Before Zeus

. . . there was Phil . Or whoever the deity was who required animal sacrifices to keep from getting his panties in a bunch. As Zeus was god of thunder, “Phil” was god of excess humidity, making him one of the least popular divinities, explaining his sudden disappearance.

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Of Roots and Adventures

Peter J. Leithart

I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia (twice), Pennsylvania, Alabama (also twice), England, and Idaho. I left…

Our Most Popular Articles of 2025

The Editors

It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the…

Our Year in Film & Television—2025

Various

First Things editors and writers share the most memorable films and TV shows they watched this year.…