Hera

The Seduction of Hera

The Judgement of Paris

• After many failed attempts to seduce Hera, Zeus decided to trick her by turning into a cuckoo bird.
• Hera felt sorry for the bird and held it to her breast to keep it warm.
• At this point, Zeus turned back into his true form.
• He took advantage of Hera's shock and raped her.
• Hera married Zeus to cover up her shame.

The Birth of Hera

• Peleus and Thetis were getting married and Eris was not invited, but she came anyway.
• When she was turned away, she threw a golden apple toward a group of goddesses (Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena) and declared it to be "to the fairest."
• All three women claimed the golden apple and Zeus declared that Paris of Troy was to decide which goddess deserved the golden apple.
• Aphrodite offered him Helen's hand in marriage; Hera offered to make him king of all men; Athena offered him victory in war.
• Troy declared Aphrodite to be "the fairest" and accepted Helen as his wife.

• Cronus was informed by Gaia and Ouranos that he would be overthrown [as king] by his son.
• This influenced him to eat each of his children as they were born (including Hera).
• When Zeus was born, Rhea hid him from Cronus.
• When Zeus was older, he tricked Cronus into swallowing a potion that made him throw up all of his children.

The Fostering of Hera

• When Zeus drove Cronus underneath the earth and the barren waters, Rhea brought Hera to Tethys and Ocean (Titans).
• From then on, Hera was raised by Tethys and Ocean.

Hera's Wrath of Zeus' Mistresses

Allusions

Major Women:

Leto: Leto was the first goddess that Zeus had an affair with after marrying Hera. Hera sent the Drakon Python to pursue her relentlessly while she was pregnant.

Semele: Semele was tricked by Hera into asking Zeus to come to her as he came to Hera during their courtship. Zeus could not refuse and showed up in her bridal chamber and threw a thunderbolt at her. Semele died of fright and Zeus took her aborted child from the flames and sewed it into his thigh.

• The month of June is named after Hera's Roman name, Juno, because it is the most popular month for marriage.

• The cow is used to symbolize Hera's nurturing watchfulness.

• The peacock represents Hera's luxury, beauty, and immortality.

Family

Bibliography

http://www.mythweb.com/gods/hera.html

http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/hera/

http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Hera/hera.html

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HeraMyths.html

http://www.griffinquestproject.weebly.com/heras-powers.html

https://sites.google.com/site/wwwheragreekgoddesscom/modern-allusions

Powers

parents: Cronus & Rhea

raised by: Ocean & Tethys

married to: Zeus

siblings: Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, and Demeter

• super strength
• immortality
• resistance to injury
• could bless and curse marriages
• could protect women from rape
• prevent death during childbirth
• preserve the health of women

Associations

• sacred plant of Hera: lily

• sacred animals of Hera: cow and peacock

• sacred city of Hera: Argos

• sacred emblems of Hera: diadem, scepter, pomegranate

Hera

Queen of Immortals