While Hera is the Greek Goddess of marriage and childbirth, her life was mostly spent getting revenge on those who slept with and had children with Zeus. Also known by the Roman name Juno, she is represented by the peacock, cow, and the pomegranate. While she is one of the most beautiful and powerful goddesses in Greek mythology, Hera has had a difficult love life and many issues surrounding her husband and brother, Zeus. Hera is very manipulative and vengeful, with a very sinister reputation.
While stories of Hera started out innocent enough, she turned out to be very bitter and almost mad with jealousy towards those who Zeus would lay with. In the beginning, Hera was one of the children of Cronus and Rhea, one who had been swallowed by her …show more content…
Hera was furious once she had heard of Zeus having a child with another, and had attempted to kill him many times. First, as Heracles was about to be born, Hera attempted to stop the birth from taking place, or to at least delay it. While he was still young, Hera sent great snakes to attack him while in his cradle, but Heracles prevailed and killed the serpents with ease, despite being under a year old (Hamilton 227, 228). Some versions of the stories mention Hera being the one who drove Heracles to madness, which caused him to kill his children. In most tales, Hera repeatedly sent monsters of unimaginable strength after him in order to take his life. Heracles was always ready to fight back, and was able to overcome nearly anything Hera tried to do against …show more content…
On occasion, Zeus would anger the other gods. Hera, who was upset with Zeus, had convinced them at one point to join her in a revolt against him. Hera had drugged Zeus, and he had been tied down and restrained while the gods discussed what to do with him. As they argued, he was released by Briareus, one of the hundred-handed giants, who Zeus had saved in the past. Zeus escaped and grabbed his thunderbolt, as all of the gods present got down on their knees and pleaded for forgiveness. That was when Zeus grabbed Hera, and went to hang her from the skies by gold chains, with anvils tied to her feet. To be released, she had to swear that she would never again rebel against him. She never rebelled again, but she did interfere with Zeus and his plans on many occasions
While stories of Hera started out innocent enough, she turned out to be very bitter and almost mad with jealousy towards those who Zeus would lay with. In the beginning, Hera was one of the children of Cronus and Rhea, one who had been swallowed by her …show more content…
Hera was furious once she had heard of Zeus having a child with another, and had attempted to kill him many times. First, as Heracles was about to be born, Hera attempted to stop the birth from taking place, or to at least delay it. While he was still young, Hera sent great snakes to attack him while in his cradle, but Heracles prevailed and killed the serpents with ease, despite being under a year old (Hamilton 227, 228). Some versions of the stories mention Hera being the one who drove Heracles to madness, which caused him to kill his children. In most tales, Hera repeatedly sent monsters of unimaginable strength after him in order to take his life. Heracles was always ready to fight back, and was able to overcome nearly anything Hera tried to do against …show more content…
On occasion, Zeus would anger the other gods. Hera, who was upset with Zeus, had convinced them at one point to join her in a revolt against him. Hera had drugged Zeus, and he had been tied down and restrained while the gods discussed what to do with him. As they argued, he was released by Briareus, one of the hundred-handed giants, who Zeus had saved in the past. Zeus escaped and grabbed his thunderbolt, as all of the gods present got down on their knees and pleaded for forgiveness. That was when Zeus grabbed Hera, and went to hang her from the skies by gold chains, with anvils tied to her feet. To be released, she had to swear that she would never again rebel against him. She never rebelled again, but she did interfere with Zeus and his plans on many occasions