Zeus was born to the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Cronus, fearing a prophecy that one of his children would overthrow him, swallowed each newborn as they were born. When Zeus arrived, Rhea deceived Cronus by giving him a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead, and secretly hid the baby on the island of Crete.

In the Cretan cave, the infant Zeus was cared for by Amaltheia, the divine goat.

Amaltheia fed Zeus with her milk, sustaining him until he was strong enough to challenge Cronus.

To prevent the child's cries from being heard, armored warriors clashed their shields and danced loudly outside the cave.

One of Amaltheia's horns was accidentally broken by Zeus. Zeus blessed the horn transforming it into the cornucopia, the Horn of Plenty, which could produce endless food and riches. This symbol became a lasting emblem of abundance and prosperity in Greek and later Roman culture.

When Amaltheia, the goat, died Zeus took her skin and made his powerful shield AEGIS which is often used by his daughter Athena also. Zeus made her soul the goddess of wealth and abundance.