The Krewe of Zeus was actually established
in 1957. In 1958 they presented the first
night time parade ever held in a suburb
outside of New Orleans on Metairie Road.
Today they are considered the oldest parading
organization in Jefferson Parish.The club
became the first such krewe to own its
den and the first to provide reviewing
stands for special children.
Mythical Zeus, the youngest son of Cronus
and Rhea, he was the supreme ruler of
Mount Olympus and of the Pantheon of gods
who resided there. Being the supreme ruler
he upheld law, justice and morals, and
this made him the spiritual leader of
both gods and men. Zeus was a celestial
god, and originally worshiped as a weather
god by the Greek tribes. As his main attribute
is the thunderbolt, he controlled thunder,
lightning and rain. Theocritus wrote circa
265 BCE: "sometimes Zeus is clear,
sometimes he rains". He is also known
to have caused thunderstorms. In Homer's
epic poem the Iliad he sent thunderstorms
against his enemies. The name Zeus is
related to the Greek word dios, meaning
"bright". His other attributes
as well as lightning were the scepter,
the eagle and his aegis (this was the
goat-skin of Amaltheia).
The Zeus organization staged more than
two dozen bal masques at the New Orleans
municipal Auditorium, before changing
formats in 1986.
Krewe of Zeus usual Lundi Gras Night
spectacular is the Jefferson Paraish Mardi
Gras highlight of the year. Fashioned
as a contemporary-styled parade, the traditional
feel of carnival is preserved in the mule-drawn
king's float and calliope. Though this
year they will parade on January 6th,
2007 (7pm) on the traditional St. Patricks
Day Parade old Metairie Road route with
a few grand marked changes.
The 2007 Parade will begin at 41st Street
and Severn (Rummel High School) turn right
on Metairie Road, Then take a left on
Bonnabel to Hesoid Street turning back
on Bonnabel to Metairie Road, ending at
Focis Street.
One should note here that Hesoid a greek
Poet, who lived around 700 BC serves as
a major source for knowledge of the Greek
gods and their mythology, farming techniques,
archaic Greek astronomy and ancient time-keeping.
Zeus was the highest deity on Mount Olympus
and served as the ruler of all the gods
of ancient Greece. Before the abolition
of monarchies, Zeus was protector of the
king and his family. Once the age of Greek
kings faded into democracy he became chief
judge and peacemaker, but most importantly
civic god. He brought peace in place of
violence and Hesiod (circa 700 BCE) describes
Zeus as "the lord of justice".
Zeus was also known as "Kosmetas"
(orderer), "Soter" (savior),
"Polieos" (overseer of the polis,
city) and "Eleutherios" (guarantor
of political freedoms). His duties in
this role were to maintain the laws, protect
suppliants, to summon festivals and to
give prophecies (his oldest and most famous
oracle was at Dodona, in Epirus, northwestern
Greece). As the supreme deity Zeus oversaw
the conduct of civilized life. But the
"father of gods and men" as
Homer calls him, has many mythological
tales.
Krewe of Zeus (the king of the gods),
continues the ancient tradition by calling
its doubloons, drachmas, and by employing
the Greek motif throughout its parade
and ball.
Please see Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
Parade Route Map and return here often
for all your Krewe Of Zeus 2007 Mardi
Gras important Updated Parade information.
