Jupiter was the son of Saturn, King of the Gods. Saturn, Cronus to the Greeks, had a nasty habit of eating his children to prevent them from overthrowing him. Jupiter survived after his mother Rhea tricked him into eating a stone instead.

Jupiter fulfilled his father's fears by overthrowing him and then carved up the universe into three parts. Jupiter himself ruled the sky, Neptune was granted dominion over the sea and Pluto became ruler of the underworld.

Jupiter's wife Juno was very jealous of the attention he gave to other Goddesses and women. Jupiter would often disguise himself a bird or animal in order to sleep with other women. Usually when Juno, who possessed great powers, found out about the affair she would severely punish the woman.

When Jupiter fell in love with Io he turned her into a cow to protect her from Juno. Juno discovered the affair and tied up the cow. When Io escaped, freed by Mercury, Juno sent a gadfly to bite Io for all eternity.