Titanomachy
Known as the Clash of the Titans or Battle of the Gods, Zeus was a key warrior in the Titanomachy, the battle between the Olympian Gods and his father Cronus' Titans. The Olympians defeated the Titans and Zeus became recognised as the King of the Gods. He shared the world with his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades. Zeus received the heavens, Poseidon the seas, and Hades the underworld.
Zeus
Hades
Poseidon
Hera
Demeter
The Olympians fight back
This story follows on from Zeus rescuing his siblings from the insides of his father, Cronus. His siblings, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia and Demeter joined Zeus in revenge and planned to overthrow the Titan gods and their father Cronus. Themis and her son Prometheus also importantly sided with Zeus instead of their fellow Titans.
Ten long years
The war raged on for ten years and the sides were equal. Then, Zeus released the brothers of Cronus, the Hecatoncheires and the Cyclopes, from the deep abyss of Tartarus. They joined forces with the Olympians over the Titans to fight in the Titanomachy. The Cyclopes forged Zeus' mighty thunderbolt, and Zeus no longer held back but furiously hurled his lightning at the Titans.
The Hecatoncheires, or 'Hundred-handed ones' filled their many hands with rocks and began hurling these at the Titans. Their many rocks rained down on the Titans, burying them into Tartarus far below the earth.
Titans trapped and Olympians victorious
The Titans were finally defeated and trapped underground in the deep abyss of Tartarus. Poseidon cast gates of bronze around them to keep them locked way. The Olympians had won. Zeus was decided as the successor for leadership of the gods, and he divided up the realms between himself and his brothers, Poseidon and Hades.