Hera (S2)

Hera was the goddess of childbirth, women, and childbirth. She was known for being the insanely jealous wife and sister of Zeus, the ruler of the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She is also one of the siblings of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Hera. Her children consist of Hephaestus, Ares, Enyo, Hebe, Eileithyia, and Heris. 

Her best known child was Hephaestus. Hera was angry at Zeus for cheating on her with Metis, and having a child ‘by himself’ because Athena was born out of his head. Because of this, Hera was determined to create a child by herself. She had Hephaestus, the god of fire and of metalworking. Hephaestus was lame, unable to walk without a limp. Hera was embarrassed by him and threw him off Mount Olympus. When Hephaestus grew up, he returned to Mount Olympus and had his revenge on Hera. This resulted in Hera having to swear upon the River of Styx that Hephaestus was her child. 

Hera is also known for trying to kill Zeus’s other children.

In the myth involving the hero, Hercules, she was responsible for making him go crazy. This madness resulted in Hercules brutally murdering his family which consisted of his wife and children. If Hera hadn’t cursed him with this madness, he would not have had to complete the twelve labors that were given to him by Eurythesis.  He had to complete these labors to avenge his family’s murders that he was responsible for.

She was also responsible for Semele’s death. Semele was a mortal that was pregnant with Zeus’s son Dionysus. Zeus told her that he would grant anything that she wished for. Hera had Semele wish for Zeus to reveal himself in his divine form. He had to grant her wish because he swore upon the River Styx. This killed her and this was the reason for Dionysus being sown into Zeus’s thigh.