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Who was Hera?

In short: Hera is the queen of Olympus — goddess of marriage, women and the family, and protector of women in childbirth. A daughter of Kronos and Rhea, she is both sister and wife of Zeus.

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5 facts about Hera

  1. Like her siblings, Hera was swallowed by her father Kronos at birth — only Zeus set her free.
  2. In Hesiod, Hera was the last wife Zeus took; their children are Hebe, Ares and Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth.
  3. In Hesiod, Hera bore Hephaestus on her own, without Zeus — in Homer he is the son of both.
  4. Among her best-known sanctuaries are the Heraion of Samos and the Heraion of Argos.
  5. In Roman mythology she corresponds to Juno.

Guardian of marriage and family

Hera stood for marriage as a fixed order, protected by law and religion. That is why so many myths tell of her jealousy over Zeus's affairs — and of how she pursued his children by other partners, Dionysus among them.

Those entanglements are exactly what make her place in the family tree so revealing: Hera is at once sister, wife and mother of several Olympian gods.

Frequently asked questions

Who were Hera's parents?

Hera was the daughter of the Titans Kronos and Rhea, which makes her a sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter and Hestia.

Who were Hera's children?

With Zeus she had Ares, Hebe and Eileithyia. Hephaestus she bore alone according to Hesiod; in Homer he is also a son of Zeus.

What is Hera called in Roman mythology?

Her Roman counterpart is Juno.

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More from Greek mythology

Hera is related to almost every major god on Olympus. Open the example tree to explore her parents, siblings and children generation by generation.

Explore in the family tree

Open this family tree