Hera is the Queen of Olympus, wife and sister of Zeus. She is the Goddess of women, family, and marriage, and is often vengeful with Zeus and his adulterous ways.
There are several interpretations of her name. We have 'ripe for marriage', 'beloved', 'hero', 'young cow', or 'the female who is attached'.
She was worshipped across Ancient Greece, and it is believed that she may be the first deity to have had an enclosed, roofed temple built to her. She has several festivals dedicated to her, with her marriage to Zeus being the main theme in many of them. During Argive, the priestess of Hera was carried on a structure pulled by white heifers to her sanctuary. Plataia was a celebration of marriage where a puppet would be 'named' as Hera, washed in a river, and married with Zeus. At the festival of Heraia, virgin women would compete in a foot race, with the prize being an olive wreath.
There are several tales which tell us of her anger and jealousy towards Zeus' other lovers and children. One of the main tales involves Heracles. As Heracles mother was about to give birth, Zeus told all of the Gods that on that day a child would be born who would rule, meaning Heracles himself. However, Hera had other plans; Zeus had previously had another son with a mortal woman, a son named Perseus. He, in turn, had a son called Sthenelus, who became the King of Tiryns and Mycenae. Perseus was married, and his wife was seven months pregnant at that time. Through his lineage, the son of Perseus would also be a son of Zeus, and so Hera made the wife of Perseus give birth early, whilst also preventing Heracles from being delivered. As such, Eurystheus was born first and Zeus prophecy was granted to him.
There are several interpretations of her name. We have 'ripe for marriage', 'beloved', 'hero', 'young cow', or 'the female who is attached'.
She was worshipped across Ancient Greece, and it is believed that she may be the first deity to have had an enclosed, roofed temple built to her. She has several festivals dedicated to her, with her marriage to Zeus being the main theme in many of them. During Argive, the priestess of Hera was carried on a structure pulled by white heifers to her sanctuary. Plataia was a celebration of marriage where a puppet would be 'named' as Hera, washed in a river, and married with Zeus. At the festival of Heraia, virgin women would compete in a foot race, with the prize being an olive wreath.
There are several tales which tell us of her anger and jealousy towards Zeus' other lovers and children. One of the main tales involves Heracles. As Heracles mother was about to give birth, Zeus told all of the Gods that on that day a child would be born who would rule, meaning Heracles himself. However, Hera had other plans; Zeus had previously had another son with a mortal woman, a son named Perseus. He, in turn, had a son called Sthenelus, who became the King of Tiryns and Mycenae. Perseus was married, and his wife was seven months pregnant at that time. Through his lineage, the son of Perseus would also be a son of Zeus, and so Hera made the wife of Perseus give birth early, whilst also preventing Heracles from being delivered. As such, Eurystheus was born first and Zeus prophecy was granted to him.
Hera's torment of Heracles did not stop there. When he was an infant she sent two serpents to kill him in his cot, but he killed them instead with nothing but his bare hands. When he reached adulthood, Hera used her power to drive him made, resulting in Heracles killing his family, and when he was punished by having to perform twelve labours, she sought to make each one more difficult for him.
When Leto became pregnant through Zeus with the twins Apollo and Artemis, Hera petitioned the nature spirits to prevent them from letting Leto give birth on land. When she learned of the birth of Dionysus by Zeus and Demeter or Persephone, she sent the Titans to kill him. They succeeded, but he was born again to a mortal named Semele. Hera tricked Semele by telling her to ask Zeus to reveal his true form, knowing it would kill her.
She had several of her own children with Zeus, including the war God Ares; Angelos; Arge; the three Charities; the Goddess of childbirth Eileithyia; Eleutheria; the Goddess of discord Eris; Hebe; and the blacksmithing God Hephaestus.
We do not have much in the way of associations with Hera. The cow, peacock, and cuckoo are known to be symbolic of her, as is the pomegranate, crown, and sceptre. The statues we have seen of Hera show her very plainly, wearing a robe and often a diadem. Call upon her any matters related to marriage, childbirth, or the family, especially when you are in need of protection in such things.
When Leto became pregnant through Zeus with the twins Apollo and Artemis, Hera petitioned the nature spirits to prevent them from letting Leto give birth on land. When she learned of the birth of Dionysus by Zeus and Demeter or Persephone, she sent the Titans to kill him. They succeeded, but he was born again to a mortal named Semele. Hera tricked Semele by telling her to ask Zeus to reveal his true form, knowing it would kill her.
She had several of her own children with Zeus, including the war God Ares; Angelos; Arge; the three Charities; the Goddess of childbirth Eileithyia; Eleutheria; the Goddess of discord Eris; Hebe; and the blacksmithing God Hephaestus.
We do not have much in the way of associations with Hera. The cow, peacock, and cuckoo are known to be symbolic of her, as is the pomegranate, crown, and sceptre. The statues we have seen of Hera show her very plainly, wearing a robe and often a diadem. Call upon her any matters related to marriage, childbirth, or the family, especially when you are in need of protection in such things.
