Hera
The goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. Hera (Ἥρα) is queen of the twelve Olympians and 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. 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.
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. Hera is the protector of marriage and of the rights of the married women. 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
- Γαμηστόλος (Gamēstόlos), 'leading the troop of marriage'
- Νυμφευομένη (Nympheuomenē), 'led as a bride' at Plataea, in relation to her festival Daedala
- Νυμφη (Nymphē), 'bride'
- Παρθένος (Parthénos) 'Virgin'
- Παρθενία (Parthenia)
- Παῖς (Pais) 'Child' (in her role as virgin) at Stymphalus.
- Συζύγιος (Syzygios) 'patroness of marriage'
- Τελεία (Teleia) 'bringing the fulfillement of marriage'.
- Ζυγία (Zygia), 'yoke of marriage'. Her husband Zeus had also the epithet Zygius (Ζυγίος).
- Χήρα (Chḗrα) 'Widowed' at Stymphalus.
Consort of Zeus
- Ανασσα (Anassa), 'Queen'
- Ἀμμωνία (Ammonìa), at Elis related to Zeus-Ammon
- Βασίλεια (Basíleia) 'Queen' at Ialysus in Rhodes
- Βασιλίς (Basilis) 'Queen' at Libadia and Argos
- Διώνη (Diōnē) as the consort of Zeus at Dodona
- Ολυμπία (Olympia), with an altar near the altar of Olympian Zeus
- 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)'
- Βουναία (Bounaia) '(She) of the Mound' (in Corinth)[
- 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.
As an earth and fertility goddess
- Ἄνθεια (Antheia), meaning flowery at Argos and Miletos.
- 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'
- 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.
- Πελασγίς (Pelasgis) at Iolcus. A sacrifice was performed to Hera by Pelias.
- 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, and possibly Paestum, Argos, and Samos, where she had a "warlike character."
- Προδρομία (Prodromia), 'running forward' at Sikyon.
- Δρομαία (Dromaia), 'runner' at Thera.
- Πεδίον (Pedion), '[of the racing] field/plain' in Sicily.
- Τροπαία (Tropaia), 'giver of victory' by Lycophron.
- Ἐνυώ (Enyo), 'to accomplish/to kill' by Lycophron.
- Δηίας (Dēías) ‘bringer of destruction’ by Lycophron, according to Tzetzes.
- Ἡνιόχη (Hēniochē) 'Charioteer' at Libadia. Hera-Henioche was worshipped together with "Demeter-Europa,” implying that Hera may have been “the patron goddess of the troop and the Boeotian charioteers.”
Local cults
- Αἰγοφάγος (Aigophágos) 'Goat-Eater' among the Lacedaemonians
- Εἰλείθυια (Eileithyia) at Argos and Athens as goddess of childbirth. In Theogony Εileithyia is the daughter of Hera.
- Ἐλεία (Eleía) 'of the marsh' at Cyprus.
- Θελξινία (Thelxinìa) at Athens.
- Θεομήτωρ (Theomētōr) 'mother of a god' at Samos.
- Ἱππία (Hippia), 'of the horse' at Olympia.
- Λακίνια (Lacinia) at Croton.
- Λευκώλενος (Leukōlenos) 'White-Armed'
- Μειλίχιος (Meilichios), 'gentle', like "Zeus-Meilichios" at Selinus.
- 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.
- Ὑπερχειρία (Ηypercheiria), 'with the hand above' at Sparta.