HESIOD

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This statue from Sicily (c560 BCE) depicts a mother goddess with a baby on each breast. The resistance of the mother goddess poses a serious problem for the sky gods in the Theogony, finally solved by Zeus, who swallows his first wife, Metis.

This link presents images depicting gods and events from the Theogony. For images depicting the myths of Bellerophon and Perseus, follow these links:

BELLEROPHON

PERSEUS

Wall painting from Pompeii (II 3 3), ca70 CE, it shows Aphrodite emerging from the sea on a clamshell. The figure on the left appears to be a humorous representation of Kronos with a long sickle, riding on a dolphin, and on the right is Cupid (Eros). Remember, in Greek mythology he is both a primal entity in Hesiod and the child of Aphrodite and Ares.

A later Roman mosaic, from El Djem in north Africa (ca200-300 CE), it again shows Aphrodite emerging from the sea, drying off her hair and getting ready to put on some of the jewelry offered to her by the Cupids. The left-hand Cupid also holds a mirror.

Attic red-figure Krater (mixing bowl), from Sicily, ca460 BCE. Kronos, on the far left, receives the stone wrapped in swaddling clothes from Rhea, immediately in front of him. The two women at center and right do not have a secure identification.

A Roman decorative frieze from the period of Augustus (31 BCE - 14 CE), from Gaul, it shows Zeus being suckled by Rhea on Crete, with the Curetes clanging their shields above him, to keep Kronos from hearing him cry.

As you know, Zeus rapidly grows up and gets some help from monsters in his battle against Kronos and the Titans. The Cyclopes forge thunderbolts for him, and the Hundred-Handed creatures (Kottos, Briareus, and Gyges) come up from Tartaros to aid him.

A Roman portrayal of a Cyclops, probably from the high empire (90 -160 CE)

A Roman wall painting (Pompeii VII 2 25), showing three Cyclopes hard at work forging a thunderbolt for Zeus (the Cyclops at left holds the bolt across his knee, onto the anvil, and beats it with a hammer).

Attic red-figure vase, ca480-470 BCE, it shows Zeus rushing into action with thunderbolt in hand.

A Hydria (water pot), Chalcidian, black-figure, ca540-530 BCE, showing Zeus using the thunderbolt to defeat Typhoeus, the monster created from intercourse between Gaia and Tartarus.

A red-figure oinochoe (wine-pouring jar) from Apulia (southern Italy), ca300 BCE, showing Zeus rushing in on a chariot to strike Typhoeus with a thunderbolt; Typhoeus has apparently been depicted as a hybrid, both a snaky-footed Giant and big-headed wind god.

A silver relief plaque (Sicilian, ca530 BCE) showing the confrontation between Zeus and Typhoeus, who, as in the first vase-painting, has a snaky lower body and wings.

With the help of his Olympian siblings, Zeus defeats the Titans, and later defeats the Giants. Gigantomachies (battles between the Giants and the Olympians) were very popular in Greek art. This black-figure amphora (from Caere in Etruria) shows Zeus using his thunderbolt (top register), Hera using her staff, Athena her armor, and Poseidon his trident (lower register).

Finally, Zeus has the contest of wits with Prometheus, which leads to the theft of fire and the creation of Pandora--and the punishment of Prometheus.

This red-figure vase, in comic style (with Satyrs), shows the theft of fire by Prometheus.

The result, for men, is the creation of the first woman, Pandora. This red-figure vase shows her emerging from the earth through the techne (skill) of Hephaistos. A winged Eros sprinkles desire on her, as Hermes prepares to lead her to Epimetheus.

The result, for Prometheus, was extended punishment, tied to a rock (or here, a column) in the Caucasus, where his liver was eaten daily by a vulture (or eagle), and regrew every night. Eventually, he would be released by Herakles because he knew the name of Thetis, the woman fated to have a son greater than his father.