Tammy Gagne - Hera: Queen of the Greek Gods

Hera was the Greek goddess of marriage. One of the main myths about Hera tells how she also became the queen of the gods. In ancient Greece, the supreme god Zeus fell in love with the goddess Hera before she returned his feelings. But he wasnt sure how to approach her. To get Heras attention, Zeus created a powerful storm and turned himself into a small bird called a cuckoo. Many gods and goddesses could change themselves into animals and other things when they wanted. As the bird, Zeus perched on the ledge outside Heras window.

Upon seeing the tiny creature alone in the harsh weather, Hera rushed to its rescue. She invited the bird inside to get warm and dry. Finally, he had won her over. Zeus could not wait another minute. He transformed himself back into his own image. He quickly asked the goddess to become his wife. She agreed.

Goddess Fact

Heras sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Artwork of the goddess often shows her with large, beautiful eyes similar to a cows. In some myths Hera rides in a chariot pulled by peacocks.

Their wedding took place in the Garden of Hesperides. It was a simple yet sacred event. Hera wore a beautiful gown. After the ceremony, she took her place on a golden throne beside her new husband. As the wife of the king of all gods, Hera became their queen.

Each wedding guest brought a gift for the happy couple. But one gift stood out among all the others. Gaia, the earth goddess, gave Hera a tree that produced golden apples. Hera planted the tree in her garden.

Three nymphs called the Hesperides guarded the tree with the golden apples.

Myths like the story about Zeus and Heras wedding were an important part of everyday life for the ancient Greeks. They looked to myths for answers about how the world came to be. These stories also helped people explain complex events such as the weather and natural disasters. The ancient Greeks believed that gods and goddesses controlled the world from the top of Mount Olympus.

Zeus and Hera played large parts in many Greek myths. While they loved each other deeply, their behavior did not always show it. Much like human beings, the Greek gods and goddesses were far from perfect. They often felt intense religion of the ancient Greeks was based on worshipping Zeus, Hera, and the other Greek gods and goddesses.

Mount Olympus rises over the Greek landscape. It is the highest mountain in Greece at 9,570 feet (2,917 meters).

Goddess Fact

Greek and Roman myths tell the same basic stories. But the Romans gave the gods and goddesses different names. In Roman mythology, Hera is known as Juno.

The Goddess of Marriage, Family, and Childbirth

In addition to being the queen of the all the gods, Hera also became the goddess of to pray to the goddess.

Wives believed that Hera would help them make their own marriages successful. Some women would call on her when they wanted to become mothers. Women already expecting babies would pray to her for help in delivering healthy infants.

a Greek wedding

Chapter 2

THE CREATION OF HERA

Heras parents were Titans. These were the first gods created by Gaia and Uranusthe gods of the earth and the sky. Heras father was Cronus, the King of the Titans. Her mother was Rhea. The Titans were known for having few limits. They did and said whatever they wished. And they didnt care about how their actions affected anyone else.

Gaia and Uranus could see into the future. They warned Cronus that one of his children would one day take his throne away from him. But Cronus believed that he could keep this from happening. Each time Rhea gave birth, Cronus swallowed the child immediately. He did this when Hera was born too.

Rhea tricks Cronus with a stone wrapped in a blanket.

After the fifth birth, however, Rhea hatched a plan. To save her sixth child, Rhea decided to trick Cronus by wrapping a stone in the infants blanket. Cronus swallowed the stone so quickly that he did not even realize that it wasnt the child. This made it possible for the last child, Zeus, to survive. Rhea hid Zeus away until he was old enough to fight his father for the throne. When he was ready, Zeus came to his father and forced him to spit out his swallowed childrenZeus siblings. Zeus saved the lives of Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Hades, and Poseidon.

Zues (top left), Hestia (top middle), Hera (top right), Demeter (bottom left), Hades (bottom middle), Poseidon (bottom right)

Goddess Fact

Cronus spit out his children in the reverse order of their birth. Hestia, born first, was spit out last.

Taking Over Mount Olympus

With the help of his brothers and sisters, Zeus took the throne from Cronus. They also began the fight to remove the rest of the Titans from Mount Olympus. But the Titans would not go down without a fight. The War of the Titans was long and brutal. But eventually Zeus, Hera, and their siblings won.

The siblings then took over the roles the Titans had served. In addition to leading the other gods, Zeus became the ruler of the sky. Hades became the god of the dead, while Poseidon took the job of ruling the sea. Demeter became goddess of the harvest while Hestia ruled home and marriage and family, she also became the queen of the gods.

Goddess Fact

When the war was over, the new Olympian gods sent the Titans to the Tartaros. This was a pit below the ancient Greek underworld, the realm of Hades.

The gods battle the Titans and win.

Wife or Sister? Both!

Some people wonder how Hera can be both the wife of Zeus and his own sister. It actually was not unusual for Greek gods and goddesses to marry their siblings. There was no moral judgment about this practice.