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==Introduction==__NOTOC__ [[File: Hera Three.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Hera from an Athenian ceramic]] The Olympian gods were very human in their emotions and behaviors. They too experienced jealousy, envy and were vengeful and were often more irrational and unpredictable than people. A particularly good example of this is the Queen of the Gods Hera, who was vindictive, vengeful and cunning. Her relationship with her husband the King of the Gods, Zeus was turbulent, to say the least. The following article will explain why Hera often hated Zeus and it will make clear that she had every reason to be jealous of her husband. The King of the Olympian deities was notorious for his many sexual relationships with humans and demi-gods and he . He had many numerous children with his lovers. Hera was constantly betrayed by her husband and he made to look foolish. This article discusses Hera and provides a potted biography of the most powerful Goddess in Greek religion. It also provides many examples of her 's hatred of Zeus was justified and how she sought to have her revenge on against many of his many lovers. [[File: Hera Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Hera from an Athenian ceramic]]==The story of ==Who is Hera?====Hera was possibly worshipped in Greece from early times and many , but scholars believe that she even may have had oriental Asian origins. In one archaic Greek dialect, she is known as the ‘mistress’‘mistress.’ <ref> Renehan, Robert. "Hera “Hera as Earth-Goddess: A New Piece of Evidence." ” Rheinisches Museum für Philologie 117, no. H. 3/4 (1974): 193-201</ref>. Hera was in particular associated with the Argive region and she may have been originally a local Argive God, who through a process of synchronization, became part of the Olympian Pantheon.<ref> Slater, Philip Elliot. The glory of Hera: Greek mythology and the Greek family (Princeton University Press, 2014), p. 12</ref>. Hera had many sanctuaries throughout Greece, and she was usually worshipped along with her husband and brother Zeus. In later Greek religion, she was the Queen of the Olympian gods and one of the 12 original Olympians. She was the deity of women. Marriage, the sky and was, closely associated with several animals, which were deemed sacred to her, such as cows <ref> Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth (London, Pearson, 2012), p. 12</ref> Her symbol was the peacock. In several Greek traditions, Hera is more of a nature Goddess and she was the personification of the primal power of the earth. The Romans, as a result, identified her with their Goddess Juno. According to some sources, in particular Homer, Hera is the daughter of Cronos and Rhea and her brother was Zeus. At one time during the war between the Titans and Olympians, she was swallowed whole by her father Cronos but was later freed <ref>Powell, p. 161</ref>. Because her brother Zeus usurped their father’s throne, she was reared by Oceanus and Thetys. Zeus was madly in love with Hera, despite the fact that she was his sister and he did all he could to woo her and she eventually married him. At the wedding of Zeus and his sister/wife, Hera was presented with a magical tree with golden apples. In later traditions, she is shown as the consort of Zeus who depends on her for advice and support. Hera was often known as the mother of the Gods. In total Hera had eight children and seven of these were fathered by Zeus, with the exception of Typhoon (more on this later). Among the children she had with the King of the Gods was Ares the God of War. Another of their children was Hephaestus, the deity of metalworking and Angelo, a goddess of the underworld. Hera was not a maternal figure and she was not interested in justice or even morality. She even cast one of her children out of Olympus because she thought the infant was too ugly. Hera was arrogant, headstrong and vain and portrayed as a scheming and manipulative wife by poets such as Homer <ref> Beckwith, Miles C. "The' Hanging of Hera' and the Meaning of Greek ἄκμων." Harvard Studies in Classical Philology (1998): 91-102</ref>.;l
==Hera had many sanctuaries throughout Greece, and Zeus- a love/hate relationship==Hera had frequent rows she was usually worshipped along with her husband and brother Zeus and on several occasions. In later Greek religion, she was the Father Queen of the Gods had to punish his wife. The relationship between Zeus Olympian gods and Hera was a complex one and of the King of 12 original Olympians. She was the Gods, did love his wife and she loved himdeity of women. HoweverMarriage, as we will see he had a wandering eye the sky and Hera knew this and she did all she could was, closely associated with several animals, which were deemed sacred to retain his affectionsher, such as cows <ref> Powell, Barry B. On one occasion she borrowed the girdle of AphroditeClassical Myth (London, Pearson, 2012), p. 12</ref> Her symbol was the peacock. In several Greek traditions, Hera is more of a nature Goddess of Love, and with this, she was able to charm and fascinate Zeus- but only for the personification of the primal power of the earth. The Romans, as a while and he continued to have countless affairs. Oftenresult, identified her with their Goddess Juno. According to some sources, she is portrayed in Greek myth as someone who particular Homer, Hera is rather ridiculous as she tried the daughter of Cronos and Rhea, and failed to stop her brother was Zeus' many affairs. Echo was a nymph in Greek legendAt one time during the war between the Titans and Olympians, she was swallowed whole by her father Cronos but was later freed.<ref>Powell, which can best be understood as a spirit of a forest or a body of waterp. She 161</ref> Because her brother Zeus usurped their father’s throne, she was given the job distracting Hera from reared by Oceanus and Tethys. Zeus many sexual adventures. Echo was something of a charmer and a flatterer and he madly in love with Hera, even though she was very successful for a long timehis sister. However He did everything he could to woo her, Hera discovered that and she was tricked and cursed eventually married him. At the Echo so that wedding of Zeus and his sister/wife, Hera was presented with a magical tree with golden apples. In later traditions, she would forever only repeat the words of others. This is shown as the origin consort of the word echoZeus, who depends on her for advice and support. Despite this Hera was a powerful Goddess often known as the mother of the Gods. She had eight children, and she rode in a chariot drawn seven of these were fathered by two horses and Zeus, except for Typhoon (more on this later). Among the children she had her own retinue with the King of the Godswas Ares, the God of War. Despite Another of their children was Hephaestus, the many portrayals deity of her as metalworking and Angelo, a deceived wife, she goddess of the underworld. Hera was also much feared not a maternal figure, and she was fervently worshipped, especially by womennot interested in justice or even morality. Hera was the Goddess She even cast one of marriage and anyone who broke their marriage vowsher children out of Olympus because she thought the infant was too ugly. Hera was arrogant, was thought to have insulted her headstrong and committed an act of hubris against the Goddess vain and portrayed as a cunning and manipulative wife by poets such as Homer.<ref> PowellBeckwith, pMiles C. “The’ Hanging of Hera’ and the Meaning of Greek ἄκμων. 118” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology (1998): 91-102</ref>. She was believed to ====Why do Hera and Zeus have punished unfaithful husbands and was believed to also harm those who injured those animals who were sacred to her. The Queen a love/hate relationship?====[[File: Temple of the Gods was also believed to help women in childbirthHera - Agrigento - Italy 2015. JPG|200px|thumb|left|A Temple of Hera played a crucial role in the Trojan War. Because Sicily]]Hera and Zeus frequently clashed. The relationship between Zeus and Hera was a complex one, and the King of the judgment of ParisGods, did love his wife, she hated the Trojans and she loved him. However, he had a wandering eye, and Hera knew this. The Goddess did all she could to help the Greeks in their siege retain his affections. On one occasion she borrowed the girdle of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Troy. Despite Zeus' many affairsLove, there is no story that survives that Hera was unfaithful and she was able to her husband briefly charm and she fascinate Zeus. But his affection was an ever-loyal if long-suffering wife <ref> Renehan, ptemporary and he continued to have countless affairs. 113</ref>Her portrayal of Greek myths is often extremely negative. Not that The myths often sought to portray her as ridiculous because she did not have her own admirers. When King Ixion, had the temerity tried to try and seduce Hera, stop Zeus did not take it well' affairs. The King In one story, Echo was a nymph in Greek legend who was a spirit of the Gods bound to a burning solar wheel, spinning across forest or a body of water. Zeus gave her the heavens for all eternity.[[File: Temple job of distracting Hera - Agrigento - Italy 2015from Zeus'sexual adventures.JPGFileEcho was a charmer and a flatterer and she was very successful in distracting Hera for a long time.png|200px|thumb|left|A Temple of However, when Hera in Sicily]]==Typhoon – the giant serpent==One of discovered that she was tricking her, she cursed Echo so that she would only repeat the features words of the Greek gods was the phenomenon of parthenogenousothers forever. This is where the deities were thought to be capable origin of asexual reproduction, that is males and females could produce offspring without the word echo. Hera was portrayed as a sexual partnerpowerful Goddess. Zeus She rode in some accounts gave birth to the Goddess Athena. This greatly angered Hera who saw it as a betrayal a chariot drawn by two horses and a slight to she had her own children with Zeusretinue of Gods. In Despite the mythsadverse treatment of Hera, she is shown as feeling threatened was also feared and was fervently worshipped, especially by women. Hera was the arrival of Athena. The Goddess of women marriage and anyone who broke their marriage then goes on vows was believed to pray to Gaia, (have personally insulted her and committed an act of hubris against the Earth Mother)Goddess.<ref> Powell, for a son who would be the equal of Zeusp. Gaia heard her prayers 118</ref> She punished unfaithful husbands and decides was believed to harm anyone who injured animals that were sacred to enable her to have a child. This was done because she was angry with Zeus for People also thought that Hera could help women in childbirth. Hera played a crucial role in the destruction Trojan War. Because of the Giants. Gaia tells the wife judgment of Zeus to go to Cronus and he gives her two eyes that have been smeared with his semen. Hera buried them and from them emerged Paris, she hated the huge serpent-monster Typhoon. HoweverTrojans, soon after is birth, Hera is reconciled with and she did all she could to help the King Greeks in their siege of the Gods and tells him about the monster. Later Troy. Despite Zeus battles with Typhoon for control of the cosmos and the Father of the Gods emerges victorious<ref> Renehan' many affairs, no story survives where Hera was unfaithful to her husband, and she was an ever-loyal if long-suffering wife.<ref> Renehan, p. 113</ref>. It appears Not that Zeus she did not blame have her own admirers. When King Ixion, had the temerity to try and seduce Hera and they continued to be married, even if Zeus did not take it was not domestic blisswell. The King of the Gods bound Ixion to a burning solar wheel, spinning across the heavens for all eternity. ==Hera and Hercules==Typhoon – the giant serpent====Hercules is one One of the great heroes features of the Greek mythology and tales gods was the phenomenon of his Seven Labors parthenogenesis. This is where the deities were very popular in the Ancient Worldthought to be capable of asexual reproduction. This demi-god was the son of Zeus Male and Alcmene, who was already married when female gods could produce offspring without a sexual partner. Zeus impregnated her. Hera in nearly every account hated Herculessome accounts gave birth to the Goddess Athena when she emerged from his head, fully formed. Not only was she This greatly angered by Zeus’ betrayals’ but she feared that Hera who saw it as a betrayal and a slight to her own children with Zeus. In the child would eventually be myths, she is shown as feeling threatened by the heir arrival of the King of the GodsAthena. In many accounts After Zeus destroyed the giants, Hera hates him so much that she attempted prayed to kill Gaia, the infantEarth Mother, Hercules. She sent two snakes to kill for a son who would be the infant in his cradle, but the remarkable Hercules managed to kill the snakesequal of Zeus. Alcemne was so worried about the wrath of Gaia heard her prayers and enabled her to have a child on her own. Gaia told Hera that she abandoned to Cronus asked her infant son on a slope, which was a common form of infanticide in the Greek World. However, Athena, his half-sister Athena managed to save give him and deceived Hera into thinking two eggs that he was deadhad been smeared with his semen. Later when Hercules reached manhood Hera buried them and began his laborsTyphoon a giant sea monster emerged from them. However, the Queen of the Gods did all in her considerable power to harm the son of Zeus. Later they were soon after is birth, Hera reconciled with Zeus the King of the Gods and Hercules married her daughter Hebe told him about the monster. Later, Zeus battled Typhoon for control of the cosmos and he emerged victorious.<ref>PowellRenehan, p. 89113</ref>. Zeus did not blame Hera and they continued to be married, even if it was not domestic bliss. ====Semele Hera and DionysusHercules====Zeus had an affair with Semele Hercules is one of the beautiful daughter greatest heroes of Cadmus, the Theban KingGreek mythology. Zeus disguised himself so that he could have an affair with SemeleThe tales of his Seven Labors were very popular in the Ancient World. Hera found out about Hercules was a demi-god and the affair and she decided to have son of Zeus and Alcmene. Alcmene was married when Zeus impregnated her revenge. She disguised herself as a nurse and tricked Zeus to show himself Hera in his true form to Semele and when he did his thunder and lightning destroyed his belovednearly every account hated Hercules. Zeus took Semele's unborn child and completed its gestation Not only was she angered by sewing it into his own thigh. He later became Zeus’ betrayals’ but she feared that the god of Dionysus, child would eventually be the deity heir of wine and all forms the King of intoxicationthe Gods. It also claimed in some accounts of this God In many stories, that Hera hates him so much that she attempted to kill Hercules when he later retrieved his mother from the realm of the deadwas an infant. This She sent two snakes to kill the infant in his cradle, but remarkably Hercules managed to kill the snakes. Alcemne was probably at a time when Zeus and Hera were so worried about the wrath of Hera that she abandoned her infant son on good terms<ref>Powella slope, p. 89</ref>which was a common form of infanticide in the Greek World. However, Athena, his half-sister Athena managed to save him. ==Io and She deceived Hera==Another one of into thinking that he was dead. Later when Hercules reached manhood and began his labors, the more prominent affairs Queen of Zeus was with Io, who was ironically a priest the Gods did all in her considerable power to harm the son of HeraZeus. When Hera heard about this she was furious, Later they were reconciled with the King of the Gods and she turned the unfortunate Io into a white cowHercules married her daughter Hebe. Now Hera knew that Zeus would transform the white heifer back into her old female form and continue the affair<ref>Powell, p. She had a 100 eyed giant Argos, to keep watch on the heifer 89</ref> ====Semele and to tell her if Dionysus====Zeus tried to change her back to her human formhad an affair with Semele the beautiful daughter of Cadmus, the Theban King. Zeus, as cunning as ever, sent Hermes and disguised himself so that he lulled could have an affair with Semele. Hera found out about the 100 eyed monster affair and she decided to sleep and killed ithave her revenge. Io She disguised herself as a nurse and tricked Zeus to show himself in the his true form of the white heifer escapedto Semele. The Queen of the Gods saw this When he turned into his true form his thunder and she sent a gadfly to torment the heiferlightning killed Semele. Io in Zeus took Semele's unborn child and completed its gestation by sewing it into his own thigh. He later became the form god of Dionysus, the cow was driven half-mad by the gadfly<ref>Powell, p. 99</ref>deity of wine and all forms of intoxication. It was typical is also claimed in some accounts of this God, that he later retrieved his mother from the cruelty realm of Hera, who the dead. This was. Later when probably at a time when Zeus and Hera had become reconciled to Zeus it seems that Io was turned back into her old form by Zeuswere on good terms. Later she is believed to have married a future King of Egypt<ref>Powell, p. 89</ref>ConclusionThe stories above are just some ====Io and Hera====Another one of the incidents recounted from Greek mythology regarding more prominent affairs of Zeus infidelities and Hera’s vengeancewas with Io, who was ironically a priestess of Hera. The When the Goddess of women, marriageheard about this she was furious, and childbirth had she turned the unfortunate Io into a complex relationship with white cow. Now Hera knew that Zeus. He was frequently unfaithful would transform the white heifer back into her old female form and humiliated her with his affairs with mortalscontinue the affair. To be She had a Goddess 100 eyed giant Argos, to keep watch on the heifer and to have your husband betray you with mere mortals was insulting. Then the fact that tell her if Zeus was having illegitimate children which were an insult tried to change her back to her human form. Zeus, as cunning as ever, sent Hermes and he lulled the Goddess of Marriage100 eyed monster to sleep and killed it. Then it appears that Io in the form of the white heifer escaped. The Queen of the Gods saw this and she had genuine feelings for her husband Hera was worshipped in sent a society that believed gadfly to torment the heifer. Io in vengeance and its morality the form of the cow was very different from those from the Judaeodriven half-Christian traditionmad by the gadfly.<ref>Powell, p. Heras 99</ref> It was typical of the cruelty was legendary. Howeverof Hera, this who was not something that would have shocked shown in the Greeksmyths to be given to fits of rage. The Gods were great powers and they were not concerned with humans, from who they only sought respect. Nor would Later when Hera had become reconciled to Zeus it seems that Io was turned back into her hatred of the lovers of old form by Zeus being seen as something immoral but would have been deemed to be understandable. However, it must be remembered that while Hera often hated She later married a future King of Egypt. ====Conclusion====The stories above are just some of the incidents recounted from Greek mythology regarding Zeus, because of his infidelitiesand Hera’s vengeance. The Goddess of women, they were always reconciled marriage, and childbirth had a complex relationship with Zeus. He was frequently unfaithful and continued to live humiliated her with his affairs with mortals. To be a Goddess and to have your husband betray you with mere mortals was insulting. The fact that Zeus was having illegitimate children was also a grievous insult to the Goddess of Marriage. Still, she had genuine feelings for her husband. Hera was worshipped in a society that believed in vengeance and its morality was very different from those from the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Hera's cruelty was legendary. However, this would not have shocked the Greeks. Nor would her hatred of Zeus' the lovers be seen as immoral but would have been deemed to be understandable. However, it must be remembered that while Hera often hated Zeus, because of his infidelities, they continued to live together in Olympusin Olympus. ====Further Reading====Hansen, Randall, and William F. Hansen. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1576072266/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1576072266&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b36bb079c0b18dd10b2365b100d13a26 Handbook of classical mythology]. Abc-clio, 2004. Morford, Mark PO, and Robert J. Lenardon. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0190851643/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0190851643&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b928c6051a566b381addfc3ad50fbaf2 Classical mythology]. Oxford University Press, USA, 1999. O'Brien, Joan V. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0847678083/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0847678083&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=881bc6b6ae4ff328c230c031651079e5 The Transformation of Hera: A study of ritual, hero, and the goddess in the Iliad]. ==Further Reading==HansenRowman & Littlefield, Randall, and William F. Hansen. Handbook of classical mythology. Abc-clio, 20041993.;l
Morford, Mark PO, and Robert J. Lenardon. Classical mythology. Oxford University Press, USA, 1999.;l====References====<references/>
O'Brien, Joan V. The transformation of Hera[[Category: A study of ritual, hero, Wikis]] [[Category:Myths and the goddess in the Iliad. Rowman & Littlefield, 1993.==References==Gods]] [[Category: Ancient Greek Myths]]
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[[File: Hera 3.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bust of Zeus]]