Greek Mythology: Hera
I've always had a thing with Greek Mythology since I was bought illustrated Greek Mythology books in my mother language. The books themselves were thin and magazine-sized. I had the Gods and Goddesses series, and some others. The illustration was fascinating to me, and still is. It's the kind of drawing you easily relate with Greeks. Of all Greek gods and goddesses, I found myself interested in Hera, the greatest Goddess, the Queen of Heavens and the wife of Zeus.
I cannot explain why the Goddess caught my interest most. Maybe because she's the symbol of women? The one who stood equal with the ruler, the King, Zeus? However, as I grow up and learn more of the Myth. I realize how mild the retelling of the Myth in the books I read. I do realize the failings of each Immortal, despite being the higher and more authoritative being, the Greek gods are incredibly flawed, almost human. They are both better and worse than humans.
At first glance, my favorite Greek gods, Hera was the worst among them. She was pictured always jealous and vengeful, going after every single woman and children of Zeus affairs. And along with Athena and Aphrodite, she was the cause of Trojan war. The only time she was drawn pretty good was when she supported the quest of Golden Fleece. And that was all.
However, when I read more about her, the more I support her and the more I feel that she's the most underrated Olympians. Hera was, like most Olympian Goddess, a Virgin Goddess of Marriage. She has refused Zeus advances for centuries, already knowing that he didn't make a good husband with his infamous philandering reputation. Zeus, who was pretty much a bad loser, finally resorted to trickery. In a thunderstorm, he disguised himself as a cuckoo and flew into Hera's place. Seeing the poor, disheveled cuckoo, she took the bird to her bosom and then taking the opportunity, Zeus changed back to his real form, and in most versions, raped her. Shamed, she accepted his proposal to make her his bride.
The marriage itself was a grand event, especially it's the marriage of Olympians, the two children of Cronus and Rhea, the previous rulers of the World. And it was said that their honeymoon lasted in 300 years. However, that was it. Zeus immediately returned to his philandering ways, despite having the most beautiful goddess as his wife.
It was ironic that despite being the Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, and Women in general, she didn't get the protection and blessings she gave to others in their marriage, childbirth. Her marriage didn't start with love, but with deceit and instead filled with love and happiness, it was filled with affairs and strife. Her children weren't the best of Gods, despite being the children of the greatest Olympians.
She remained true to his husband, never straying, while her husband seduce and take every woman that caught his eyes, from his own sister, which also Hera's, Demeter to mortals, Alcmena and Selene. She stood by his husband whenever it came to it. She had to see her own husband betray their nuptial vows over and over again and to help the women he had affairs with to give birth to his children. When she finally had enough and managed to plot against Zeus with other Gods, she was the one who had it worst, being tied with chains, suspended in the air, while the others got away and didn't even dare to help her down, save for her son, Hephaestus, who in turn, was thrown down from Mt. Olympus by Zeus.
She was the most wronged Gods among others, despite being the wife of the greatest God, she was the one who suffered the most and ironically, by her own husband. So who can exactly blame her for being angry and vengeful most of the time? Especially it was believed that Hera's depiction was so unfair because the re-teller of Myth suffered under his wife and let it color his depiction of the Goddess. And another because long before Zeus was introduced, there was Hera.
People worshiped female deity instead of male, matriarchy instead of patriarchy, because it was female who managed to bring life to the world, and was considered the greatest miracle. I personally still think it is. And in those years worshiping female deity was filled with peace, until male deity was introduced and the men started to seek dominance everywhere they went.
For that reason, Hera could be said as a symbol of women, and she's reflecting the women during her rule. Greek gods and goddesses could be said rather failed role models and more as a satirical fable, making me think why were those Greeks worshiped them. The Roman gods are much better, really. Hera's counterpart, Juno is much more closer to ideal woman that we agree on.
So I cannot help but look for fictions that made right of Hera. I always believe that her marriage ruined her, turning her into so much different person or Goddess. Any suggestions?
I cannot explain why the Goddess caught my interest most. Maybe because she's the symbol of women? The one who stood equal with the ruler, the King, Zeus? However, as I grow up and learn more of the Myth. I realize how mild the retelling of the Myth in the books I read. I do realize the failings of each Immortal, despite being the higher and more authoritative being, the Greek gods are incredibly flawed, almost human. They are both better and worse than humans.
At first glance, my favorite Greek gods, Hera was the worst among them. She was pictured always jealous and vengeful, going after every single woman and children of Zeus affairs. And along with Athena and Aphrodite, she was the cause of Trojan war. The only time she was drawn pretty good was when she supported the quest of Golden Fleece. And that was all.
However, when I read more about her, the more I support her and the more I feel that she's the most underrated Olympians. Hera was, like most Olympian Goddess, a Virgin Goddess of Marriage. She has refused Zeus advances for centuries, already knowing that he didn't make a good husband with his infamous philandering reputation. Zeus, who was pretty much a bad loser, finally resorted to trickery. In a thunderstorm, he disguised himself as a cuckoo and flew into Hera's place. Seeing the poor, disheveled cuckoo, she took the bird to her bosom and then taking the opportunity, Zeus changed back to his real form, and in most versions, raped her. Shamed, she accepted his proposal to make her his bride.
The marriage itself was a grand event, especially it's the marriage of Olympians, the two children of Cronus and Rhea, the previous rulers of the World. And it was said that their honeymoon lasted in 300 years. However, that was it. Zeus immediately returned to his philandering ways, despite having the most beautiful goddess as his wife.
It was ironic that despite being the Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, and Women in general, she didn't get the protection and blessings she gave to others in their marriage, childbirth. Her marriage didn't start with love, but with deceit and instead filled with love and happiness, it was filled with affairs and strife. Her children weren't the best of Gods, despite being the children of the greatest Olympians.
She remained true to his husband, never straying, while her husband seduce and take every woman that caught his eyes, from his own sister, which also Hera's, Demeter to mortals, Alcmena and Selene. She stood by his husband whenever it came to it. She had to see her own husband betray their nuptial vows over and over again and to help the women he had affairs with to give birth to his children. When she finally had enough and managed to plot against Zeus with other Gods, she was the one who had it worst, being tied with chains, suspended in the air, while the others got away and didn't even dare to help her down, save for her son, Hephaestus, who in turn, was thrown down from Mt. Olympus by Zeus.
She was the most wronged Gods among others, despite being the wife of the greatest God, she was the one who suffered the most and ironically, by her own husband. So who can exactly blame her for being angry and vengeful most of the time? Especially it was believed that Hera's depiction was so unfair because the re-teller of Myth suffered under his wife and let it color his depiction of the Goddess. And another because long before Zeus was introduced, there was Hera.
People worshiped female deity instead of male, matriarchy instead of patriarchy, because it was female who managed to bring life to the world, and was considered the greatest miracle. I personally still think it is. And in those years worshiping female deity was filled with peace, until male deity was introduced and the men started to seek dominance everywhere they went.
For that reason, Hera could be said as a symbol of women, and she's reflecting the women during her rule. Greek gods and goddesses could be said rather failed role models and more as a satirical fable, making me think why were those Greeks worshiped them. The Roman gods are much better, really. Hera's counterpart, Juno is much more closer to ideal woman that we agree on.
So I cannot help but look for fictions that made right of Hera. I always believe that her marriage ruined her, turning her into so much different person or Goddess. Any suggestions?