Atop the Greek pantheon or hierarchy of gods sat Zeus, son of Cronus. According to myth, Cronus, who had seized government of the world from his father Uranus, ordinarily devoured his own children as soon as they were born. But the mother of Zeus saved her infant by giving Cronus a stone wrapped in baby blankets to swallow. On reaching adulthood, Zeus overthrew his father and divided the dominion with his two brothers, Poseidon, who ruled the sea, and Hades, who ruled the underworld. Zeus himself ruled the heavens. The gods had access to earth from their capital, Mount Olympus in Greece.
Zeus had to quell occasional rebellions by the gods, who exhibited the human traits of passion and lust, love and jealousy, anger and hate. In fact, the gods excelled human beings only in power, intelligence, and immortality - certainly not in morality. A very popular god was Apollo, son of Zeus and inspirer of poets, seers, and prophets. He played many other roles as well. At Delphi, Greece, a temple of Apollo stood over a cavern, out of which issued vapors thought to be his breath. A priestess seated on a tripod over the opening inhaled the fumes and in a trance muttered words which were written and vaguely interpreted by priests in answer to inquiring worshipers.
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