The truth behind the pets
Meet the characters from Zeus the Mighty—plus the Greek gods and goddesses they’re based on.
ZEUS THE HAMSTER (NAMED AFTER ZEUS, KING OF THE GODS)
Zeus the power-hungry hamster just wants the other animals at Mount Olympus Pet Center to worship him. (Is that too much to ask?) But he’s threatened by Poseidon the pufferfish, who wants to take over. In Greek mythology, no one dared challenge Zeus ... at least not to his face. Like the tiny mammal, Zeus could be hot-tempered. But though the hamster just yells when he’s angry, the Greek god took more drastic action: He cast lightning bolts on those who crossed him.
ATHENA THE CAT (NAMED AFTER ATHENA, GODDESS OF WISDOM)
Athena the cat is supersmart, just like her namesake, who outsmarted many of her fellow gods. In Greek mythology, Athena was said to be Zeus’ favorite child and who ancient Greeks prayed to when they needed to build things like ships. Although Athena the cat doesn’t build a boat, she does pilot the pet center’s version of the Argo, a vessel from Greek mythology.
ARES THE PUG (NAMED AFTER ARES, GOD OF WAR)
Ares the dog might have a fearsome namesake, but the pooch is no threat—the super-friendly dog is easily distracted by ... anything. (Food! Other animals! New smells!) In Greek mythology, though, Ares wasn’t always a good boy. A son of Zeus, he enjoyed causing destruction. He once spent a whole year trapped in a jar as punishment for his violent ways. Ares the pug also makes trouble, just not intentionally. One time he accidentally cut off Poseidon the pufferfish’s air supply. Whoops!
POSEIDON THE PUFFERFISH (NAMED AFTER POSEIDON, GOD OF THE SEAS)
Pulled by a team of seahorses, Poseidon the pufferfish patrols the waters of Mount Olympus Pet Center. When he’s not wielding his tiny trident, he’s plotting to take power away from Zeus. In Greek mythology, Poseidon and Zeus were brothers—and they didn’t always get along. With several of his fellow gods, Poseidon led a failed rebellion against Zeus and was temporarily banished from Mount Olympus, home of the gods. Luckily Zeus the hamster isn’t as hard on Poseidon the pufferfish after he challenges Zeus’ role as ruler of the pet center.
DEMETER THE GRASSHOPPER (NAMED AFTER DEMETER, GODDESS OF THE HARVEST)
If they gave out gold stars for best best friend, Demeter the grasshopper would have many. She stays busy doing two things: eating (mostly munching on the lettuce sash she wears) and supporting Zeus and the other pets on their crazy quests. In Greek mythology, Demeter was one of Zeus’s daughters, and she helped other Greeks eat—all she needed to do was smile for plants to blossom. Although Demeter the grasshopper doesn’t magically grow things, she does feed her beloved lettuce sash to a hungry, er, “dragon.”
