The Goddess Hera in Greek Mythology

Hera in Greek Mythology

A popular phrase states, 'Behind every great man, there is a great woman'. Throughout history, this sentiment has proven itself true on countless occasions. It can even be found in Greek mythology and was a prominent theme in the story of Hera.

While Zeus might have been the supreme ruler of the Olympian gods, his wife, Hera, stood firmly by his side, playing an equally important role in Greek culture.

Who Was Hera?

According to legend, Hera was the Queen of Mount Olympus. She eventually took on a matriarchal role in Ancient Greece, becoming the Greek goddess of women, marriage and birth.

The mythology surrounding Hera has filled several books over the centuries. Although the stories of ancient writers often contradict one another, some basic (and consistent) stories of the Greek goddess can still be established.

This article provides an overview of Hera's background. It discusses her origins, relationship with other gods (and goddesses) and the vital role she has played in Greek mythology.

Hera's Origins

Hera was the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. This made her an older sister to Zeus. During this time, Cronus was the supreme ruler of the cosmos but was fearful of losing his position of power. To make matters worse, several prophecies stated that one of his own children would eventually overthrow him. This troubled Cronus greatly.

Unwilling to accept his destiny, Cronus went to great lengths to circumvent the prophecy. Each time his wife Rhea gave birth to a son or daughter, Cronus would take the child and swallow it whole, imprisoning them within his stomach. Hera was one of the children destined to this grisly fate. The others included Hestia, Demeter, Hades and Poseidon.

Zeus would have suffered the same fate as his brothers and sisters but was spared when Rhea tricked her husband into consuming an infant-sized stone instead. Rhea then sent Zeus away (secretly) to Crete, where he grew up.

Unbeknownst to Rhea and Cronus, Zeus would eventually play a pivotal role in freeing his siblings. After reaching maturity, Zeus returned to his parents and tricked Cronus into drinking a potion. This caused the Titan to regurgitate each of his brothers and sisters.

After being freed, Zeus and his brothers (Poseidon and Hades) were then said to have taken up arms against the Titans. Hera, in turn, was passed into the care of Oceanus and Thetys until she grew into maturity.

The Role of Hera in Greek Mythology

In popular Greek mythology, Hera was seen as the Queen of Mount Olympus, a role she assumed after the Titans were defeated and her marriage to Zeus was finalized. According to legend, Hera was Zeus' third wife and was seduced by the supreme god after he transformed himself into a cuckoo. As a wedding present, Gaia presented her with a garden that grew the infamous Golden Apples.

In the years that followed, Hera acted as counsel to Zeus, offering advice and guidance on important issues. She was less powerful than him and could not overstep certain boundaries. Nevertheless, this didn't stop Hera from taking a stand against her husband when wronged or provoked to anger.

On one such occasion, Hera, Athena and Poseidon sought to imprison Zeus. Fortunately for him, the plot was prevented when Thetis called forth the Hecatonchire Briaros to act as the god's bodyguard.

Recommended

Emily Dickinson's "There is a morn by men unseen"

What Powers Did Hera Possess?

As Queen of Olympus, Hera was characterized as a mighty goddess. Her primary powers involved control over the skies. This allowed her to curse humans with powerful storms or bless them with sunny and clear weather when she was pleased.

Aside from these abilities, Hera also possessed several lesser-known powers. These included the following:

• An ability to control the minds of people and drive them insane.
• The power to turn people into animals or monsters.
• An ability to summon animals at will.
• The power of immortality and eternal youth.
• The ability to shapeshift into whatever she desired.

The Worship of Hera in Ancient Greece

The worship of Hera was widespread in Ancient Greece, with notable temples constructed at Corinth, Delos, Olympia, Paestum, Perachora, Sparta and Tiryns. There was also a temple at Samos (known as the Heraion), which was one of the largest Greek temples ever constructed.

Many towns in Ancient Greece, including Argos and Mycenae, worshipped Hera as their town’s goddess. In Heraia, public celebrations of the goddess also occurred frequently.

Due to her recognition as the goddess of marriage and birth, many women prayed to Hera while pregnant. They often asked the goddess for protection and good health for their babies.

Did the Worship of Hera Predate Zeus?

Many scholars believe the worship of Hera could have predated that of Zeus. This is based on the fact that some of the oldest places of worship in Greece were dedicated to the goddess. However, the arrival of the Hellenic people soon changed this, as their male-dominated pantheon replaced many of the female deities already in place. Hera was no exception to this rule.

The Children of Hera

Despite her portrayal as a matriarchal figure, Hera gave birth to only a few children. A general consensus from ancient sources sees Hera as the mother of three children by Zeus. These included Ares (god of war), Eileithyia (goddess of childbirth) and Hebe (goddess of youth).

Outside of her marriage, Hera also gave birth to Hephaestus. According to Greek mythology, Hera was said to have been angry about Zeus creating Athena. In response, she slapped her hand on the ground, giving birth to a son.

Hephaestus, though, was born a cripple. Aghast at his ugliness, Hera threw him from Mount Olympus. However, Hephaestus later sought revenge against his mother, creating a magical throne which ensnared Hera. He designed it to release his mother once Aphrodite was given to him as a wife.

The Vengeance of Hera

In the modern era, Hera is often perceived as a vindictive woman who dealt harshly with her husband's lovers and illegitimate offspring. Although she is occasionally seen as a victim of circumstance (since she had to deal with Zeus and his extramarital affairs regularly), this former characterization tends to dominate Greek mythology. Let's take a closer look at some of the more famous stories that deal with this theme.

Heracles

One of the most famous instances of Hera's vindictive spirit can be seen in her persecution of Heracles. When Hera learned that Alcmene was pregnant with her husband's child, she planned to prevent the pregnancy by tying Alcmene's legs together. The plot failed, however, as Heracles was born before this could take place.

Even though Heracles was named in the goddess' honour (his name translates to 'Hera-famous'), Hera still tried to kill the hero on several different occasions. The first incident occurred when Heracles was still an infant. Hoping to end his life prematurely, Hera sent two serpents to strangle him in his sleep. The child, of course, throttled the two snakes before they could harm him.

It was also Hera who caused Heracles to go temporarily insane and who initiated the '12 Labours' in the hope of killing her husband's son.

Semele and Dionysus

Another story that highlights Hera's darker side can be seen with Semele and Dionysus. Hera's persecution of Dionysus was similar to that of Heracles. In this latter case, though, the goddess also succeeded in getting revenge on his mother, Semele, who was a secret lover of Zeus.

While Semele was still pregnant with Dionysus, Hera tricked the Theban princess into asking Zeus to reveal himself in his true form. Unbeknownst to Semele, no mortal could gaze on the true form of Olympian gods. As a result, she died instantly. To save his unborn son, Zeus completed the gestation period of Dionysus by sewing him into his own thigh.

Angered by this turn of events, Hera tried to kill Dionysus when he was born, sending Titans to rip the baby apart. Although the child survived the attack, Hera kept trying to kill him in the years that followed.

Hera and the Lovers of Zeus

Hera faced a near-constant battle trying to keep up with Zeus' lovers. When she encountered them, Hera always tried to punish them severely (along with those who aided Zeus' secret affairs).

The Curse of Echo

In one story, Hera learned that the nymph Echo had been employed by Zeus to keep her distracted during his extramarital affairs. When the goddess discovered the ruse, Hera cursed Echo so that the nymph could only repeat the words of others.

The Story of Io and Argus

Io was another mistress of Zeus. To disguise her from Hera, Zeus transformed Io into a heifer. His wife was not easily fooled, though. When presented with the heifer, Hera left the cow in the charge of a hundred-eyed giant known as Argus. This meant that Zeus could no longer get close to Io.

Although Hermes eventually killed Argus (freeing Io in the process), Hera sent a gadfly to sting Io continuously, leaving the heifer to wander the earth without rest for eternity. For his loyalty and servitude—even in death—Hera honoured Argus by having his eyes placed onto the plumage of a peacock, her favourite animal.

Leto and the Python

Another story of Hera's vengeance involved Leto. After discovering that Leto was pregnant with Zeus' sons, Apollo and Artemis, Hera sent the Python to torment her. To make matters worse, she also forbade any part of the land to offer refuge to the young goddess.