The Philandering Zeus

Leto

A daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. Discovering that it was Zeus who got Leto pregnant, Hera forbade her to give birth on dry land, on any island or any place under the sun. But then, Leto found a desolate floating island of Delos, and there, she gave birth to the twin Olympian gods–Artemis (goddess of the hunt and virginity) who was brought forth without much struggle; and Apollo (god of light, music and medicine) who was born nine days and nine nights after, because Hera had kidnapped the goddess of childbirth Eileithyia to prevent her from going into labor. Delos, the birthplace of two splendid gods, was consequently secured by pillars and would become a place sacred to Apollo.

Metis

A Titaness and Zeus’ first great consort. Zeus had received a prophecy revealing that Metis would bear a son mightier than he. To keep the prophecy from fulfillment, he tricked her to transform herself into to fly that he immediately swallowed to prevent her for having children, but it was already too late for she was already pregnant. While inside, Metis would nurture her child, make her a robe and helmet, the forging and hammering of which caused Zeus great suffering. In time, Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, was born and emerged from Zeus’ head fully grown and armed with weapons.

Semele

The daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. Learning that her husband was responsible for Semele’s pregnancy, the ever-vengeful Hera cooked up a plan by assuming the form of an elderly woman to befriend the girl, who confided to her that Zeus was her lover. Hera pretended to discredit her statement and cast some doubts in her mind. Curious, Semele demanded Zeus to reveal himself in all his glory to show evidence of his godhood. Though Zeus initially refused but upon her persistence, he reluctantly agreed; and as no mortals can live having seen a god, so she perished and was consumed by lightning-ignited blaze. Zeus was able to save the embryonic Dionysus by sewing him into his leg. A few months later, this future “god of wine” was born.

Mnemosyne

The titaness daughter of Uranus and Gaia; the goddess of memory. Zeus spent nine consecutive nights with her, and thereby produced the nine muses, a group of goddesses who personified and inspired the arts; and were usually associated with Apollo as their leader. They are: Calliope (epic or heroic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (music and lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred music), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry) and Terpsichore (dance) and Urania (astronomy).