Editing Zelus

{{Short description|Ancient Greek daimon, the personification of zeal}}
{{About|the Greek deity|other uses|Zelos (disambiguation){{!}}Zelos|the insect|Zelus (bug)}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Zelus
| god_of = Personification of zeal, dedication, emulation, envy, rivalry, and jealousy
| abode = [[Mount Olympus]]
| parents = [[Pallas (Titan)|Pallas]] and [[Styx (mythology)|Styx]]
| siblings = [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]], [[Kratos (mythology)|Kratos]], [[Bia (mythology)|Bia]]
}}
{{Ancient Greek religion}}
{{Greek myth (personified)}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Zelus''' or '''Zelos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|iː|l|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Ζῆλος|Zêlos|[[:wikt:zeal|zeal]]}}) was the [[Daemon (classical mythology)|daimon]] that personifies dedication, emulation, eager [[rivalry]], [[envy]], [[jealousy]], and zeal. The English word "zeal" is derived from his name.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

== Family ==
Zelus was the son of [[Pallas (Titan)|Pallas]] (the [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]]) and  [[Styx (mythology)|Styx]] (an [[Oceanid]]). His siblings were  [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] (Victory), [[Kratos (mythology)|Kratos]] (Strength), and [[Bia (mythology)|Bia]] (Force).<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D371 383&ndash;5]; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D4 1.2.4]; [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' Theogony 17 (Smith and Trzaskoma, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vczTNMWLGdoC&pg=PA95 p. 96]).</ref>

== Mythology ==

=== Titanomachy ===
Zelus together with his siblings were winged enforcers who stood in attendance at [[Zeus]]' throne and formed part of his [[retinue]].<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D371 386&ndash;7]; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D4 1.2.4&ndash;5].</ref>

==== Theogony ====
: And Styx the daughter of Okeanos (Oceanus) was joined to Pallas and bare Zelos (Zelus, Emulation) and trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the house. Also she brought forth Kratos (Cratus, 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 (Olympus), 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.<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D371 386&ndash;7]. {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Bibliotheca ====
: 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 Haides' realm, an honor granted in return for the help she and her children gave him against the Titanes (Titans).<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D4 1.2.4&ndash;5]. {{PD-notice}}</ref>

=== Other appearances ===
Zelus’ Roman name was [[Invidia]], which, in Latin, meant "to look against in a hostile manner". Because of its relation to Zelus, his Roman form was sometimes associated with the [[seven deadly sins]].

==== Works and Days ====
: 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 (hybris). 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 (Aedos, 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.<ref>Hesiod, ''[[Works and Days]]'' 175 ff. {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Cynegetica ====
: O father Zeus, how fierce a heart hath Zelos (Zelus, 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.<ref>[[Oppian of Apamea]], ''Cynegetica'' 3.236 ff. {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Zelos may have also been identified with [[Agon]], the personification of competition, and was closely connected with [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]]. He was sometimes associated with [[Phthonus]], the [[daimon]] of romantic jealousy.

==== Christianity ====
It is considered that later the [[Catholic Church]] adapted him to its doctrine (considering only its aspect related to religious fervor), providing Zelo with wings and replacing the lamp and the whip with a gospel and a flaming sword.

According to the ''[[interpretatio graeca]]'', he is also associated with the [[Horsemen of the Apocalypse|rider of the white horse]], which represents conquest or glory.<ref name="flegg">{{cite book |last1=Flegg |first1=Columba Graham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QwXC6o8jIoC&pg=PA90 |title=An Introduction to Reading the Apocalypse |date=1999 |publisher=St. Vladimir's Seminary Press |isbn=9780881411317 |location=Crestwood, New York |page=90 |access-date=2015-04-10}}</ref>

== Genealogical tree ==
{{chart top|Zelus's genealogy<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D104 132&ndash;138], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D337 337&ndash;370], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D371 383&ndash;385].</ref>}}
{{Tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | || OUR |y| GAI | | | GAI=[[Gaia]]|OUR=[[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | OCE |y| TET | | | OCE=[[Oceanus]]|TET=[[Tethys (mythology)|Tethys]]}}
{{Tree chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|(| | | }}
{{Tree chart| RIV | | OCE | | STY |y| PAL | OCE=[[Oceanids]]|RIV=[[River gods (Greek mythology)|River gods]]|STY=[[Styx]]|PAL=[[Pallas (Titan)|Pallas]]|}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | ZEL | | NIK | | KRA | | BIA | ZEL='''ZELUS'''|NIK=[[Nike (mythology)|Nike]]|KRA=[[Kratos (mythology)|Kratos]]|BIA=[[Bia (mythology)|Bia]]|}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. {{ISBN|0-674-99135-4}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Hesiod]], ''Theogony'' from ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica'' with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Hesiod]], ''Works and Days'' from ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica'' with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0128 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus, Gaius Julius]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' in ''Apollodorus' ''Library'' and Hyginus' ''Fabulae'': Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology, Translated, with Introductions by R. Scott Smith and Stephen M. Trzaskoma'', Hackett Publishing Company,  2007. {{ISBN|978-0-87220-821-6}}.

{{Greek religion}}
{{Greek mythology (deities)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greek gods]]
[[Category:Personifications in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Olympian deities]]
[[Category:Daimons]]
[[Category:Rivalry]]
[[Category:Jealousy]]