jewishlehnsherrs:

i love cows and their long fucking eyelashes what kind of beauty icons

pieandhotdogs:

I’ve actually been hoping someone would ask me this question for a while now 🙂

I love Hera’s myths because they do reveal a lot about her character. People always get hung up on how scary she is, but that’s actually just skimming the surface of the myth if you read it like that. When she curses the mortal lovers of Zeus, she is acting out of jealousy and anger, but that comes with the territory of being the Goddess of Marriage. Nobody seems to bat an eyelash when Artemis turns a mortal into a deer for claiming he was a better hunter than her, or when Athena rips up Arachne’s tapestry for claiming she was a better weaver than the goddess of weaving. What are these women doing, in Hera’s eyes, other than claiming that they are better wives than she, the Goddess of Marriage?

But I digress. Some of my favorite myths about Hera reveal other parts of her character. When she conspires to overthrow Zeus, she’s revealed to be cunning and wily. Who does she convince to help her? Poseidon and Athena? Athena, the golden child who supposedly would NEVER in a million years betray Zeus? Athena, the best ally Hera could ever have on Olympus besides Zeus himself? And Poseidon, the middle brother (whether by birth or by disgorgement)? Athena AND Poseidon, two Theoi who had (mythologically speaking) been at each others’ throats for eons? Would either of these Gods joined up with Hera if they had thought there wasn’t a chance of success? And even though they failed in their attempted coup, Ares couldn’t help commenting that he saw the fear in Zeus’s eyes. Zeus was fully aware of the precarious situation his wife had put him in. Because she is powerful beyond what we think of her as.

What is always displayed in modern representations of Hera is this weak, spoiled, fancy lady with a big ego and a bitchy streak. Look at the God of War series. She is presented as a drunk, lounging around in her gardens, just waiting for the player to break her dainty little neck. Nobody seems to remember the warrior who went up against Artemis more than once and fucking yanked the Huntress (who’s job it is to KILL THINGS) out of the clouds and showed her to her own ass every single time. Nobody wants to think about the woman who aided the Argonauts at every turn because one of the bastard sons of Zeus showed her kindness. Nobody talks about the fact that Zeus felt the need to hang her from the sky above the Abyss itself in order to quell the fire raging inside of her. These are some of my favorite myths about Hera, because they show her passionate strength and ferocity.

Even better though, are the myths that put her glorious beauty on display. She’s described as the most beautiful of goddesses. One of her epithets compares her to Aphrodite herself. As a wedding gift, Gaia herself gave Hera the golden apples of immortal life, which are tended by the Hesperides (nymphs of sunset).

Hera is the one wife that Zeus has kept by his side for-fucking-ever. When Ixion wanted to rape Hera, Zeus created a version of her from the clouds and punished him severely when he committed the act on the fake. Despite all of their problems, they love and adore one another. In fact, my absolute FAVORITE MYTH is the separation of Hera and Zeus.

Hera had finally gotten fed up with Zeus’s infidelity, and decided to leave him, heading to Stymphalos to stay. Despite all of his pleading, Zeus couldn’t get her to return to him, so he paid a visit to the mountain-god Kithaeron. Kithaeron told Zeus to make a wooden image, cover it up, and parade around with it, claiming to be celebrating his marriage to the daughter of Asopos. Zeus followed the advice and Hera heard about the marriage at once. She was so enraged that she immediately showed up and tore the veil off the image, hoping to beat someone’s ass for marrying her beloved, but when she found the wooden image instead of a bride, she was filled with affection for her husband and they reconciled. Zeus loves Hera so much that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back, and Hera loves Zeus even when she’s mad at him. Despite their differences and trials and tribulations, they adore each other. The goddess of marriage shows us time and time again what marriage really is. Not just the pretty parts, but the ugly, the exciting, the raw, the furious, the passionate, and the sweet. That’s why I love Hera.

pomegranateandivy:

I’ll tell you now,

Of Her, Who’s Hand is Above;

She stands upon Olympus high,

Dripping in golden sunlight,

Pearls and Topaz adorning Her crown.

Intricate braids and bands of gold,

Holding honeysuckle and organza

Atop Her brow.

Calf like eyes, framed in heavy lashes,

Painted with lapis lazuli,

Looking out under perfect brunette curls.

Your Queen stands before you now.

Rise, and turn your voices towards Her.

temples-wreathed-in-laurel:

Like obviously she is important, and I don’t think people ignore her. But most of the time I feel like when people talk about her they are subconsciously always thinking of a “take no shit” woman and her marriage aspect. Her other dynamics that need noticing.  

Hera being a foster mother to the children without a home.

Hera banding together with Aphrodite and raging when a queer couple’s rights are denied

Hera being the loudest voice in Anti-Domestic Abuse marches

The kind soothing mother who strokes your hair with the gentlest hand when you need comfort

The voice encouraging the young girls who want to be powerful, who want to make a difference, telling them that they can do anything they wish to achieve

Hera fueling the fire in little girls when they are told they can’t do something because of their gender

Hera being the calm of Zeus’ storm and the flame that fuels the wildfire

Hera protecting young mothers

And Hera helping all children spread their wings when its time to go

Hera being there for people who need a mother in any way, guiding them out into the light and teaching them to stand on their own

Hera listening to couples problems and being with them during couples counseling

Hera being the regal, fair stranger that you are sure is too feminine to do any harm, but hurt any of those she loves and there is no stopping her wrath

Her showing girls how to walk, talk, and act like a queen, but to also be humble and generous as well

Just Hera