King of the gods is Zeus – or his Roman equivalent, Jupiter – who rules over Mount Olympus and is the god of thunder and lightning, as well as law and order.

You can recognise Zeus by his symbols – the thunderbolt, the eagle and the oak tree – and as a sky god he is often shown among clouds or sitting on top of Mount Olympus.

Zeus’ parents were the Titans, Cronos and Rhea, and he is the youngest brother of Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon (who are also gods in the pantheon). According to Greek mythology, Zeus’ father Cronos learnt that one of his children was fated to dethrone him as leader of the gods, so ate each one as soon as they were born.

When Zeus was born, his mother Rhea hid him in a cave on the island of Crete, and instead fed Cronos a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes. When Zeus grew up, he forced Cronos to throw up his brothers and sisters, waged war on his father, and won.