Zelus

Zelus (Greek Zelos) was a minor god, the personification of zeal, emulation or rivalry. In Hesiod he is a son of the Titan Pallas and the Oceanid Styx and a brother of Nike (Victory), Kratos (Strength) and Bia (Force). All four stay beside Zeus and have no house or seat apart from him.

Zelus’ Parents and Siblings

Pallas was a son of the Titan Crius and Eurybia, brother of Astraeus and Perses (Hesiod, Theogony 375–377). Hesiod says that Styx, daughter of Oceanus, lay with Pallas and bore Zelos and fair-ankled Nike in the halls, and also Kratos and Bia, “glorious children” (Hesiod, Theogony 383–385). Apollodorus gives the same four children, naming them Victory, Dominion, Emulation and Violence (Apollodorus, Library 1.2.4).

Zelus Beside Zeus

Hesiod says that the house of Zeus is never without these children, nor is any seat or road where the god does not lead them; they always sit beside loud-thundering Zeus (Hesiod, Theogony 386–388). The reason is Styx’ part in the war with the Titans. When Zeus called the gods to Olympus and promised that whoever fought with him against the Titans would keep his honours, and that anyone dishonoured under Cronus would receive the honour that was right, Styx was the first to come to Olympus with her children, following the wish of her father Oceanus. Zeus honoured her, made her the great oath of the gods, and made her children live with him for ever (Hesiod, Theogony 389–403).

Zelus has no myth of his own. Of his brothers, Kratos and Bia take part in a famous scene: in Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound they bring Prometheus to the rock at Zeus’ command, and Kratos urges Hephaestus to bind him (Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1–87).

Zelus Sources

Hesiod, Theogony 375–377, 383–403; Apollodorus, Library 1.2.4; Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1–87.

See Also: Pallas, Styx, Nike, Kratos, Bia, Zeus, Oceanus