Statue of Zeus with Eagle

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This is a headless statue of Zeus proudly clutching his majestic eagle in mid-air. The magnificent sculpture was unearthed at the revered Temple of Zeus Labranios located in Phassoula, a site steeped in ancient history. Zeus is the mighty ruler of the skies and thunder god in ancient Greek mythology, reigning supreme as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. His name shares a common origin with his Roman counterpart, Jupiter. The "Aetos Dios" translates to "Eagle of Zeus," an iconic symbol revered throughout Greek antiquity. Two distinct schools of thought emerge regarding the eagle's origins, each rooted in different Greek legends. According to Antoninus Liberalis, Periphas was a just and pious king of Attica who served as a devoted priest of Apollo. However, Zeus grew infuriated when Periphas was worshipped and honored with reverence akin to that afforded to Zeus himself. In response, Zeus sought to destroy Periphas and his entire household. But Apollo intervened on behalf of Periphas, convincing Zeus to spare him instead. As a result, Zeus transformed Periphas into an eagle, elevating him to the status of king over all birds and guardian of his sacred scepter. In other accounts, the majestic eagle was created by Gaia herself, appearing before Zeus at the dawn of the Titanomachy. Zeus took this as a favorable omen, signaling his impending victory. Consequently, he proudly displayed a golden eagle emblem on his war standard, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies and solidifying his position as supreme ruler of the skies.