Bust of Hera |
Hera
Roman name: Juno
Goddess of marriage and childbirth, Zeus’ main consort
Hera was a major Olympian goddess. She was a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and the sister and main consort of Zeus.
Hera features most frequently in Greek legends attempting to curb Zeus’ amorous exploits.
Sacred animals include the cow (?a maternal creature) and the peacock (a symbol of pride).
She is usually represented as a severe but youthful matron.
Women's Goddess
Hera was the goddess of marriage and the life of women. She was the protectress of women in childbirth. She was the patron goddess of Argos where she was worshipped as Eileithyia – the birth goddess.
Hera was said to renew her virginity each year by bathing in the well at Canathus.
Jealous Wife
Hera was Zeus’ main consort and the Queen of the Gods. Their children were the blacksmith god Hephaestus, the goddess of youth Hebe, and the god of war Ares. Hera was so forceful that even Zeus had difficulty controlling her, and sometimes resorted to chaining her to Mount Olympus with anvils.
Unfortunately, Zeus was a tirelessly unfaithful husband, and Hera vindictively pursued and punished the objects of his affection and their offspring.
Amongst Zeus’ illegitimate offspring were Dionysus, who Hera tried to kill in utero; the twins Apollo and Artemis whose birth Hera tried to prevent; and Heracles, in whose cradle Hera placed two serpents.
When Hera discovered that the nymph Echo had been engaging her in conversation to distract her from Zeus’ infidelities, the goddess condemned Echo to repeat other people’s words endlessly.
Hera and Hephaestus
Hephaestus is said to be the son of Hera and Zeus, but in some versions of the story he was said to be born parthogenetically (without sex) by Hera, in order to punish Zeus for impregnating the goddess Metis.
In one story, Hera was disgusted when Hephaestus was born weak and crippled and she threw him off Mount Olympus, where he fell for a whole day before landing in the sea, to be rescued and raised by sea-nymphs.
In revenge, Hephaestus subsequently wrought a magic throne that entrapped his mother when she sat upon it. Hera was only freed from her prison when Zeus gave Hephaestus Aphrodite’s hand in marriage.