Goddess: Hera (Greece) —by Míchealín Ní Dhochartaigh [pronounced Heer-ah] Hera, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was the Greek goddess of the sky, who watched over, protected and guided women as they prepared to marry, conceive children and give birth. Hera also was known as a great leader, who had the power to ease childbirth and foretell the future. She is the patroness of marriage and maternity. When Hera married Zeus, Mother Earth gave her a tree with golden apples, the blessing of immortality. Thereafter, Hera was known for her magnificent garden of eternal life. The original athletic games, which were played in a stadium adjacent to Hera’s temple in Olympia, were dedicated to Hera. She was the "Queen of Olympus," and only women were allowed to compete. Hers is similar to the Roman goddess Juno. Her flower is the opium poppy; the peacock is her sacred bird. Sources: Farrar J, Farrar S: The Witches' Goddess, Phoenix Publishing, London, 1987. Mutén, B. Goddesses: A world of Myth and Magic, Barefoot Books, 2003. Page last updated 23 Apr 2006 Website Design and Myths & Magic logo by Míchealín Ní Dhochartaigh Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.