Zelus

Zelus
God of Zeal, Dedication, Emulation, Eagerness, Rivalry, Envy and Jealousy
General Information
Species	God
Gender identity	Male
Titles	God of zeal God of dedication God of emulation God of eagerness God of rivalry God of envy God of jealousy
Abodes	Mount Olympus
Relationships
Parents	Pallas and Styx
Grandparents	Crius and Eurybia (paternal) Oceanus and Tethys (maternal)
Siblings	Nike, Kratos Bia
Languages
Hellēnikḗ(Ancient Greek)	Ζῆλος
Equivalents
Roman equivalent	Invidia

In Greek mythology, Zelus or Zelos (Greek: Ζῆλος, Zēlos, literally "zeal"), Roman equivalent: Invidia was the daimon that personifies dedication, emulation, eager rivalry, envy, jealousy, and zeal. The English word "zeal" is derived from his name.

Zelus together with his siblings were winged enforcers who stood in attendance at Zeus' throne and formed part of his retinue during and after the Titanomachy.

Mythology

Hesiod

“	And Styx the daughter of Okeanos was joined to Pallas and bare Zelos (Emulation) and trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the house. Also she brought forth Kratos (Strength) and Bia (Force), wonderful children. These have no house apart from Zeus, nor any dwelling nor path except that wherein God leads them, but they dwell always with Zeus the loud-thunderer. For so did Styx the deathless daughter of Okeanos plan on that day when the Olympian Lightener called all the deathless gods to great Olympos, and said that whosoever of the gods would fight with him against the Titanes, he would not cast him out from his rights, but each should have the office which he had before amongst the deathless gods. And he declared that he who was without office and rights as is just. So deathless Styx came first to Olympos with her children through the wit of her dear father. And Zeus honoured her, and gave her very great gifts, for her he appointed to be the great oath of the gods, and her children to live with him always. And as he promised, so he performed fully unto them all.	”
–Theogony, Hesiod

“	Among the men of the fifth age . . . There will be no favour for the man who keeps his oath or for the Just (dikaios) or for the Good (agathos); but rather men will praise the evil-doer (kakos) and his violent dealing (hubris). Strength will be right (dike) and reverence (aidos) will cease to be; and the wicked will hurt the worthy man, speaking false words against him, and will swear an oath upon them. Envy (zelos), foul-mouthed, delighting in evil, with scowling face, will go along with wretched men one and all. And then Aidos (Shame) and Nemesis (Indignation), with their sweet forms wrapped in white robes, will go from the wide-pathed earth and forsake mankind to join the company of the deathless gods: and bitter sorrows (lugra algea) will be left for mortal men, and there will be no help against evil.	”
–Works and Days, Hesiod

Pseudo-Apollodorus

“	Nike, Kratos (Cratus), Zelos (Zelus), and Bia were born to Pallas and Styx. Zeus instituted and oath to be sworn by the waters of Styx that flowed from a rock in Hades' realm, an honor granted in return for the help she and her children gave him against the Titanes (Titans).	”
–Bibliotheca (Library), Pseudo-Apollodorus

Oppian of Apamea

“	O father Zeus, how fierce a heart hath Zelos (Rivalry)! Him hast thou made, O lord, mightier than nature to behold and has given him the bitter force of fire, and in his right hand hast vouchsafed to him to wear a sword of adamant. He preserves not, when he comes, dear children to their loving parents, he knows nor comrade nor kin nor cousin, when he intervenes grievous and unspeakable. He also in former times arrayed against their own children heroes themselves and hobble heroines.	”
–Cynegetica, Oppian of Apamea

External Links

Zelus at Theoi.

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