Zeus with an eagle

A statue of Zeus is accompanied by an eagle, known as Aetos Dios. A golden eagle who served as Zeus' personal messenger and animal companion. According to some, it was once a mortal king named Periphas, whose virtuous rule was so celebrated that he came to be honoured like a god. Zeus, in anger, would have smitten him with a thunderbolt, but Apollon intervened and transformed the king into an eagle and set him beside the throne of Zeus. According to others, Zeus adopted the eagle when it first appeared to him before the Titan War as a sign of good omen.