Hera

In ancient Greek religion, Hera (; ; in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen among the twelve Olympians on Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. One of her defining characteristics in myth is her jealous and vengeful nature in dealing with any who offended her, especially Zeus's numerous adulterous lovers and illegitimate offspring.

Her iconography usually presents her as a dignified, matronly figure, upright or enthroned, crowned with a polos or diadem, sometimes veiled as a married woman.Elderkin (1937), "The marriage of Zeus with Hera" She is the patron goddess of lawful marriage. She presides over weddings, blesses and legalises marital unions, and protects women from harm during childbirth. Her sacred animals include the cow, cuckoo, and peacock. She is sometimes shown holding a pomegranate as an emblem of immortality. Her Roman counterpart is Juno.Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia, The Book People, Haydock, 1995, p. 215.

Etymology The name Hera (Hḗrā or Hḗrē) is attested in Mycenaean Greek, written in Linear B syllabary as e-ra, appearing on tablets found in Pylos and Thebes; it is attested also in the Cypriotic dialect, in the dative form e-ra-i.Blažek, Václav. "Artemis and her family". In: Graeco-Latina Brunensia vol. 21, iss. 2 (2016). p. 47. It has no clear etymology, and several mutually exclusive etymologies have been preposed.

In a note in his Greek Religion, Walter Burkert records scholars' arguments "for the meaning Mistress as a feminine to Heros, Master", with uncertain origin."Greek religion", pp. 131–132 John Chadwick, a decipherer of Linear B, remarks, "Her name may be connected with hērōs (ἥρως, 'hero'), but that is no help since it too is etymologically obscure."Chadwick, The Mycenaean World (Cambridge University Press). 1976:87. A. J. van Windekens proposes the meaning "young cow, heifer", which is consonant with Hera's common epithet βοῶπις (boōpis, "cow-eyed").Windekens, in Glotta 36 (1958), pp. 309–11. Alternatively, a Proto-Indo-European root might have meant either "the female who is attached/coupled" or "the female who attaches herself" (whether physically, emotionally, or socially). Robert S. P. Beekes has suggested a Pre-Greek origin.R. S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, p. 524.

There are several ancient suggestions no longer considered plausible: One was to connect it with Greek ὥρα (hōra, season), perhaps to be interpreted as "ripe for marriage"; another, put forward by to Plato, was to connect it with ἐρατή (eratē, "beloved"), as Zeus is said to have married her for love.LSJ s.v. ἐρατός.Plato, Cratylus, 404c According to Plutarch, Hera was an allegorical name and an anagram of aēr (ἀήρ, "air").Plutarch, On Isis and Osiris, 32

Many theophoric names, such as Heracles, Heraclitus, Herodotus and Herodicus, derive from Hera.Van der Toorn, Karel; Becking, Bob; van der Horst, Pieter Willem (1999), Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (second ed.), Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company, : p.401-402

Epithets Hera bore several epithets in the mythological tradition and in literature. In the historical times the majority of the Greeks recognized Hera as the consort of Zeus.Farnell Cults I, p.195 Hera is the protector of marriage and of the rights of the married women.Nilsson, "Geschichte", Vol i, p.428-429 In some cults she has some functions of the earth goddess. She is occasionally related to warfare as tutelary goddess.

Goddess of marriage and bride

Γαμήλιος (Gamēlios), 'presiding over marriage'. A sacrifice to Hera ensured a happy married life.Farnell Cults I, 194-197 Γαμηστόλος (Gamēstόlos), 'leading the troop of marriage'. Νυμφευομένη (Nympheuomenē), 'led as a bride' at Plataea, in relation to her festival Daedala.Pausanias, Description of Greece:9.2.7-9.3.2Farnell Cults I, 241-243 Νυμφη (Nymphē), 'bride'. Παρθένος (Parthénos) 'Virgin' Παρθενία (Parthenia),Farnell Cults I, 249-254 Παῖς (Pais) 'Child' (in her role as virgin) at Stymphalus.Pausanias 8.22.2 Συζύγιος (Syzygios) 'patroness of marriage'συζύγιος Τελεία (Teleia) 'bringing the fulfillement of marriage'. Ζυγία (Zygia), 'yoke of marriage'. Her husband Zeus had also the epithet Zygius (Ζυγίος).A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Zygia and Zygius Χήρα (Chḗrα) 'Widowed' at Stymphalus.

Consort of Zeus

Ανασσα (Anassa), 'Queen'.Farnell Cults I, 241-243 Ἀμμωνία (Ammonìa), at Elis related to Zeus-AmmonPausanias 5.15.1 Βασίλεια (Basíleia) 'Queen' at Ialysus in Rhodes Βασιλίς (Basilis) 'Queen' at Libadia and Argos. Διώνη (Diōnē) as the consort of Zeus at Dodona.Odyssey scholia 3.91: "Poseidon saw Amphitrite dancing on Naxos and abducted her. Because of this the goddess is called ‘Poseidonia’ by the locals, just as Hera is called ‘Dione’ among the residents of Dodona, according to Apollodorus [of Athens]" Ολυμπία (Olympia), with an altar near the altar of Olympian Zeus.Farnell Cults I, 246-252 Σκηπτούχος (Skēptouchos),'bearing a sceptre' (Queen).

Founder and protector

Αρχηγέτις (Archēgetis), 'founder', leader of the settlement at Samos. Ἀκραῖα (Akraìa) '(She) of the Heights (Akropolis)'James Joseph Clauss, Sarah Iles Johnston. Medea: Essays on Medea in myth, literature, philosophy, and art, 1997. p.46Pausanias 2.24.1 Βουναία (Bounaia) '(She) of the Mound' (in Corinth)Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott. A Greek-English Lexicon βουναίαHeinrich Schliemann. Ilios: The city and country of the Trojans, 1881. Ὑπερχειρία (Hypercheiria), 'the goddess who holds her protecting hand over a thing'. Hera was worshipped under this surname at a sanctuary in Sparta, which was built following an oracle's command after the Eurotas River flooded the land.A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Hypercheiria

As an earth and fertility goddess

Ἄνθεια (Antheia), meaning flowery at Argos and Miletos.Suda, alpha, 2504Pausanias 2.22.1 Βοῶπις (Boṓpis) 'Cow-Eyed'. probably a form of the earth-goddess. Γή (Ge), 'Earth' by Plutarch in a passage of Eusebius. Ευεργεσία (Euergesia), 'doing a good service'Ευεργεσία Ζευξιδία (Ζeuxidia),'yoking the oxen' at Argos. Πάμφοιτος (Pamfοιtos) 'repeatedly coming'. (Pamfoitos Anassa) Φερέσβιος (Pheresbios) 'life giving'. by Empedocles (Plutarch). Ωρόλυτος (Hōrolytos) at Samos as the controller of the seasons and times of the year (Horae)

As goddess of the hymns

Εὑκέλαδος (Εukelados), 'well sounding, melodious'. Προσυμναία (Prosymnaia), 'goddess of the hymn' at Argos.

Place of worship

Ἀργείη (Argeìē) '(She) of Argos'. Hera was probably the goddess of the palace. 'Ιμβραση (Imbrasē) after the river Imbrasus at Samos. Κανδαρηνή (Kandarēnē) at the city Kandara of Asia-Minor. Κιθαιρωνία (Κithairōnia) 'of the mountain Kithairon' in Boeotia, in relation with her fest Daedala. Λιμανία (Limanìa) ' of the harbour' at Perachora near the Isthmus of Corinth.H.G.Payne, Perachora 1940: Nilsson, Vol I, p.428A1 Πελασγίς (Pelasgis) at Iolcus. A sacrifice was performed to Hera by Pelias.A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Pelasga Σαμία (Samia), with a famous temple at Samos. Φαρυγαία (Pharygaia) at the city Pharygae of Locris.

Warlike character

Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros) 'Protector of Men' (among the Sicyonians). Her cult was founded by Adrastus. Ὁπλοσμία (Hoplosmia) 'bearing arms or shield' at Elis, Triphylia, Crotone, Bruttium,Tzetzes' On Lycophron 857: "Thetis dedicated a garden to Hera in Crotone: Hera Hoplosmia, where the women mourn Achilles..." though Servius' On Aeneid 3.552 identifies the sanctuary made by Thetis as being in Lacinium, a prominent patron city of the goddess.Fitzwilliam Museum, on a Bruttian coin of Hera Hoplosmia https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/187099 and possibly Paestum, Argos, and Samos, where she had a "warlike character.""At Argos, Elis, and Croton, Hera may be described as "hoplosmia" and her warlike character is also manifest at Samos. At Paestum too, archaeological and epigraphical evidence suggests that Hera possessed a martial character. From her sanctuary in the urban center, an Archaic inscription addresses the goddess as one who can strengthen one's military prowess. In addition, several Archaic terracotta figurines dedicated there portray a goddess whose raised right arm once held a spear." Ammerman, R. M. (1991). The Naked Standing Goddess: A Group of Archaic Terracotta Figurines from Paestum. American Journal of Archaeology, 95(2), 203–230. https://doi.org/10.2307/505723 Προδρομία (Prodromia), 'running forward' at Sikyon. Δρομαία (Dromaia), 'runner' at Thera.Arnold, Irene Ringwood. “The Shield of Argos.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 41, no. 3, 1937, pp. 438. . Πεδίον (Pedion), '[of the racing] field/plain' in Sicily. Τροπαία (Tropaia), 'giver of victory' by Lycophron. Ἐνυώ (Enyo), 'to accomplish/to kill' by Lycophron.Tzetzes’ On Lycophron 519 Δηίας (Dēías) ‘bringer of destruction’ by Lycophron, according to Tzetzes.Tzetzes’ On Lycophron 1328 Ἡνιόχη (Hēniochē) 'Charioteer' at Libadia. Hera-Henioche was worshipped together with "Demeter-Europa,”“Pausanias' words are θύει… ὁ κατιών… Διὶ ἐπίκλησιν Βασιλεῖ καὶ Ἥρᾳ τε Ηνιόχῃ καὶ Δήμητρι ἦν ἐπονομάζοντες Εὐρώπην. One is so accustomed to the idea of Zeus and Hera being grouped together that it is easy to overlook that what Pausanias seems to be saying is not "he sacrifices to Zeus Basileus and Hera Henioche, and Demeter…Europe", but rather "he sacrifices to Zeus Basileus, and he sacrifices to Hera Henioche and Demeter…Europe". The conjunctions τε and καὶ seem to link Hera Henioche and Demeter Europe together as a pair. The inference is that at Lebadeia, Hera may have been associated in worship with Demeter.” SCHACHTER, ALBERT. “CULTS OF BOIOTIA: 1. Acheloos to Hera.” Bulletin Supplement (University of London. Institute of Classical Studies), no. 38 (1), 1981, pp.241 . implying that Hera may have been “the patron goddess of the troop and the Boeotian charioteers.”“die Schutzgöttin der Schar und der böotischen Wagenlenker” N. Yalouris, Mus.Helv. 7 (1950) 78-81. .

Local cults

Αἰγοφάγος (Aigophágos) 'Goat-Eater' among the LacedaemoniansPausanias 3.15.7 Εἰλείθυια (Eileithyia) at Argos and Athens as goddess of childbirth.Farnell Cults I, p.247 In Theogony Εileithyia is the daughter of Hera. Ἐλεία (Eleía) 'of the marsh' at Cyprus. Θελξινία (Thelxinìa) at Athens.Hesch. "Thelxinia Hera is honoured by the Athenians" Θεομήτωρ (Theomētōr) 'mother of a god' at Samos.Θεομήτωρ Ἱππία (Hippia), 'of the horse' at Olympia.Pausanias 5.15.5 Λακίνια (Lacinia) at Croton.Pausanias 6.13.1 Λευκώλενος (Leukōlenos) 'White-Armed'λευκωλενος Μειλίχιος (Meilichios), 'gentle', like "Zeus-Meilichios" at Selinus.Nilsson, Vol I, p.412μειλίχιος Μηλιχία (Μēlichia) 'gentle, with gentle words' at Hierapetna. Τελχινία (Telchinia): Diodorus Siculus write that she was worshipped by the Ialysians and the Cameirans (both were on the island of Rhodes). She was named thus because according to a legend, Telchines (Τελχῖνες) were the first inhabitants of the island and also the first who created statues of gods.Diodorus Siculus, Library, 5.55.1 Ὑπερχειρία (Ηypercheiria), 'with the hand above' at Sparta.Pausanias 3.13.8

Origins In historical times, the majority of the Greeks recognized Hera as the consort of Zeus. Zeus was the protector of rights and mores, and his partner Hera became the protector of legal marriage and the rights of married women. Modern scholars suggest that Hera is not only the Olympian sky-goddess, but in some cults she may be identified as an earth-goddess.West (2007),"Indoeuropean poetry and myth", p.184-185 : P.185

Mycenean Greece