Who was Hera in Greek mythology?

In Greek religion and mythology, Hera is the queen of the Olympian gods, as well as the sister and wife of Zeus. She is primarily known as the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and serves as the protector of women during childbirth. Her myths frequently highlight her jealous and vengeful reactions to the numerous adulterous affairs and illegitimate offspring of Zeus.

What we know

• Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and protects women during childbirth. [2]
• In Greek mythology, Hera is the queen among the twelve Olympians, daughter of Titans Cronus and Rhea, and sister and wife of Zeus. [1, 2]
• Her defining characteristics in myth include a jealous and vengeful nature toward the adulterous lovers and illegitimate offspring of Zeus. [2]
• Hera's sacred animals include the cow, cuckoo, and peacock, and she is sometimes depicted holding a pomegranate as an emblem of immortality. [2]

Where to go next

• a case in pointWho were Hera's children with Zeus?
• compared withWho is the Roman equivalent of Hera?
• what caused itHow did Hera's feud lead to the Trojan War?
• the bigger pictureWho were the parents of Hera?
• what followedHow did Hera punish the mortal lovers of Zeus?
• an unexpected connectionHow does Hera connect to a moon of Jupiter?Io, one of the mortal lovers of Zeus persecuted by Hera in mythology, gave her name to a major moon of Jupiter discovered centuries later.

Sources

• [1]Hera (Wikidata Q38012) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Hera · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Hebe (mythology) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Aphrodite · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Io (mythology) · CC BY-SA 4.0