Who is Hera?
Hera is a major Greek goddess who is the wife of Zeus and the queen of the gods. She is the goddess of marriage and family, and she protects married women and their households.
Origins and Family
- Parents: Cronus (Kronos) and Rhea, a Titan couple
- Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia (and sometimes others, depending on the myth)
- Children with Zeus (in various myths): Hephaestus, Hebe, Eileithyia, and sometimes Ares
- Role: Hera is Zeus's wife and sister in many stories, and she rules alongside him on Mount Olympus
Powers
As an immortal goddess, Hera has strong authority over marriage, family life, and childbirth. She can bless marriages, protect wives and mothers, and punish those who displease her or break sacred vows. She is seen as powerful, wise, and often protective of women’s roles in family life.
Symbols
- Peacock, especially its tail feathers with eye-like patterns
- Cow, one of her sacred animals
- Royal crown, scepter, and a diadem
- Lilies or other flowers in some stories
Roles and Domains
- Queen of the Gods and wife of Zeus
- Goddess of marriage, family, and childbirth
- Protector of married women and mothers
- Oversees loyalty and relationships within weddings and family life
Who is Athena?
Athena is a separate goddess in the Greek myth system, and she is not Hera’s daughter. She is the goddess of wisdom, war strategy, crafts, and weaving. According to many myths, she was born from Zeus after he swallowed his wife Metis, emerging fully grown and armored from his head.
Athena is the patron goddess of the city of Athens and is often shown with an owl (symbol of wisdom), the olive tree, a helmet, and a spear. She represents smart planning, courage, and skill in crafts and battles.