Hera - Queen of Olympus & Greek Goddess Of Marriage

[bridget ann orman]

Hera – Greek Goddess of Marriage and Queen of OlympusHera is the Queen of the GODS and is the wife and sister of ZEUSShe is known for being the Goddess of Marriage & Birth. Despite being the Goddess of Marriage, she was known to be jealous and vengeful towards the many lovers and offspring of her husband Zeus.She was also known to turn her anger towards mortals who crossed her as well – for example, Paris, who chose APHRODITE over Hera as the most beautiful goddess at the marriage of the sea-nymph Thetis to a mortal called PELEUS.In images and STATUES, Hera is portrayed as being majestic and solemn, crowned with the polos – a high cylindrical crown worn by many of the Great Goddesses.Even before her marriage with Zeus, she ruled over the heavens and the Earth. This is one reason why she is referred to as ‘The Queen of Heaven’ – ruling over Mount Olympus where all the gods and GODDESSES live.Goddess HeraThe Hera LineAs the wife of Zeus and queen of the Olympians, Hera’s family ties are central to many Greek myths. Her children include:Ares, the god of war,Hebe, the goddess of youth,Hephaestus, the god of fire and forge,EILEITHYIA, the goddess of childbirth.Some myths account or Zeus being the father of all four of these children. Others claim that Hephaestus was a parthenogenous child of Hera alone. There are also singular myths that present Angelos as another child of Zeus and Hera but the mythology around this is scarce.Hera’s relationship with her husband Zeus is famously tumultuous, marked by jealousy and strife due to Zeus’s infidelities. Despite this, Hera remains loyal and committed to her role, embodying the ideals of marital fidelity and family unity. But oh boy can she be vengeful!Even the great Zeus feared his wife Hera. Her never-ending hatred of Heracles, the illegitimate son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene stemmed from his continuous adultery and, amongst other things, Hera raised a storm at sea in order to drive Heracles out of his course to kill him.Zeus became so angry that he hung her in the clouds by a golden chain, and attached heavy anvils to her feet. Her son HEPHAESTUS tried to release his mother from her humiliating position, for which Zeus threw him out of heaven, and his leg was broken by the fall.The Hera LineAs the wife of Zeus and queen of the Olympians, Hera’s family ties are central to many Greek myths. Her children include:Ares, the god of war,Hebe, the goddess of youth,Hephaestus, the god of fire and forge,EILEITHYIA, the goddess of childbirth.Some myths account or Zeus being the father of all four of these children. Others claim that Hephaestus was a parthenogenous child of Hera alone. There are also singular myths that present Angelos as another child of Zeus and Hera but the mythology around this is scarce.Hera’s relationship with her husband Zeus is famously tumultuous, marked by jealousy and strife due to Zeus’s infidelities. Despite this, Hera remains loyal and committed to her role, embodying the ideals of marital fidelity and family unity. But oh boy can she be vengeful!Even the great Zeus feared his wife Hera. Her never-ending hatred of Heracles, the illegitimate son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene stemmed from his continuous adultery and, amongst other things, Hera raised a storm at sea in order to drive Heracles out of his course to kill him.Zeus became so angry that he hung her in the clouds by a golden chain, and attached heavy anvils to her feet. Her son HEPHAESTUS tried to release his mother from her humiliating position, for which Zeus threw him out of heaven, and his leg was broken by the fall.Powers of HeraHera could control human bonds and relationships as well as fertility, birth and reproduction. She could make others pregnant or get pregnant herself – Hephaestus was born without help from Zeus.Hera’s abilities also included manipulating curses, for example- transforming humans into beasts or making them insane. One nymph she cursed was Echo, who could only ever repeat the words of others.