Today, in Ancient History, the Greeks had a festival titled The Day of All Heras. While later, Greek writers and powers that be tried to make Hera as a jealous Goddess who would only protect the women who did not have an affair with her husband, Zeus, I went digging awhile back and found a different side of her.
And in case you missed the good stuff on Hera posted earlier this month…..
Hera, being the so-called jealous wife of Zeus—since he couldn’t keep from messin’ around.
However, with a little research, I dug up some things not so common in popular myth.
Hera, believed to be the same as earlier Goddesses predating Gods, was believed to have originated in early Aegean civilizations (along with Rhea–pre Hellenic).
Queens who ruled by her name, carried the title Hiera "Holy One."
According to Barbara G. Walkers "The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths & Secrets", Hera was originally the Mother of the Gods, subordinate to no one, and a Great mother who made kings AND gods. In fact, Zeus was not as ancient as she, but that would be changed once writers began to pen something different.
It wasn’t until Greek Authors attempted to make a male deity older and stronger—Zeus, that Hera became a jealous wife and woman. The arguing between Hera and Zeus seems to be symbolic of the arguing between the cults of that time–patriarchal & matriarchal–who battled over the truths of Hera and of other gods & goddesses.
As a trinity, she was Hera, Hebe, and Hecate. (Representing the moons–New, full, and old– Virgin of Spring, Mother of Summer, destroying Crone of Autumn.
Hera spread through Europe and even the Saxon’s made worship of her at Heresburg (Hera’s Mount) known to be the phallic column of the world.
Some sources claim Hera’s name may have meant He Era, the earth.
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