CIRCA 1ST CENTURY A.D.

The Greek god Zeus (Roman Jupiter) was the supreme Olympian ruling deity. As ruler of the heavens, he was particularly associated with rainstorms, thunder and lightning. His power and authority were expressed not only by the thunderbolt, but also by the eagle which soars close to heaven. These two attributes were not purely symbols but were at times thought to personify the god. Amongst other legends, Zeus carried off Ganymede while in the form of an eagle, also as an eagle he captured the nymph Aegina. So, too, an eagle punished Prometheus by pecking his liver, after Prometheus had stolen fire for mankind and unleashed the wrath of Zeus.