Hera

In ancient Greek religion, Hera (/ˈhɛrə, ˈhɪərə/; Ancient Greek: Ἥρα, romanized: Hḗrā; Ἥρη, Hḗrē in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women, and family. She helps keep families together.

In Greek mythology, Hera is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus. She is the sister and wife of Zeus, the leader of the gods. Her stories show her strong feelings.

Hera is usually shown as a proud woman, often sitting on a throne. She wears a special crown called a polos or diadem. Her special animals are the cow, cuckoo, and peacock. The goddess who is like Hera in Roman stories is called Juno.

Etymology

The name Hera (Hḗrā or Hḗrē) was used in old forms of Greek. We can see it written as e-ra in ancient writing from places like Pylos and Thebes. We do not fully know what her name means.

Scholars have different ideas about Hera’s name. Some think it could be linked to a word for “hero.” Others guess it might mean “young cow,” which fits with one of Hera’s nicknames, “cow-eyed.” Some believe her name comes from an ancient language we do not fully understand.

Epithets

Hera had many special names, called epithets, that described her different roles. She was mostly known as the wife of Zeus and the protector of marriage and married women. In some places, she was also linked to the earth and fertility.

As the goddess of marriage, she had names like Gamēlios (presiding over marriage) and Syzygios (patroness of marriage). As the wife of Zeus, she was called Anassa (Queen) and Basíleia (Queen). In many places, she was honored as a founder or protector of cities, with names such as Archēgetis (founder) and Hypercheiria (the goddess who holds her protecting hand over a thing).

She was also seen as an earth and fertility goddess with names like Antheia (flowery) and Ge (Earth). Locally, she had many other names depending on where she was worshipped, like Eileithyia (goddess of childbirth) in Argos and Athens, and Theomētōr (mother of a god) in Samos.

Origins

In ancient Greece, Hera was the partner of Zeus, the god who protected rights and traditions. As Zeus's partner, Hera watched over marriage and the rights of married women. She was often shown with cows, which were her sacred animals.

Her stories are tied to many places and traditions. Some believe she was once a goddess of the earth or linked to other goddesses who cared for cows. Her relationship with Zeus was celebrated in festivals, showing their union as a symbol of harmony and nature.

Cult

Hera was not widely worshipped in Thessaly, Attica, Phocis, and Achaea. In Boeotia, she was linked to a special event called the fest Daedala. Her most important worship places were in North-Eastern Peloponnese, especially in Argolis, including cities like Argos, Tiryns, Corinth, Sicyon, Epidaurus, and Hermione. She was also honored in Arcadian cities such as Mantineia, Megalopolis, Stymphalus, and Sparta. The oldest temple for Hera stood at Olympia. On islands like Samos, Paros, Delos, Amorgos, Thera, Kos, Rhodes, and Crete, Hera was also worshipped. The island Euboea was thought to be her sacred place.

Hera was one of the first goddesses to have a large temple, built at Samos around 800 BCE. This temple was later replaced by an even bigger one called the Heraion of Samos. Many temples were built for her, and some were very grand. In the Greek mainland, Hera was especially honored as "Argive Hera" at her sanctuary between Argos and Mycenae, where festivals called Heraia were held. There were also temples to Hera in Olympia, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora, and the sacred island of Delos. In Magna Graecia, two large temples dedicated to Hera were built at Paestum around 550 BCE and 450 BCE.

During a later time called the Hellenistic period, Greek culture spread far beyond Greece. The Greek gods, including Hera, were often linked with local deities from other places. For example, Hera was sometimes seen as the same as a Syrian goddess named Atargatis. There were also stories linking Hera to Virgin Mary in early Christianity.

Emblems

In old stories, Hera was often shown with peacocks pulling her chariot. These birds became linked with her after explorers brought them back from faraway lands. Another bird linked to Hera was the cuckoo, which appears in tales about her and Zeus.

Hera was also closely tied to cattle and was sometimes called the "cow-eyed" goddess. She was especially loved in places where there were many cows. Her stories include a special heifer named Io, and she was sometimes shown as a simple wooden plank or pillar to show her presence.

Temples of Hera

• Perachora, Corinth. One of the first Greek temples was built for Hera Akraia at Perachora in the 9th century BC. It was a small building with stone walls and wooden columns, and a roof made of straw.

• Olympia. The Heraion temple was built around 620 BC. It had a Doric style and measured 18.75 by 50.01 meters. The wooden columns were later changed to stone. The temple had special rooms and a very old back room.

• Corfu. The temple of Hera was built in 610 BC and had large terracotta decorations like lions on the roof. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in the 5th century BC.

• Samos. The older Heraion was built in 560 BC. It was a large temple with Ionic style and measured 50.50 by 103.00 meters. It was made partly of limestone and marble and was designed by Rhoecus of Samos.

• Samos. The new Heraion was built in 525 BC and called the "Polycrates temple". It was very large, measuring 54.58 by 111.50 meters, with many columns and special designs on the tops.

• Selinus. The Doric temple for Hera was built in 490 BC. It measured 25.32 by 67.82 meters and had columns around it.

• Paestum. The first temple of Hera, called the "Basilica", was built in the early 6th century BC. It had a special row of inner columns and measured 24.52 by 54.30 meters.

• Paestum. Another Doric temple for Hera was built in the first half of the 5th century BC. It measured 24.3 by 60.00 meters and was also used to honor Zeus and another unknown god or goddess.

• Agrigento. The temple of Hera was built in 450 BC. It measured 16.90 by 38.15 meters and had columns around it.

• Argos. An older temple for Hera was built in the late 7th century BC, but not much remains. A longer building called a stoa was built between the late 7th and 6th century BC.

• Argos. A new Heraion was built around 410 BC after the old one was burned in 423 BC. It measured 17.40 by 38.00 meters.

Mythology

Birth

Hera is the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. She has sisters and brothers, including Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Cronus tried to stop his children from taking his place, so he swallowed them whole. But Rhea tricked him into swallowing a stone instead of their youngest, Zeus. Zeus grew up in secret and made Cronus spit out his siblings, including Hera. Then Zeus led a revolt against the Titans and divided the world with his brothers.

Marriage with Zeus

Hera is the goddess of marriage and childbirth. Her stories often focus on her marriage to her brother Zeus. She loves him, but he sometimes does things that upset her.

Leto and the Twins: Apollo and Artemis

Early stories show Hera liked Leto and her children. But later, she became upset when she learned that Leto was going to have Zeus's baby. She tried to stop Leto from having her baby, but Leto found safety on the island of Delos, where she had Apollo and Artemis.

Semele and Dionysus

When Hera found out that Semele was going to have Zeus's baby, she tricked Semele into asking Zeus to show himself as he truly is. This caused Semele to vanish, but Zeus saved the baby, Dionysus, and helped him grow inside Zeus himself.

Heracles

Hera is the stepmother of Heracles. She did not want Heracles to be born at the same time as another of Zeus’s children, so she made sure another child was born first. Hera sent snakes to harm the baby Heracles, but he was strong enough to stop them. Later, Hera made Heracles lose his mind for a time.

Trojan War

During the Trojan War, Hera supported the Greeks against the Trojans. She encouraged Athena to help the Greeks and found ways to trick Zeus so the gods could help in the war without him knowing.

Minor stories

Hera helped Jason and the Argonauts on their journey. She admired Cydippe’s sons, Biton and Cleobis, for their love for their mother and let them sleep peacefully. When Ixion wanted Hera for himself, Zeus changed him into coupling with a cloud, and Ixion was punished forever. Hera turned Aëtos, a boy she thought Zeus liked, into an eagle. She changed Io into a cow to keep Zeus from being interested in her, but Io later returned to human form. Hera turned Gerana into a crane because Gerana said she was more beautiful than Hera. Hera took away the children of Lamia because she was jealous, and Lamia then hurt other children.

Genealogy

Hera was the goddess of marriage, women, and families in ancient Greek stories. She was the queen of the gods on Mount Olympus and was both the sister and wife of Zeus. Hera was born to two powerful beings named Cronus and Rhea.

Sometimes in the stories, Hera would get upset when Zeus spent time with others, and she would stand up for what she believed was right for marriages and families.

Art and events

There are many beautiful sculptures inspired by Hera, such as the Barberini Hera, Hera Borghese, and Hera Farnese. The Heraea Games were special games held for Hera. They were the first official women’s sports competition ever held at the stadium at Olympia.