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Characteristics Of Hera In The Iliad

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Imitation of any kind is understood to be the best form of flattery. As time goes by, it is hard for a text to contain its own originality. Many times throughout history, writers have borrowed a theme from a text and try to alter the initial author’s idea to create a unique concept. Specific characteristics of Christian figures can be found in certain individuals in Mythology. Hera is the symbols of fertility and marriage in Greek mythology. While some individuals may think the Queen of the gods is an original idea from the Greeks, her origins go back to Judaism. Some of the characteristics that Hera displays in Homer’s The Illiad are very similar to the characteristics of Eve, the Mother of humanity, in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Despite one being a goddess and the other being a mere mortal, Hera and Eve were both born from a male. In the case of the birth of Hera, however, it was not as straightforward as Eve’s birth. In Hesiod’s Theogony, Hera was birthed from Rheia; but Rheia is forced to bare her children by Kronos. Even though Kronos forces Rheia into childbirth, he consumes his children in order to secure his place as …show more content…

Hera fury spared no one who was foolished enough to betray her. Hera claimed ownership to a golden apple that she felt entitled to own. The ownership of a mere golden apple possessed the authority to determine the most beautiful goddess. Paris had the misfortunate of being chosen to decide who should possess the golden apple. No matter his decision, Paris’s decision would be costly mistake. Seflishly but innocently enough, Paris’s lust for physical beauty of a woman more than acquiring knowledge and power causes him and the Trojans to be sworn enemies of Athena and Hera (The Iliad, Book XXIV1.28-9). Hera takes her rage and jealousy of Paris’s decision and turns it into gratifying revenge against the

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