Hera greek mythology biography template

Goddess from Greek mythology, wife stake sister of Zeus

For other uses, see Hera (disambiguation).

In antique Greek religion, Hera (; Olden Greek: Ἥρα, romanized:&#;Hḗrā; Ἥρη, Hḗrē in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of wedding, women, and family, and high-mindedness protector of women during confinement.

In Greek mythology, she evolution queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister impressive wife of Zeus, and lassie of the TitansCronus and Titaness. One of her defining attributes in myth is her envious and vengeful nature in trade with any who offended penetrate, especially Zeus's numerous adulterous lovers and illegitimate offspring.

Her iconography usually presents her as excellent dignified, matronly figure, upright agreeable enthroned, crowned with a polos or diadem, sometimes veiled by reason of a married woman.^[1] She deference the patron goddess of canonical marriage. She presides over weddings, blesses and legalises marital unions, and protects women from defraud during childbirth.

Her sacred animals include the cow, cuckoo, advocate peacock. She is sometimes shown holding a pomegranate as emblematic emblem of immortality. Her Traditional counterpart is Juno.^[2]

Etymology

The name Here (Hēra or Hērē) has a sprinkling possible and mutually exclusive etymologies.

One possibility is to enrol it with Greek ὥρα hōra, season, and to interpret colour as ripe for marriage nearby according to Plato ἐρατή eratē, "beloved"^[3] as Zeus is thought to have married her perform love.^[4] According to Plutarch, Here was an allegorical name forward an anagram of aēr (ἀήρ, "air").^[5] So begins the intersect on Hera in Walter Burkert's Greek Religion.^[6] In a keep details, he records other scholars' thinking "for the meaning Mistress in that a feminine to Heros, Master", with uncertain origin.

John Chadwick, a decipherer of Linear Cack-handed, remarks "her name may aptitude connected with hērōs, ἥρως, 'hero', but that is no support since it too is etymologically obscure."^[7] A. J. van Windekens,^[8] offers "young cow, heifer", which is consonant with Hera's usual epithet βοῶπις (boōpis, "cow-eyed").

Heed. S. P. Beekes has recommended a Pre-Greek origin.^[9] Her reputation is attested in Mycenaean European written in the Linear Trying syllabic script as 𐀁𐀨e-ra, coming on tablets found in Pylos and Thebes,^[10] as well slightly in the Cypriotic dialect buy the dativee-ra-i.^[11]

The PIE could verbal abuse originally either (a) 'the warm who is attached/coupled' or (b) 'the female who attaches herself' both socially and physically gaffe emotionally."^[12]

Many theophoric names such by the same token Heracles, Heraclitus, Herodotus, Herodicus, receive from Hera.^[13]

Epithets

Hera bore several epithets in the mythological tradition person in charge in literature.

In the in sequence times the majority of grandeur Greeks recognized Hera as illustriousness consort of Zeus.^[14] Hera even-handed the protector of marriage illustrious of the rights of primacy married women.^[15] In some cults she has some functions announcement the earth goddess.

She admiration occasionally related to warfare though tutelary goddess.

Goddess of cooperation and bride

Consort of Zeus

Founder standing protector

As an earth and abundance goddess

As goddess of the hymns

Place of worship

Warlike character

Local cults

Origins

In historical times, the majority firm footing the Greeks recognized Hera importation the consort of Zeus.^[14] Zeus was the protector of honest and mores, and his helpmate Hera became the protector attack legal marriage and the honest of married women .^[15] Here emerged from a form short vacation the "Mycenean goddess of illustriousness palace" and became the partner of Zeus.^[45][1] Modern scholars offer that Hera is not solitary the Olympian sky-goddess, but utilize some cults she may substance identified with the earth-goddess.^[46][47] Multipart ancient connection with her consecrated animal, the cow, still existed in historical times.

She assay probably related to Near-Eastern forms of cow-goddesses such as Hathor or Bat.^[45] The Greek earth-goddess Gaia is occasionally identified affair Hera.^[48] Gaia may be concomitant to the Vedic earth-goddess Prithvi, who was also associated sound out the cow.^[49]

Mycenean Greece

An inscription check Linear B on a protection found at Pylos mentions word "to Zeus-Hera-Drimios".(Drimios is the celebrity of Zeus) .^[50] Hera was the tutelary goddess of City and it is possible delay she had Mycenean origin.^[1]Martin Holder.

Nilsson suggested that Hera recap mainly the "Argeiē" (Ἀργείη), fastidious name given by Homer^[51] which describes her not as Hellene, but as an Argive megastar. She is the protectress imbursement the citadel.^[52] In literature Metropolis is called "dōma Hēras" (the house of Hera) ^[53] alight the Argives are called gather people by Pindar.^[16] Homer confine Iliad uses the formula "boōpis potnia Hērē)" (cow-eyed, mistress Hera), which probably relates her withstand a form of the Sea goddess of nature.^[54][45] The designation Qo-wi-ja ( boōpis) appears kick up a fuss a Linear B inscription.^[55]Walter Burkert notices that it is tough to confirm that the calumny "bowpis" corresponds to a Hellene belief.^[56] However it is feasible that Hera was conceived orang-utan a cow in her early cults.^[45][47]

Consort of Zeus

Hera exists importation a spouse of Zeus prep added to their "sacred marriage" was famed in many Greek festivals get a processional ceremony from full of years times.^[1] The myth of illustriousness premarital approach of Hera afford Zeus is early mentioned impervious to Homer .^[57] It is imaginable that the myth has fraudulence origins to an old craze of the European country social order, the premarital intercourse of loftiness engaged couple.^[58] According to Conductor Burkert the "Mediterranean goddess realize nature" becomes the bride inducing the Greek sky-god.^[59] He notices that "the disappearance and amelioration of Hera has parallels buy and sell other fertility cults" .^[60][61] Here was originally a goddess gradient fertility in her fest "Toneia" at Samos and at Town in Crete.

At Samos interpretation image of Hera was masked bounted in willows and rectitude participants tried to discover it.^[62][63] At Knossos Zeus is coupling with the earth goddess (finally named Hera) in a grip ancient ritual.^[1] In her acclamation Daedala at Plataia there admiration an account of Hera's depart with Zeus and their reconciliation.^[64][17]

Near-Eastern origin

In Crete the bull was associated with religious practices.

Send out the legend of the Troll the Queen of Knossos problem hidden inside an artificial dip cow and she is traffic with a bull-form god tackle a sacred ceremony. The hieros gamos indicates a ritual topple fertility magic, which was doubtlessly introduced from Near East emphasis the Aegean region.^[65] The "hieros gamos" of Zeus with rank earth goddess (finally named Hera) was celebrated at Knossos conduct yourself Crete.^[1][65] In Near East character solar-deity and the moon-goddess fill in often represented as a samson and a cow ^[65] turf Roscher proposed that Hera was a moon-goddess.^[66] The combination womanly divinity-cow-moon is not unusual return Crete and Near East.^[65] Rendering relationship of Hera with nobleness cow still existed in greatness historical times and this in all likelihood relates her to Near-Eastern forms of cow-goddesses like Hathor (or Bat).^[45] The Egyptian sky-goddess Hathor is the consort of loftiness sky-god Horus.

Indo-european origin

In nobility Vedic tradition the earth-goddess Prithvi is the consort of ethics sky-god Dyaus and she go over the main points associated with the cow. Prithvi may be identified with rectitude Greek goddess Gaia.^[49]Pherecydes of Syros in his cosmogony describes depiction mating of two divine principles: The marriage of Zas area Chthonie.

Geoffrey Kirk notices lose concentration after the marriage "Cthonie" becomes Ge who probably takes attach of the protection of extra. Hera is occasionally identified best "Ge".^[48] In a fragment thoroughgoing Euripides the Aether of Zeus is the sky-god who levelheaded the father of men at an earlier time gods, and the earth-goddess Toss is the mother of disturbance life.^[67] It seems that Io the priestess of Hera mix with Argos and consort of Zeus, was another form of Here.

In a Greek myth "Io" is transformed into a kine .^[68] This seems to aptly correlated to how Homer lecture in Iliad uses the formula "boōpis potnia Hērē)" (cow-eyed, mistress Hera), suggesting that they may plot been syncretized.^[69][46]

Cult

The worship of Here was sparse in Thessaly, Territory, Phocis and Achaea.

In Dominion she is related to picture fest Daedala. The main emotions of her cult was North-Eastern Peloponnese, especially Argolis. ( Metropolis, Tiryns, Corinth, Sicyon, Epidaurus near Hermione). She was worshipped drum the Arcadian cities Mantineia, Conurbation, Stymphalus and at Sparta. Glory oldest temple at Olympia belonged to Hera.

In the islands she was worshipped at Samos, Paros, Delos, Amorgos, Thera, Kos, Rhodes and Crete. The resting place Euboea was considered her hallowed place. A month was name after Hera at Delphi (Heraios), Olous, Laconia, Tinos (Heraiōn), Pergamos (Heraos).^[70][71] Hera is the Olympia, Queen, Anassa , the Ruler of heaven.

The royal consistency of her was preserved exceed the monuments of Greek art.^[72]

Hera may have been the gain victory deity to whom the Greeks dedicated an enclosed roofed sanctuary sanctuary, at Samos about BCE. It was replaced later dampen the Heraion of Samos, lag of the largest of dropping off Greek temples (altars were take away front of the temples mess the open sky).

There were many temples built on that site, so the evidence attempt somewhat confusing, and archaeological dates are uncertain.

The temple coined by the Rhoecus sculptors standing architects was destroyed between essential BCE. This was replaced tough the Polycratean temple of – BCE. In one of these temples, we see a grove of columns.

There is extremely no evidence of tiles team this temple suggesting either significance temple was never finished arrival that the temple was commence to the sky.

Earlier sanctuaries, whose dedication to Hera problem less certain, were of dignity Mycenaean type called "house sanctuaries".^[73] Samos excavations have revealed votive offerings, many of them clue 8th and 7th centuries BCE, which show that Hera mop up Samos was not merely clean local Greek goddess of blue blood the gentry Aegean.

The museum there contains figures of gods and suppliants and other votive offerings diverge Armenia, Babylon, Iran, Assyria, present-day Egypt, testimony to the honest which this sanctuary of Here enjoyed, and the large inflow of pilgrims. Compared to that mighty goddess, who also frenetic the earliest temple at Champaign and two of the fabulous fifth and sixth-century temples fence Paestum, the termagant of Poet and the myths is come to an end "almost comic figure," according run Burkert.^[74]

Though the greatest and primeval free-standing temple to Hera was the Heraion of Samos, kick up a fuss the Greek mainland Hera was especially worshipped as "Argive Hera" (Hera Argeia) at her religous entity that stood between the preceding Mycenaean city-states of Argos essential Mycenae,^[75][76] where the festivals handset her honor called Heraia were celebrated.

"The three cities Uncontrollable love best," she declares valve the Iliad, book iv, "are Argos, Sparta and Mycenae help the broad streets." There were also temples to Hera plug Olympia, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora bid the sacred island of Delos. In Magna Graecia, two Tuscan temples to Hera were constructed at Paestum, about BCE title about BCE.

One of them, long called the Temple trap Poseidon was identified in illustriousness s as a temple conduct operations Hera.^[77]

The Daedala fire festival vacate Cithaeron near Plataea, included set account of Hera's quarrel attain Zeus and their reconciliation.^[78]

Hera's worth in the early archaic put in writing is attested by the sizeable building projects undertaken in dismiss honor.

The temples of Here in the two main centers of her cult, the Heraion of Samos and the Heraion of Argos in the Argolis, were the very earliest outstanding Greek temples constructed, in representation 8th century BCE.^[46] At Metropolis the Dorian "Heraion" was framework on the hill of Prosymna near Mycenean hero-tombs.^[46] At Samos the cult activity near greatness altar begun in late Mycenean period and a big sanctuary was built in the Ordinal century BC.^[79]

During the Hellenistic hour (c.&#; BCE &#; CE), European culture spread outside Greece sash the Eastern Mediterranean region bit a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Influence Hellenistic religion was often syncretistical, and the Greek gods were identified with local deities similarly different aspects or names replicate the same divinity. Hera was identified with various local be silent deities. As an example, picture work On the Syrian Goddess suggests a cult worshipped calligraphic goddess that was simultaneously picture Syrian goddess Atargatis and Here.

This even extended to originally Christianity some; the Legend worldly Aphroditian identifies Hera with greatness Virgin Mary, perhaps due plan one of Hera's abilities heart her miraculous restoration of shepherd own virginity.^[80]

Importance

According to Walter Burkert, both Hera and Demeter possess many characteristic attributes of Pre-Greek Great Goddesses.^[81]

In the same stripe, British scholar Charles Francis Keary suggests that Hera had bore sort of "Earth Goddess" honour in ancient times,^[82][83][84] connected ingratiate yourself with her possible origin as tidy Pelasgian goddess (as mentioned invitation Herodotus).^[85][84] In Greece the Sea goddess of nature is prestige bride of the Greek sky-god .

In her fest Daedala Hera is related to loftiness nymph Plataia (consort of Zeus), an old forgotten form compensation the Greek earth-goddess.^[59] Plataia hawthorn be related to Gaia who is occasionally identified with Hera.^[48][86]

According to Homeric Hymn II occasion Delian Apollo, Hera detained Eileithyia to prevent Leto from departure into labor with Artemis focus on Apollo, since the father was Zeus.

The other goddesses bring about at the birthing on Delos sent Iris to bring circlet. As she stepped upon righteousness island, the divine birth began. In the myth of glory birth of Heracles, it comment Hera herself who sits close by the door, delaying the derivation of Heracles until her protégé, Eurystheus, had been born first.^[87]

The Homeric Hymn to Pythian Phoebus makes the monster Typhaon authority offspring of archaic Hera improve her ancient form, produced lure of herself, like a horrible version of Hephaestus, and whelped in a cave in Cilicia.^[88] She gave the creature class Python to raise.

In dignity Temple of Hera, Olympia, Hera's seated cult figure was senior than the warrior figure holiday Zeus that accompanied it. Kor expressed her relationship with Zeus delicately in the Iliad, hold back which she declares to Zeus, "I am Cronus' eldest girl, and am honourable not fine hair this ground only, but additionally because I am your little woman, and you are king regard the gods."^[69]

Matriarchy

There has been critical scholarship, reaching back to Johann Jakob Bachofen in the mid-nineteenth century,^[89] about the possibility cruise Hera, whose early importance focal point Greek religion is firmly implanted, was originally the goddess panic about a matriarchal people, presumably inhabiting Greece before the Hellenes.

Pressure this view, her activity chimpanzee goddess of marriage established honourableness patriarchal bond of her come alive subordination: her resistance to leadership conquests of Zeus is rendered as Hera's "jealousy", the hint theme of literary anecdotes renounce undercut her ancient cult.^[90]

However, on your toes remains a controversial claim renounce an ancient matriarchy or skilful cultural focus on a monotheistic Great Goddess existed among rendering ancient Greeks or elsewhere.

Glory claim is generally rejected toddler modern scholars as insufficiently evidenced.^[91]Walter Burkert notices that the decrepit Kourotrophos figure is almost away in Crete, and the election Mother Goddess was not decency underlying principle in the Civilisation religion.^[92]

Youth

Hera was most known pass for the matron goddess, Hera Teleia, but she presided over weddings as well.

In myth prep added to cult, fragmentary references and old practices remain of the sanctified marriage of Hera and Zeus.^[93] At Plataea, there was deft sculpture of Hera seated significance a bride by Callimachus, restructuring well as the matronly sense Hera.^[94]

Hera was also worshipped whilst a virgin: there was unmixed tradition in Stymphalia in Arcadia that there had been spick triple shrine to Hera honourableness Girl (Παις [Pais]), the Man Woman (Τελεια [Teleia]), and rendering Separated (Χήρη [Chḗrē] 'Widowed' blunder 'Divorced').^[95] In the region move around Argos, the temple of Here in Hermione near Argos was to Hera the Virgin.^[96] Affection the spring of Kanathos, padlock to Nauplia, Hera renewed bond virginity annually, in rites wander were not to be understood of (arrheton).^[97] In her fire-festival Daedala at Plataia the string puppet of the goddess was bathed in the river Asopos at one time the wedding ceremony.

In glory festival "Toneia" at Samos position image of the goddess was purified, bounted in willows topmost then probably hanged on precise tree.^[98]Robert Graves interprets this significance a representation of the another moon (Hebe), full moon (Hera), and old moon (Hecate), singly personifying the Virgin (Spring), position Mother (Summer), and the destroying Crone (Autumn).^[99][]

Festivals

The marriage of Zeus with Hera is the essential theme in most Greek festivals celebrated in honour of picture goddess.

In the cults disparage Hera the dances and rites are performed by young ringed women. These choral dances reenacted early myth and ritual.^[] Burkert notices that "the disappearing take retrieval of Hera in numerous cults has parallels with additional fertility cults".^[60] The Greek etiologic myths (aitia) give a level-headed explanation of the ritual mushroom replicate its structural form.

That is accurate for "aitia" akin to initiation rituals from salad days to maturity.^[] Ancient accounts advert to the retirement of Here after a quarell with Zeus. Hera's wrath may indicate distinction wrath and jealousy of justness Greek wife.^[] Other accounts touch to cultic trees or pillars.^[] and rituals of the heroine of vegetation.^[63] Some accounts arrange related to rituals of rank Bronze Age before the separating of the "Mistress of significance animals" into separate goddesses.^[]

• Argos.

  Nigh Hera's famous fest "Hecatombaia"(one host oxen) -or Argive "Heraia"-the minister of the gospel of Hera was carried give in to a chart drawn by white-heifers to the sanctuary. The commemoration included an armed procession several male citizens and the like of the contest was adroit bronze shield.^[] The Argive ceremony was a new year tribute and the new male human beings introduced themselves in the humanity.

  It is not verified defer the festival was originally top-hole wedding processional ceremony.^[] At Metropolis Hera controlled the seasonal goddesses Horae.^[16][46] Near the Heraion ferryboat Argos there was the tow chase "Eleutherion" (water of freedom). Illustriousness priestess of Hera used allocate for purifications and the sacrifices were kept secret (aporrheta) ^[]

• Plataia in Boeotia.

  The festival Daedala of Hera was a flush festival. The citizens of Plataia maintained from prehistoric times honesty processional wedding ceremony. A figurehead named Hera was married collide with Zeus. The puppet was chaste in the river Asopos don it was carried on top-hole cow-drawn chart to the uplift of Kithairon.

  There the dupe was burned together with next idols. Pausanias in the aetiologic myth mentions the retirement weekend away Hera after a quarrel keep an eye on Zeus and their reconciliation.^[78] Birth nymph Plataia, consort of Zeus is an old form resolve the Greek earth-goddess and she may be related to Gaia.^[86]

• Samos.The name of the island was "Parthenia" in the Carian period.^[] In the Samian festival "Toneia", Hera was originally a woman of the hour diva of fertility.

  The festival aim initiation rites of girls instruct probably boys from youth scheduled maturity.^[] At the beginning pale the festival a xoanon touch on Hera was carried on expert plank to the sea enjoin then back to the sea-coast. This custom reminds the body of the Hittite-Hurrian god possession fertility Telepinu.^[61] In the etiological myth of Menedotus the indication of Hera was bathed, bounted in willows and finally undetected (or hanged).

  The participants proven to find it.^[][63] Zeus was absent, and the processional marriage ceremony ceremony was introduced later.^[62]

• Corinth. Hera-Acraea was the protectress of picture castle. The Corinthian "Heraia" was a mourning festival.

  Hera assignment related to Medea (the better half of Jason) a foreign lead actress who was introduced in Ellas. In the myth of prestige Argonauts Hera is the benefactor of Jason. The scholiast look after Euripides suggests that the grueling of Acraea is related perfect the cult of Adonis. Each year seven boys and heptad girls with shorn hair dowel wearing black garments were fixated to the goddess.

  Annual sacrifices were performed for the attach children of Medea .^[]

• Stymphalus joist Arcadia. Hera was worshipped importation goddess of marriage. Three festivals celebrated the three phases point toward Hera as "pais" (virgin), "teleia" (fulfilled) and "chera" (widowed). "Pais" may symbolize the arrival devotee the goddess in spring charge "chera" her departure in overwinter.

  In the aetiological myth female Pausanias Hera retired after orderly quarell with Zeus and misuse she came back. During prepare retirement people considered that she was divorced and she was worshipped as "chera".^[93]

• Euboea. The resting place was the holy place inducing Hera and the goddess was worshipped near Elymnion or gettogether the mountain Dirfi.

  Coins deviate Eretria verify that the humans imitated the wedding of Zeus with Hera.^[]

• Athens. The "sacred marriage" of Zeus with Hera was celebrated in Athens during prestige month "Gamelion" (late winter).^[]
• Hermione story Argolis. Hera was worshipped importance "parthenos" (virgin).

  In a European myth Zeus was transformed curious a cuckoo to seduce Here. There were two temples, rob of Zeus on the mountain-Cuckoo and one of Hera fixation the mountain Pron.^[]

• Olympia. In grandeur festival Heraia young girls competed in a footrace. The enhance was held every four majority and only virgin women were allowed to attend the doggeds.

  The prize was an olive wreath.^[] Traditionally the custom was established by Hipodameia and hymn dances were performed in relate to of her. A marriage-ceremony was probably part of the festival.^[] The choral dances and probity dressing of "parthenoi" indicate put off the festival was an origination ritual from youth to maturity.^[] The relation of Hera check on "parthenoi" (virgins) seems to relate her with the goddess announcement vegetation.^[][]

• Aegina'.

  Traditionally the festival was introduced from Argos. The presentation of Hera was carried knife attack a chart drawn by wan heifers. The festival included revelry and sacrifices. There was organized contest between young boys reserve killing a female goat peer their spears and they got her as a prize. Dynasty the aetiological myth Hera old to the woods after graceful quarell with Zeus and give someone the cold shoulder place was discovered by orderly female goat.

  Then she was obliged to return.^[]

• Nauplia in Argolis. Like the bride who took her bride-bath, Hera bathed each year in the spring Kanathos and recovered annually her abstinence. This is one of representation holy secrets (aporrheta) at high-mindedness mysteries which they celebrated sieve honour of Hera.^[97]
• Knossos in Legitimate.

  The "hieros gamos" of Zeus with the earth goddess (finally named Hera) was celebrated nearby the river Theren. The procedural continued unchanged from very earlier times.^[1] The original name splash the Minoan goddess could take off Britomartis, Diktynna or "Hellopis".^[65] Reveal a Minoan depiction the heroine seems to arrive on swell chariot during spring and she disappears in winter.^[62]

Emblems

In Hellenistic figurativeness, Hera's chariot was pulled incite peacocks, birds not known pay homage to Greeks before the conquests rob Alexander.

Alexander's tutor, Aristotle, refers to it as "the Farsi bird." The peacock motif was revived in the Renaissance iconography that unified Hera and Juno.^[] A bird that had back number associated with Hera on inventiveness archaic level, when most snare the Aegean goddesses were comparative with "their" bird, was character cuckoo, which appears in standards fragments concerning the first engagement of a virginal Hera saturate Zeus.

Her archaic association was primarily with cattle, as practised Cow Goddess, who was remarkably venerated in "cattle-rich" Euboea. Saddle Cyprus, very early archaeological sites contain bull skulls that take been adapted for use translation masks (see Bull (mythology)). Respite familiar Homeric epithetBoôpis, is again translated "cow-eyed".

In this grasp, Hera bears some resemblance verge on the Ancient Egyptian deity Hathor, a maternal goddess associated climb on cattle. Hera absorbed the faith of her heifer-priestess Io topmost may be related to description Vedic earth-goddess Prithvi.^[47]

Scholar of Hellenic mythology Walter Burkert writes envisage Greek Religion, "Nevertheless, there archetypal memories of an earlier aniconic representation, as a pillar hostage Argos and as a timber daily meals in Samos." At Argos barred enclosure a Greek myth the vicar of Hera Phoronis ties throw over mistress to an aniconic post.

At Samos Hera's plank was tied on a willow set out to ensure fertility.^[6]

Temples of Hera