Question

King of gods and men, who mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is occasionally depicted as weighing men's fates in his scales. He sometimes helps Odysseus or permits Athena to do the same.

Which of the following is NOT true about Zeus in the Odyssey?

A. He is the king of gods and men.
B. He mediates the disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus.
C. He is occasionally depicted as weighing men's fates in his scales.
D. He sometimes helps Odysseus or permits Athena to do the same.
E. He is a cruel and vindictive god.
F. He is a just and fair god.

Answer 1

The statement that is NOT true about Zeus in The Odyssey is that he is a cruel and vindictive god. Instead, he is portrayed as a just and fair ruler, mediating disputes among gods and occasionally aiding Odysseus.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Homer's The Odyssey, the statement that is NOT true about Zeus is option E: He is a cruel and vindictive god. Throughout the epic, Zeus is depicted as a ruler who, although not without cunning, often acts in a manner that can be seen as just and fair. While he sometimes weighs men's fates in his scales, this act is not necessarily one of cruelty but one of administering justice. In contrast to being cruel and vindictive, Zeus is shown to mediate disputes among the gods on Mount Olympus and sometimes assists Odysseus, or permits Athena to do the same. Moreover, Zeus's interactions with the pantheon and humans tend to resonate with a sense of governance and order rather than cruelty.