Chapter 15: The Time of Zeus

“The air is Zeus, Zeus earth, and Zeus the heaven; Zeus is all that is, and what transcends them all.”

— Prometheus, Prometheus Bound (Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης) by Aeschylus, composed c. 5th century BCE, lines 88–90. Translated by E. B. Browning Plumptre. First published in Aeschylus: Seven Against Thebes, Prometheus Bound, The Suppliants, London: George Bell and Sons, 1868. Public domain.

Almost three weeks passed for everything to come together.

Zeus, along with Metis and Rhea, went to the Underworld and explained to Hades that he would have new occupants next to the Titans. Hades said nothing. He allowed them to make the addition, but he refused to allow them to see further into his Underworld.

The day arrived for Cratus and his family to be recognized for their achievement despite Metis’ disdain for them. Perhaps Bia, Nike, and Zelus simply followed Cratus, but that did not matter to Metis. The unnecessary violence of the three told Metis that one day, regardless of the bond that Hera was working on, they would be a problem for Olympus. Perhaps they would not strike Zeus directly, but they would bring down the throne.

In the end, however, Metis could not stop her lover from having his way. He was king. He had made that apparent.

And so, that led to the moment that Metis was loath to be a part of.

Within the grand halls of Mount Olympus, within Zeus’ throne room, before the audience of titans and gods, Zeus sat upon his majestic throne. Metis could not deny that he appeared every bit the king he was.

Though she stood at his side, all of Olympus would observe that both Rhea and Gaia stood behind the throne. After his declaration that they would not be part of Olympus often, the audience was well aware that the former queens were only there by Zeus’ graces. The fact that they stood behind him showed that he had their unwavering support.

Metis could almost applaud Zeus for it. His mind was not made for strategy in war, but in peace, he was unmatched. Olympus was a people and place, and in that way, its people were all coming to love him. Themis and Mnemosyne were already pregnant by Zeus. By Metis’ estimation, Zeus had his eye on Maia, Atlas’ daughter. The young goddess was older than twenty, but given how sheltered Atlas had raised her, she was naïve.

Sadly, that was not where Metis’ focus would lie. She had to watch the pageantry that only Olympus could throw.

Before Zeus and his throne, there was a large circle that Hera drew with markings. Within the circle knelt Cratus and his siblings. Their heads were bowed in deference to the king of the gods. Metis doubted that the respect was altogether genuine. At the very least, they only showed it because of Zeus’ power, not because of his position as king, nor for any respect for the person he was.

With a thundering voice, Zeus addressed the kneeling figures before him.

“Cratus, Bia, Nike, Zelus,” he intoned with divine authority. “You who have served me faithfully since my ascension to the throne; I now call upon you to be my protectors.”

“And so we shall,” the four siblings cried back.

Hera stepped forward and moved her lips. No one could hear the words when Hera spoke, but instead, they heard the siblings make the declaration.

“By Right and Rule
For Duty’s Might
We pledge to thee
We pledge to thee

By Royal Blood
For Honor’s Right
We pledge to thee
We pledge to thee

For Zeus’ time, our protection Immortalis
Within this oath, by the power of Olympus
We pledge to thee
We pledge to thee”

The ring that Hera had drawn lit up. The symbols shone for all to see. There was no doubt about the efficacy of Hera’s magic.

With a solemn nod, Zeus accepted their pledge. “Rise, Cratus, Bia, Nike, and Zelus. Arise as Protectors of Olympus,” he commanded.

As Cratus and his siblings rose to their feet, the audience applauded and cheered so loud that it echoed through every part of Mount Olympus.

Helios rose and set nine times as they fell. Finally, they saw the earthy lands of Greece. Still, they plunged deeper past the realm of those trees and mortal creatures. They declined more and more and more, unable to fly.

Without seeing the sun, they knew they would continue to drop for another nine risings and fallings of the sun. Upon the twentieth morning, they crashed into the dark abyss that was the Underworld.

The sudden landing might have killed a lesser being, but these were the Furies, made of the blood of Ouranos, beings of rage, and capturers of two of the hundred handed ones. They would survive because they were meant to live.

Scraping at the land, they looked up to find a blue skinned being tugging at the dress of a woman in black. Before the three lost consciousness, they could not help but think this goddess was wearing a gown of a starlit night sky.