If we analyze the behavior of the Gods of Olympus, we will see that they have very human and very little divine reactions, according to the parameters to which we are accustomed and that have been transmitted to us by the majority religions today. The Greek gods are capricious, vengeful, angry, jealous, vicious… and Hera, the Wife of Zeus, is a prototype in this sense. For this reason, at we suggest that you accompany us to discover Who was Hera, the wife of Zeus and through her life and other curiosities about her figureyou will know why it was said about her that I didn’t know compassion.
On previous occasions already We have approached the Father of the Greek gods and men in our entry on Who is Zeus, but we cannot forget that his sister and wife, Hera, is also an indispensable figure in Greek Myths. We are sure that her stories will surprise you… Keep reading!
Life and Curiosities of Hera, the Wife of Zeus
The etymology of the name of Hera, the wife of Zeus, is unclear, although Possibly it is the feminine of Heros, which means «lord» and therefore would mean «lady.». However, Plato gave a much more romantic version of her, for him it would come from the word ἐρατή (eratē) which means «beloved» since some myths claim that Zeus married her for love.
1. Brief Biography of Hera
The titans Rhea and Cronus had several children, but Cronus’s fear that, as predicted by his father Uranus, one of them would take away his power, made him devour them as soon as they were born. Among the children she swallowed was precisely Hera. But, when Zeus was born, Rhea deceived her husband and exchanged the child for a stone. In this way, when he grew up, Zeus poisoned his father, making her return his brothers.
Later, Zeus, god of the sky, took his sister Hera as his partner. Zeus fell in love with Hera, but the goddess rejected him. The father of the gods was not willing to give up and knowing Hera’s love for animals he turned into a little cuckoo and flew up to her window. Hera took pity on the little bird and picked it up and hugged it to her chest, at which point Zeus returned to his normal form and raped her. Hera, ashamed of what had happened, agreed to marry her brother..
Hera thus became the legitimate wife of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon and had the position of Queen of the Gods, also considered the goddess of motherhood and the one who presided over marriages. Theirs, however, was not happy due to the continuous infidelities of Zeus, although, despite this, they had three children: Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus (although it is true, some traditions add to these Ilithia, the goddess of the Parthians, and Enius, goddess of war and assistant to Ares).
It is also worth clarifying that Some myths say that Hephaestus is the son of only Hera.. She, jealous that Zeus only gave birth to Athena, decided to father Hephaestus alone. The problem is that he was born very ugly and Hera herself threw him from Olympus to Earth. For this reason, Zeus’s wife was considered not a good mother. If you want to know the revenge of Hephaestus, be sure to read our article on the Myths of Hephaestus.
Fed up with infidelities and arbitrariness, Hera joined other gods to overthrow Zeus., but the plot failed and the gods participating in it were punished so that they did not try it again. His sour and angry character came from the frustration that Zeus’s love affairs caused him, and his hatred focused on his lovers and the children that were born from those unions.
His relationship with Heracles, the hero, was especially stormy And before he was born he tied his mother’s legs so that she would not come into the world. When he was a child he sent two snakes to kill him in his crib and did not stop harming him in all the enterprises he undertook. It was the one that condemned the nymph Echo, the one who prohibited Leto (mother of Apollo and Artemis) from giving birth on dry land and the one who transformed Lamia into a monster and killed her children.
As you can imagine, the myths related to this goddess are really fascinating. So if you want to discover some of them, Don’t miss our entry on the most curious Myths of Hera.
2. Curiosities of Hera
At we are lovers of knowledge, especially if it comes from surprising data. It is for this reason that we could not fail to include in this article a section of curiosities that allow us to get even closer to Hera, the wife of Zeus. If after reading them you want to know more curiosities about other Olympic gods, be sure to read the Gods of Greek Mythology. But, below, we leave you with some curiosities about Hera.
1. Despite all the infidelities she had to suffer, Hera never cheated on Zeus with any lover.
2. Hera has a equivalent in Roman mythology: the goddess Juno.
3. During the Judgment of Paris She was defeated by Aphrodite, who was considered the most beautiful of the goddesses.
4. Hera is usually represented on a throne and with a cylindrical crown called «poles.» In addition, he usually carries in his hands a pomegranate, a symbol of fertility, and rides a chariot pulled by two peacocks.
5. Animals related to Hera are peacocks and cows.
6. She is the patron saint and protector of married women.. He presided over weddings and blessed marriages.
7. Some historians believe that his cult predates that of Zeus. and possibly comes from matriarchal societies prior to the Hellenic era.
In addition to meeting Hera, the wife of Zeus, don’t miss…
If you have enjoyed discovering Hera, the wife of Zeus, allow us to suggest other articles that you will surely find equally interesting. 🙂
- If what interests you is to continue learning about other goddesses that made up the Greek pantheon and their particularities, We suggest you delve deeper into Who Athena is.
- You can also directly access the sources and read some of the works that you will find in this compilation of Greek Mythology Books. And, if you want something more enjoyable, don’t miss Greek Mythology Phrases to know its importance.
And now, having finished our approach to Hera, the wife of Zeus, We encourage you to leave us your impressions in the comments section. Did you already know who Zeus’s wife was? Have you read about any of the myths or curiosities about her? What factor did you find the most surprising? We will be happy to read them.