In this lesson, I’ve gathered two different methods that will teach you how to draw Zeus, the chief god of the Ancient Greek pantheon.

How to Draw Zeus: Basic Information

On this page, I’ve compiled two different lessons on drawing Zeus for you. These lessons vary significantly in style, approach, color tones, and other aspects. I encourage you to try both to train your skills.

By following this step-by-step guide, a young artist can not only learn how to draw Zeus but also gain skills to create images of other ancient Greek gods.

By following the steps below, you can draw Poseidon, Hades, or other ancient Greek gods. All you need to do is add the appropriate attributes to the character, such as a trident or a spear.

So, gather all your art supplies and have them ready in front of you. Then, scroll down the page and start drawing the Greek God!

Zeus Drawing Tutorial

Materials:

Pencil
Paper
Eraser
Coloring supplies

Time needed: 45 minutes

How to Draw Zeus

Draw the basic shapes of the head and body.
Begin by sketching a simple outline of Zeus’s head and body. Draw an oval shape for the head, slightly wider at the top, and a smaller, elongated oval for the body, tapering slightly towards the bottom. These shapes will serve as the foundation for Zeus’s figure.
Add the facial features of Zeus.
Start by drawing two large, round eyes near the center of the face, giving Zeus a wise and gentle expression. Next, draw a small, curved line beneath the eyes for the nose, and add a simple, subtle smile below it. Then draw the eyebrows just above the eyes of the Greek God.
Draw the ears and beard.
Add two small semi-circles on each side of the head for the ears, ensuring they are level with the eyes. Then, sketch the outline of his beard, starting from just below the ears and curving around the chin. The beard should be full and fluffy, giving Zeus a wise and elder appearance.
Sketch the hair of Zeus.
Begin by adding wavy, flowing lines around the top of the head, extending outward to create a full, thick mane. The hair should have a slightly wild, untamed look, with some strands curving in different directions. You can make the hair more realistic sketching some additional lines inside the contour of the hairstyle.
Add the arms of the Greek God.
Start by sketching the arms extending out from the body. The right hand of Zeus hould be drawn in a simple shape, ready to hold the lightning bolt. To give your Zeus drawing more realistic look, you can add som lines of the muscles inside the contours of the arms.
Illustrate the clothes.
Begin by drawing the outline of his robe, starting from the left shoulder and draping it diagonally across the body. Extend the robe down to cover the lower part of the body. At the bottom, add a small curve to represent the robe’s edge.
Draw the lightning bolt and detail the clothes.
In this step, you’ll add Zeus’s iconic lightning bolt and refine the folds in his robe. Start by drawing a jagged, angular lightning bolt extending from his right hand. The bolt should have sharp, distinct edges. Then, go back to the robe and add more detailed folds.
Finalize the sketch.
Go over the outlines of the hair, beard, and clothing of Zeus, making them more defined and consistent. Ensure the proportions are correct, and make any necessary adjustments. This step involves cleaning up the sketch, erasing any unnecessary guidelines, and preparing the Zeus drawing for coloring.
Color your Zeus drawing.
Color Zeus’s hair and beard in shades of gray or white to represent his age and wisdom. His robe can be colored in a pale beige or off-white, and the lightning bolt should be a bright yellow or golden color. Add soft skin tones to his face and hands, and consider shading.

How to Draw Zeus: Alternative Technique

This tutorial serves as an additional guide to the first one, offering a much simpler approach to drawing Zeus. Unlike the previous tutorial, this one follows a completely different sequence of steps, making it easier for beginners to follow along.

Start by drawing a simple oval shape for the head. Next, outline the hair with flowing, wavy lines that frame the face. Move on to sketching the body, which should be a simple, elongated shape extending downward from the head. After that, add the laurel wreath on top of the head by drawing a series of overlapping oval shapes to represent the leaves.

Now, draw the beard, starting from the sides of the face and curving it down to cover the chin. Proceed by adding the facial features: draw large, round eyes and a slightly open mouth. Then, sketch the arms extending outward; one arm should be slightly bent, as if ready to hold something, while the other arm is outstretched.

Finally, erase the guidelines and color your Zeus drawing by shading the laurel wreath green, adding light skin tones, and finishing the rest of the figure with appropriate colors.

Zeus Worksheets

Conclusion

So, that was a lesson on drawing Zeus, a deity whose name is familiar to anyone interested in Greek mythology. I hope this lesson has inspired you to get acquainted with art even closely, just as Greek mythology inspired the artists of antiquity and the Renaissance to create their masterpieces.

Be sure to check out the Myths section on my website; you’ll definitely find a lot of fascinating content there. Also, don’t forget to follow me on social media, share this tutorial, and leave comments with suggestions for future lessons.