Hera, Zeus’ wife, is the queen of all Gods. Hera is usually portrayed as a beautiful and fair woman wearing flowing robes, a crown and holds a lotus sceptre. She is shown riding a chariot pulled by peacocks. The peacock and cow are her sacred animals.

Hera is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea, the king and queen of the Titans. While she was Zeus’ sister, later she became his wife. Hera is also called the “Queen of the Heaven” as she rules over Mount Olympus.

Hera’s story is one of the famous legends in Greek mythology. After being born, like her other siblings, Hera was swallowed by her father Kronos because he was scared that his children would someday overthrow him. Hera was eventually saved by Zeus.

As Zeus loved many women and Goddesses, Hera would get jealous and in revenge try and kill the children. There is a famous legend where Hera hated the hero Heracles since he was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. When Heracles was an infant, Hera sent snakes to attack him in his crib. When he grew up, Hera stirred up the Amazon against him on one of his quests. Hera also tried to kill Apollo and Artemis before they were even born.

Despite her violent and jealous acts, Hera did many good deeds. She is considered very powerful and even controls the skies. When she is happy, she blesses people with clear blue sky and when she is angry, she can bring storms. She is worshipped as the Goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth.  She would be worshipped by all women during childbirth. Hence she was named as the protector of women.