I. Name

Zeus is the main divinity of the Greek pantheon. His name is of undisputed Indo-European origin, connected with Lat. Iu-piter, Rigveda Dyaus (pitar) etc., derived from the root *diwu-, “day (as opposed to night)” (Lat. dies), “(clear) sky”. He is identified with local weather gods of Asia Minor, with great sky gods (Zeus Beelsêmên, Baalshamem) as well as local Baʿalim of Syria and Palestine, and with the Egyptian Amun/Ammon. In the Bible, he appears in 2 Macc. 6.2 (the temple in Jerusalem and the sa…