλά) means jujube, Zizyphus vulgaris.
Zopheos (ζόφεος) means dusky, gloomy; opheo (όφεό) means serpent, an animal that resides underground.
Zophos (ζόφος) means nether darkness. Zopho (ζόφόω) means darken, to be or become dark.
The prefix za- (ζα-) is defined by the Lexicon as meaning “very/thoroughly/throughout.” Several words employ this intensifying prefix. Rather than meaning “very,” however, the prefix za- (ζα-) literally translates as “spark arising-.” Below are definitions as given in the Lexicon:
- zaees (ζᾱής)= strong-blowing, stormy (αησις=blowing)
- zatheos (ζάθεος)=thoroughly divine, very sacred, a place favored by the Gods and Goddesses (θεος=Gods and Goddesses)
- zatherees (ζαθερής)=scorching (θερ=hot)
- zakallees (ζακαλλής)=very beautiful (καλλῐ- = beautiful)
- zakotos (ζάκοτος)=exceeding wroth, anger, wrath (κότος=grudge, rancor)
- zakruoeis (ζακρῠόεις)=thoroughly numbing, freezing (κρῠόεις=chilling)
- zaleukos (ζάλευκος)=very white (λευκός=white)
- zameneo (ζᾰμενέω)=to put forth all one’s fury (μένω=stand fast, stay, remain)
- zapimelos (ζᾰπιμελος)=very fat (πῑμελή=soft fat, lard)
- zapleethees (ζαπληθής)=very full (πλῇθος=great number, multitude)
- zaploutos (ζάπλουτος)=very rich (πλοῡτος=wealth, riches)
- zapuros (ζάπῠρος)=very fiery (πῡρός=wheat; fire)
- zatrephees (ζατρεφής)=well-fed (τρέφω=cause to grow or increase, reared)
- zaphoreo (ζαφορέω)=to be fertile (φορέω=hold, bear)
- Zagraios (zαγραῖος): very old, an epithet of the immortal God of wine, Dionysos
- zachreios (ζαχρεἲος)=very needy (χρεἲος=needing, in want of)
- Zagreus (Ζαγρεύς)=very old person; a son of Zeus and Persephone slain by the Titans and brought back to life as Dionysos
- zachrusos (ζάχρῡσος)=rich in gold (χρῡσός=gold).