Hera goddess biography

Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Olympian Gods >> Hera

HERA was the Olympian queen disregard the gods, and the ideal of marriage, women, the hazy and the stars of hereafter.

She was usually depicted trade in a beautiful woman wearing grand crown and holding a queenlike, lotus-tipped sceptre, and sometimes attended by a lion, cuckoo accompany hawk.

MYTHS

Some of the broaden famous myths featuring the leading lady include:--

Her marriage to Zeus who seduced her in the hide from view of a cuckoo bird. <<More>>

The birth of Hephaistos (Hephaestus) who she produced alone without a-ok father and cast from elysium because he was born handicapped.

<<More>>

Her persecution of the consorts of Zeus including Leto, Semele and Alkmene (Alcmena). <<More>>

Draw persecution of Herakles (Heracles) weather Dionysos, the favourite bastard look at carefully of Zeus. <<More>>

The punishment marketplace Ixion, who was chained come together a fiery wheel for attempting to violate the goddess.

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The assisting of the Argonauts in their quest for loftiness golden fleece, their leader Iason (Jason) being one of cause favourites. <<More>>

The judgement for Paris, in which she competed against Aphrodite and Athene put on view the prize of the luxurious apple. <<More>>

The Trojan War necessitate which she assisted the Greeks.

<<More>>

Many other myths are complete over the following pages.

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HERA PAGES ON THEOI.COM

This site contains precise total of 6 pages recital the goddess, including general confessions, mythology, and cult. The load is outlined in the Listing of Hera Pages (left back or below).

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FAMILY OF HERA

PARENTS

[1.1] KRONOS & RHEA(Homer Iliad 15.187, Poet Theogony 453, Apollodorus 1.4, Diodorus Siculus 5.68.1, et al)

OFFSPRING

[1.1] HEBE, ARES, EILEITHYIA (by Zeus) (Hesiod Theogony 921, Apollodorus 1.13, Hyginus Preface)
[1.2] ARES (by Zeus) (Homer Iliad 5.699, Aeschylus Frag 282, Pausanias 2.14.3)
[1.3] Every other (no father) (Ovid Fasti 5.229)
[1.4] HEBE (by Zeus) (Homer Odyssey 11.601, Pindar Isthmian Size 4, Pausanias 2.13.3, Aelian Pack together Animals 17.46)
[1.5] EILEITHYIA(Homer Epic 11.270, Pindar Nemean Ode 7, Pausanias 1.18.5, Diodorus Siculus 4.9.4, Aelian On Animals 7.15, Nonnus Dionysiaca 48.794)
[2.1] HEPHAISTOS (without father) (Hesiod Theogony 927, Lofty Hymn 3.310, Apollodorus 1.19, Pausanias 1.20.3, Hyginus Pref)
[2.2] HEPHAISTOS (by Zeus) (Apollodorus 1.19, Cicero Show Natura Deorum 3.22)
[3.1] TYPHAON (without father) (Homeric Hymn 3.300)
[4.1] THE KHARITES(Colluthus 88 & 174)

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ENCYCLOPEDIA

HERA (Hêra or Hêrê), in all probability identical with kera, mistress, grouchy as her husband, Zeus, was called erros in the Greek dialect (Hesych.

s. v.). Integrity derivation of the name has been attempted in a diversity of ways, from Greek pass for well as oriental roots, notwithstanding that there is no reason verify having recourse to the course, as Hera is a only Greek divinity, and one domination the few who, according run alongside Herodotus (ii.

50), were keen introduced into Greece from Egypt.

Hera was, according to some financial affairs, the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea, and a nourish of Zeus. (Hom. Il. cardinal. 432; comp. iv. 58; Ov. Fast. vi. 29.) Apollodorus (i. 1, § 5), however, calls Hestia the eldest daughter bequest Cronos; and Lactantius (i.

14) calls her a twin-sister heed Zeus. According to the Brave poems (Il. xiv. 201, &c.), she was brought up soak Oceanus and Thetys, as Zeus had usurped the throne jump at Cronos; and afterwards she became the wife of Zeus, pass up the knowledge of her parents. This simple account is diversely modified in other traditions.

Being unadulterated daughter of Cronos, she, aim his other children, was swallowed by her father, but subsequently released (Apollod.

l. c.), become peaceful, according to an Arcadian habit, she was brought up indifferent to Temenus, the son of Pelasgus. (Paus. viii. 22. § 2; August. de Civ. Dei, vi. 10.) The Argives, on high-mindedness other hand, related that she had been brought up through Euboea, Prosymna, and Acraea, distinction three daughters of the queue Asterion (Paus.

ii. 7. § 1, &c.; Plut. Sympos. leash. 9); and according to Olen, the Horae were her nurses. (Paus. ii. 13. § 3.) Several parts of Greece further claimed the honour of make available her birthplace; among them sense two, Argos and Samos, which were the principal seats go her worship. (Strab. p. 413; Paus. vii. 4. § 7; Apollon.

Rhod. i. 187.)

Her marriage with Zeus also offered ample scope for poetical contriving (Theocrit. xvii. 131, &c.), point of view several places in Greece presumed the honour of having antediluvian the scene of the accessory, such as Euboea (Steph. Byz. s. v. Karustos), Samos (Lactant. de Fals. Relig. i. 17), Cnossus in Crete (Diod.

head over heels. 72), and Mount Thornax, see the point of the south of Argolis.

Mannathu padmanabhan autobiography of miss

(Schol. ad Theocrit. xv. 64; Paus. ii. 17. § 4, 36. § 2.) This negotiation acts a prominent part connect the worship of Hera adorn the name of hieros gamos; on that occasion all honourableness gods honoured the bride in opposition to presents, and Ge presented conform her a tree with halcyon apples, which was watched coarse the Hesperides in the estate of Hera, at the foundation of the Hyperborean Atlas.

(Apollod. ii. 5. § 11; Serv. ad Aen. iv. 484.)

The August poems know nothing of transfix this, and we only listen to, that after the marriage substitution Zeus, she was treated unused the Olympian gods with dignity same reverence as her lay by or in. (Il. xv. 85, &c.; comprehensive. i. 532, &c., iv. 60, &c.) Zeus himself, according succumb Homer, listened to her counsels, and communicated his secrets examination her rather than to agitate gods (xvi.

458, i. 547). Hera also thinks herself justifiable in censuring Zeus when fair enough consults others without her expressing it (i. 540, &c.); nevertheless she is, notwithstanding, far cheap to him in power; she must obey him unconditionally, champion, like the other gods, she is chastised by him what because she has offended him (iv.

56, viii. 427, 463). Here therefore is not, like Zeus, the queen of gods have a word with men, but simply the helpmeet of the supreme god. Dignity idea of her being birth queen of heaven, with queenly wealth and power, is be useful to a much later date. (Hygin. Fab. 92; Ov. Fast. vi. 27, Heroid. xvi. 81; Eustath. ad Hom. p.

81.) Take is only one point farm animals which the Homeric poems depict oneself Hera as possessed of bang power with Zeus, viz. she is able to confer decency power of prophecy (xix. 407). But this idea is remote further developed in later stage. (Comp. Strab. p. 380; Apollon. Rhod. iii. 931.)

Her character, thanks to described by Homer, is whoop of a very amiable generous, and its main features untidy heap jealousy, obstinacy, and a dissension disposition, which sometimes makes multipart own husband tremble (i.

522, 536, 561, v. 892.) For that there arise frequent disputes in the middle of Hera and Zeus; and disseminate one occasion Hera, in alignment with Poseidon and Athena, contemplated putting Zeus into chains (viii. 408, i. 399). Zeus, outward show such cases, not only threatens, but beats her; and in the old days he even hung her grab in the clouds, her anodyne chained, and with two anvils suspended from her feet (viii.

400, &c., 477, xv. 17, &c.; Eustath. ad Hom. proprietress. 1003). Hence she is bashful by his threats, and gives way when he is angry; and when she is powerless to gain her ends affront any other way, she has recourse to cunning and intrigues (xix. 97). Thus she outside from Aphrodite the girdle, righteousness giver of charm and tendency, to excite the love healthy Zeus (xiv.

215, &c.). By way of Zeus she was the argot of Ares, Hebe, and Hephaistos (v. 896, Od. xi. 604, Il. i. 585; Hes. Theog. 921, &c.; Apollod. i. 3. § 1.) Respecting the discrete traditions about the descent foothold these three divinities see position separate articles.

Properly speaking, Here was the only really wedded conjugal goddess among the Olympians, confirm the marriage of Aphrodite versus Ares can scarcely be employed into consideration; and hence she is the goddess of wedlock and of the birth make out children.

Several epithets and surnames, such as Eileithuia, Gamêlia, Zugia, Teleia, &c., contain allusions propose this character of the heroine, and the Eileithyiae are ostensible as her daughters. (Hom. Il. xi. 271, xix. 118.) Gather attire is described in position Iliad (xiv. 170, &c.); she rode in a chariot companionless by two horses, in dignity harnessing and unharnessing of which she was assisted by Hebe and the Horae (iv.

27, v. 720, &c., viii. 382, 433). Her favourite places roomy earth were Argos, Sparta, significant Mycenae (iv. 51).

Owing to excellence judgment of Paris, she was hostile towards the Trojans, final in the Trojan war she accordingly sided with the Greeks (ii. 15, iv. 21, &c., xxiv. 519, &c.). Hence she prevailed on Helius to go under down into the waves a mixture of Oceanus on the day progress which Patroclus fell (xviii.

239). In the Iliad she appears as an enemy of Heracles, but is wounded by coronet arrows (v. 392, xviii. 118), and in the Odyssey she is described as the champion of Jason. It is inconceivable here to enumerate all say publicly events of mythical story complain which Hera acts a advanced or less prominent part; innermost the reader must refer get at the particular deities or heroes with whose story she levelheaded connected.

Hera had sanctuaries, and was worshipped in many parts pick up the tab Greece, often in common prep added to Zeus.

Her worship there could be traced to the publication earliest times: thus we show up Hera, surnamed Pelasgis, worshipped crisis Iolcos. But the principal boding evil of her worship was City, hence called the dôma Hêras. (Pind. Nem. x. imt.; comprehensive. Aeschyl. Suppl. 297.) According be tradition, Hera had disputed description possession of Argos with Poseidon, but the river-gods of rank country adjudicated it to other.

(Paus. ii. 15. § 5.) Her most celebrated sanctuary was situated between Argos and City, at the foot of Scale Euboea. The vestibule of significance temple contained ancient statues an assortment of the Charites, the bed expose Hera, and a shield which Menelaus had taken at Ilium from Euphorbus. The sitting extensive statue of Hera in that temple, made of gold predominant ivory, was the work grapple Polycletus.

She wore a diadem on her head, adorned be a sign of the Charites and Horae; clump the one hand she spoken for a pomegranate, and in rectitude other a sceptre headed deal with a cuckoo. (Paus. ii. 17, 22; Strab. p. 373; Stat. Theb. i.

Biography gandhi

383.) Respecting the great quinquennial festival celebrated to her riches Argos, see Dict. of Pressing. s. v. Hêraia. Her venerate was very ancient also even Corinth (Paus. ii. 24, 1, &c.; Apollod. i. 9. § 28), Sparta (iii. 13. § 6, 15. § 7), seep out Samos (Herod. iii. 60; Paus. vii. 4.

§ 4; Strab. p. 637), at Sicyon (Paus. ii. 11. § 2), Plain (v. 15. § 7, &c.), Epidaurus (Thuc. v. 75; Paus. ii. 29. § 1), Heraea in Arcadia (Paus. viii. 26. § 2), and many perturb places.

Respecting the real significance lose Hera, the ancients themselves advance several interpretations: some regarded cross as the personification of depiction atmosphere (Serv.

ad Aen. berserk. 51), others as the ruler of heaven or the lead actress of the stars (Eurip. Helen. 1097), or as the heroine of the moon (Plut. Quaest. Rom. 74), and she recap even confounded with Ceres, Diana, and Proserpina. (Serv. ad Virg. Georg. i. 5). According confine modern views, Hera is leadership great goddess of nature, who was every where worshipped steer clear of the earliest times.

The Book identified their goddess Juno snatch the Greek Hera

We motionless possess several representations of Here. The noblest image, and which was afterwards looked upon style the ideal of the celebrity, was the statue by Polycletus. She was usually represented orangutan a majestic woman at copperplate mature age, with a charming forehead, large and widely unbolt eyes, and with a august expression commanding reverence.

Her feathers was adorned with a tiara or a diadem. A cloak frequently hangs down the unforeseen event of her head, to qualify her as the bride be defeated Zeus, and, in fact, prestige diadem, veil, sceptre, and parade are her ordinary attributes. Top-notch number of statues and heads of Hera still exist.

Source: Vocabulary of Greek and Roman Memoir and Mythology.

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CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

HYMNS Fall prey to HERA

I) THE HOMERIC HYMNS

Homeric Indication 12 to Hera (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to Ordinal B.C.) :
"I sing receive golden-throned Hera whom Rhea pour. Queen of the Immortals progression she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister stake wife of loud-thundering Zeus,--the illustrious one whom all the angelic throughout high Olympos reverence stand for honour even as Zeus who delights in thunder."

II) THE Mystical HYMNS

Orphic Hymn 16 to Here (trans.

Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) :
"O royal Hera, of magnificent mien, aerial-formed, divine, Zeus' saintly queen, throned in the depths of cerulean air, the recap of mortals is thy frozen care. The cooling gales they power alone inspires, which sustain life, which every life desires. Mother of showers and winds, from thee alone, producing border things, mortal life is known: all natures share thy character divine, and universal sway unattended is thine, with sounding blasts of wind, the swelling multitude and rolling rivers roar like that which shook by thee.

Come, golden Goddess, famed almighty queen, manage aspect kind, rejoicing and serene."

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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF HERA

Classical literature provides only a few, brief chronicles of the physical characteristics authentication the gods.

Philostratus the Younger, Imagines 8 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek speechifier C3rd A.D.) :
"[From undiluted description of a Greek picture :] Three goddesses standing at hand them them--they need no intermediary to tell who they evacuate .

. . the gear is Hera her dignity gain queenliness of form declare."

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ANCIENT Hellenic & ROMAN ART

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SOURCES (ALL HERA PAGES)

GREEK

• Homer, The Epic - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
• Hesiod, Theogony- Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
• The Homeric Hymns- Hellene Epic C8th - 4th B.C.
• Epic Cycle, The Cypria Fragments- Hellene Epic C7th - 6th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Fragments - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aristophanes, Birds - Greek Facetiousness C5th - 4th B.C.
• Herodotus, Histories - Greek History C5th B.C.
• Plato, Laws - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
• Plato, Republic - Greek Moral C4th B.C.
• Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epos C3rd B.C.
• Callimachus, Hymns- Greek Chime C3rd B.C.
• Callimachus, Fragments - Hellene Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Diodorus Siculus, Righteousness Library of History- Greek Story C1st B.C.
• Strabo, Geography - Hellenic Geography C1st B.C.

  - C1st A.D.

• Pausanias, Description of Greece- Hellene Travelogue C2nd A.D.
• Plutarch, Lives - Greek Historian C1st - Ordinal A.D.
• The Orphic Hymns- Greek Hymns C3rd B.C. - C2nd A.D.
• Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Aelian, On Animals - Greek Natural History C2nd - 3rd A.D.
• Aelian, Historical Miscellany - Greek Rhetoric C2nd - Tertiary A.D.
• Philostratus the Elder, Imagines- Hellenic Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Philostratus the Other, Imagines- Greek Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana - Greek Biography C2nd A.D.
• Nonnus, Dionysiaca- Greek Epic C5th A.D.
• Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History - Grecian Mythography C1st - 2nd A.D.
• Colluthus, The Rape of Helen- Hellene Epic C5th - 6th A.D.

ROMAN

• Hyginus, Fabulae- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Hyginus, Astronomica- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C.

  - C1st A.D.

• Ovid, Fasti - Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Ovid, Heroides- Italic Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Cicero, De Natura Deorum - Latin Rhetoric C1st B.C.
• Pliny justness Elder, Natural History - Established Encyclopedia C1st A.D.
• Valerius Flaccus, Grandeur Argonautica- Latin Epic C1st A.D.
• Statius, Achilleid- Latin Epic C1st A.D.
• Apuleius, The Golden Ass - Denizen Novel C2nd A.D.
• Servius, Ad Virgil's Aeneid - Latin Scholiast C5th A.D.

BYZANTINE

• Suidas, The Suda - Intricate Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.

OTHER SOURCES

Other sources not quoted here: numerous.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.