Hera Essay, Research Paper
Hera is the goddess of marriage, and protector of married women. Her father is Cronus, and her mother is Rhea. Cronus and Rhea are both Titans, and they?re also brother and sister. Hestia is Hera?s oldest sister. She?s the virgin goddess of the hearth, and it?s believed that saying prayers before meals came from her. Demeter is also her sister, and she?s the goddess of corn and the harvest. The four months of each year when the harvests go bad, is the result of Demeter?s sorrow. During that time her daughter, Persephone, has to go with Hades. Hades is her brother, and he is the god of the dead and the ruler of the under world. Poseidon is also her brother, and he?s the god of the sea. Zeus is not only her youngest brother, but her husband too. He?s the god of the sky, and the ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus was often pictured as the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak, and the punisher of the wicked.
When Hera was born she, like her other brothers and sisters, was swallowed by Cronus. Cronus did this horrible act, because he was afraid that one day he would be dethroned by one of his children. Zeus was the only one out of the six of them not swallowed. When Zeus was old enough he fought his father, and forced him to disgorge his other brothers and sisters. Hera was entrusted to Ocaenus and Tethys, by Rhea, to be raised while Zeus struggled with the Titans. Hera later returned after Zeus won the war.
Zeus and Hera got married on the summit of Mount. Ida in Phrygia. Together they were the parents of; Ares the god of war, Hephaetus the god of fire and metal work, Hebe the goddess of youth, and Elithyia the goddess of child birth. Ares was unpopular with both gods and humans. Although he was fierce and war like, Ares was not invincible even against mortals. Hephaetus was lame and awkward looking. Hera was so repelled by his looks, shortly after his birth he was cast out of Olympus. Later in life he was honored again by the gods, and he married either Aphrodite or Aglaia. Hebe was the cupbearer to the gods serving them their nectar and ambrosia. She was somewhat like a slave to the gods until she married her hero Hercules.
Even though Zeus was portrayed as a wonderful man he wasn?t at all a loyal husband. He?s had many different mistresses, and children from most of them. Hera was a protective wife that’s portrayed as jealous, violent, and often angry with Zeus. To get back at Zeus she would seek vengeance not only on him but on his mistresses, and their children. Among all of Zeus? children Hercules was the greatest victim of Hera?s rage. Soon after Hercules? birth she sent two huge snakes to kill him. Even though Hercules was still a baby he strangled the snakes with his bare hands. When he grew to be a man he married the Theban princess Megra, and together they had three children. Hera was still so full of hatred towards Hercules, so she sent a fit of madness on him. During the time of the fit he killed his wife and children. Then Hercules had twelve tasks of labor to complete, when he accomplished that he married Deianira. After his death the gods brought him to Olympus, there he married Hebe. In Roman mythology Hera is known as Juno. Juno was worshipped under several different names, under Juno Pronuba she?s the goddess of marriage. Hera and Juno both married their brothers, and they?re also both the queens of the gods. The month of June was named after Juno. Most women prefer to be married in June so Juno can protect their marriage. I think Hera was a very important goddess, because marriage is a big thing to watch over. But she wasn?t a very good person. She was always angry with Zeus, and even though she had a good reason to be, she could have taken her anger out on just him, and not his mistresses or their children. I?m really curios as to how many gods and goddesses looked deformed, because there was tons of incest. I bet if someone was to make something like a family tree every god and goddess would be related somehow. I also wonder if Hera was hated by a lot of the gods and goddesses, because I though she was a mean person. I guess back in Greece if you an important god or goddess you were still worshipped.