Zeusophany

A description of war in heaven from The Fall of Troy by Quintus of Smyrna sounds familiar to Bible readers:

“Yet men feared not, for naught they knew of all

That strife, by Heaven’s decree. Then her high peaks

The Gods’ hands wrenched from Ida’s crest, and hurled

Against each other: but like crumbling sands

Shivered they fell round those invincible limbs,

Shattered to small dust. But the mind of Zeus,

At the utmost verge of earth, was ware of all:

Straight left he Ocean’s stream, and to wide heaven

Ascended, charioted upon the winds,

The East, the North, the West-wind, and the South:

For Iris rainbow-plumed led ‘neath the yoke

Of his eternal ear that stormy team,

The ear which Time the immortal framed for him

Of adamant with never-wearying hands.

So came he to Olympus’ giant ridge.

His wrath shook all the firmament, as crashed

From east to west his thunders; lightnings gleamed,

As thick and fast his thunderbolts poured to earth,

And flamed the limitless welkin. Terror fell

Upon the hearts of those Immortals: quaked

The limbs of all — ay, deathless though they were!”