Symbols
· Sacred animals: cow, lion and peacock
· Others: pomegranate (representing fertile blood and death), and crown
· Others: pomegranate (representing fertile blood and death), and crown
Family
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Siblings: Hestia, Hades, Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter
Consorts: Zeus
Children: Ares (God of War)
Hebe (Goddess of Youth)
Hephaestus (he was cast from Mount Olympus by Hera because he was crippled)
Siblings: Hestia, Hades, Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter
Consorts: Zeus
Children: Ares (God of War)
Hebe (Goddess of Youth)
Hephaestus (he was cast from Mount Olympus by Hera because he was crippled)
Marriage
Hera's marriage to Zeus was founded in strife and continued in strife. When Zeus was unsuccessful in courting her, he then turned to trickery, changing himself into dishevelled cuckoo. Hera, feeling sorry for the bird held it close to her to warm it. Zeus then resumed his normal form and monopolizing on the surprise he gained, he took advantage of her. She then married him to cover her shame.
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Plots
Echo's deception by Giovanni Dosso (1479-1542)
Being the goddess of marriage, Hera was devoted in getting revenge Zeus’ lovers and children. Some of the stories surrounding her quest for vengeance include the following:
1) When Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera tried to prevent the birth by tying Alcmene's legs in knots. Also, when Heracles was an infant, Hera sent two serpents to kill him as he lay in his cot. However, Heracles throttled a single snake in each hand and was found by his nurse playing with their limp bodies as if they were a child's toys.
2) When Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant with Zeus’ child, she banned Leto from giving birth on terra-firma, or the mainland, or any island at sea. Poseidon took pity Leto and guided her to the floating island of Delos, which was neither mainland nor a real island, and Leto was able to give birth to her children there.
3) Hera almost caught Zeus with a mistress named Io, a fate avoided by Zeus turning Io into a beautiful white heifer. However, Hera was not completely fooled and demanded that Zeus give her the heifer as a present.
4) A nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from Zeus' affairs by leading her away and flattering her. When Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words of others (hence our modern word "echo").
1) When Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera tried to prevent the birth by tying Alcmene's legs in knots. Also, when Heracles was an infant, Hera sent two serpents to kill him as he lay in his cot. However, Heracles throttled a single snake in each hand and was found by his nurse playing with their limp bodies as if they were a child's toys.
2) When Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant with Zeus’ child, she banned Leto from giving birth on terra-firma, or the mainland, or any island at sea. Poseidon took pity Leto and guided her to the floating island of Delos, which was neither mainland nor a real island, and Leto was able to give birth to her children there.
3) Hera almost caught Zeus with a mistress named Io, a fate avoided by Zeus turning Io into a beautiful white heifer. However, Hera was not completely fooled and demanded that Zeus give her the heifer as a present.
4) A nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from Zeus' affairs by leading her away and flattering her. When Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words of others (hence our modern word "echo").
Counterparts
Her Roman counterpart is called Juno.