A Conversation with Zeus

The author, troubled by ongoing wars, dreams of flying from Mount Ararat to Mount Olympus to question Zeus about humanity's suffering and the nature of peace and conflict.

Dear Readers:

Wars never end. In fact, one begins before another finishes; not content with this, they instill a sense of hopelessness in our hearts, threatening us by saying, "worse may come."

For days, I have read hundreds of articles about the Israel-Palestine war. I watched videos. Everything depends on our perspective: Sometimes we say, "Israel is right," sometimes "Palestine is right," and sometimes we curse both. While accusations and shouts of victory ring in our ears, the suffering of Jewish and Palestinian civilians fills our hearts, deeply affecting us: beheaded Jewish children, Palestinian children with bloodied faces…

Last night, I lay down with such complex emotions. Thoughts continued to gnaw at my mind. The thought of a potential world war further increased my unease. The fronts seem clear: On one side, Russia-China-Iran-North Korea-Pakistan; on the other, USA-European Union-Australia-India-Japan-South Korea… A spark, an excuse, will be enough for a world war. Thinking that a similar situation occurred in the First and Second World Wars further reinforces my pessimism.

I couldn't sleep. I came to the living room. My cat, Bıcık, followed me. I settled into the armchair and remained there for a while.

Şeval has made it a habit to do her ironing at midnight because electricity is cheaper then. She irons and asks questions. She confesses: "Wars fought in the name of religion disgust me."

Şeval suddenly changes the subject and asks: "During the Ottoman period, there was a Kurdistan Province. Why did it disappear?"

My mind is scattered. I try to explain what I know, but my mind is on the war. On what might happen tomorrow…

"With the Tanzimat Edict signed in 1839, the Westernization period began in the Ottoman Empire. There was a need for a regular army. The Tanzimat Edict made military service compulsory for men for 10 years. There were dozens of principalities in the Kurdistan Province. They had no responsibilities other than paying taxes to the state and sending soldiers in times of war. The state declared that compulsory military service for all men was mandatory. The Kurdish principalities, unable to withstand this pressure, resisted at first but eventually disappeared one by one. Thus, the Kurdistan Province came to an end."

I return to bed. I don't know how, but I fell into a deep sleep. I found myself flying on the neck of a gigantic bird, just like the Phoenix in fairy tales. The bird began to fly from Mount Ararat towards Mount Olympus.

I got on the bird and set off from Mount Ararat towards Mount Olympus

MOUNT OLYMPUS

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. It is 80 km southwest of Thessaloniki. According to Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of the gods, and other gods and goddesses live on Mount Olympus.

The bird I was on brought me to the foot of Mount Olympus. The slopes of the mountain were full of acropolises. In the ancient Greek world, acropolises were usually built on high places considered sacred or providing natural protection against enemy attacks.

Mount Olympus and the acropolises where the gods lived

I was deeply astonished by what I saw. As the bird flew, I gazed around in admiration. Acropolises were everywhere. Rocks were carved, walls were built from stone blocks, and massive structures were surrounded by marble columns on all sides. The gods lived in these buildings.

I called out to the bird:

"I want to see Zeus, the king of the gods. Take me to him!"

"Zeus lives in the acropolis at the summit of that mountain. I am not allowed to go there. I will drop you off here."

MEETING ZEUS

I said goodbye to the bird and began to climb the mountain. The sun was shining brightly… An indescribable peace and tranquility filled my soul. I had come to another world, perhaps a heavenly one. It had nothing to do with the world I lived in. I continued my way, passing through the acropolises. The acropolis where Zeus stayed was at the summit of the mountain, above the clouds. It was magnificent. Zeus would hold court in his palace, discuss important matters with other gods, pass judgment, and watch the mortal world from afar.

Gods or goddesses sat in the acropolises I passed.

Hera, the goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth, smiled at me. Poseidon, the god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses, was asleep. Demeter, the goddess of harvest, fertility, agriculture, nature, and seasons, was bustling about. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, mathematics, strength, strategy, and skill, blocked my path and asked, "O mortal, what are you looking for here?"

Apollo, the god of music, art, knowledge, healing, disease, poetry, prophecy, archery, and the sun, was plucking the strings of a musical instrument, and a rising sound echoed on Mount Olympus. Artemis, the goddess of hunting, wilderness, the moon, archery, childbirth, virginity, and the protector of young girls, hugged me, saying, "I have never kissed a mortal man." Then Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion, and fertility, appeared before me. "Have you ever experienced love?" she asked. "The world I come from is engulfed in pain and fire. There is no time for love!" I replied.

Hermes, the god of trade, merchants, roads, thieves, travelers, and death, asked with a mocking smile, "Have you ever wondered about the underworld?" "I am mortal. I will see the underworld one day anyway. I am not curious," I said, walking away. Dionysus, the god of grape harvest, winemaking, fertility, religious ecstasy, and theater, offered me a glass of wine. I angrily refused: "Now is not the time for entertainment. I need to discuss serious matters with Zeus," I said, walking away.

Finally, I reached the acropolis at the summit, above the clouds. They brought me before Zeus. I asked:

"O Zeus, king of the gods! You, who are the god of law, order, and justice. Why do you inflict this cruelty upon humanity?"

"What happened, O mortal?"

I told him about the wars and suffering. Zeus rose from his seat in a rage, shouting: "Bring me Ares immediately!"

Soon after, Ares, the god of war, bloodshed, and violence, appeared before Zeus. He knelt in respect and fear. Zeus reprimanded him:

"Why do you inflict this cruelty upon humans?"

Zeus, king of the gods, interrogating Ares, the god of war

"O Mighty Zeus, humans cannot learn peace, cannot understand the value of peace, without fighting, shedding blood, and suffering. I drag humanity from war to war so that they may find peace and tranquility. The more suffering I inflict, the better they will know the value of peace."

Zeus thoughtfully stroked his beard, shouting: "Call Irene for me!"

Irene was the goddess of peace. Soon after, Irene entered. In her hand, she held flowers and a fruit basket. Zeus snapped:

"Is Ares right, can humanity not learn peace without war? Why did I make you the goddess of peace? Why are you not doing your duty?"

Zeus, king of the gods, interrogating Irene, the goddess of peace

Irene, shy and timid, pointed to the apple on the ground and replied:

"O Mighty Zeus! You are to blame. I ask, who was the first sinner? You created Adam and Eve. You warned Adam not to eat the forbidden apple. The serpent tempted them. Eve and Adam ate the apple. They learned good and evil. And you cast them out of paradise and sent them to Earth. Do you remember?"

"Yes, I remember! What can I do?"

"It's too late for everything! Humanity has learned good and evil. They will both fight and make peace; this situation will continue forever."