The Ancients Hera: Queen of the Gods
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Dec 11, 2022 
Dr. Ellie Mackin Roberts, an Ancient Greek historian at King's College London, dives into the fascinating world of Hera, the Queen of the Gods. She reveals Hera's pre-Greek origins and how she was sometimes worshipped even before Zeus. The discussion uncovers her true roles beyond the jealous wife stereotype, highlighting her influence over marriage and women's lives. Ellie also explores why peacocks became sacred to her and how Hera's worship evolved, shedding light on her enduring legacy from ancient Greece to Rome.
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Hera Predates Greek Pantheon
- Ellie Mackin-Roberts explains Hera predates Greek pantheon as an indigenous, pre-Greek goddess with fertility ties.
- Archaeology and Linear B attest to Hera's early centrality before she became subordinated to Zeus.
Temples Of Hera Came First
- Early temple architecture and monumental cult spaces were often first dedicated to Hera rather than Zeus.
- Archaeology shows Hera's worship predates Zeus in many sanctuaries, e.g., Olympia's Hera sanctuary came before Zeus's.
Hera's Visual Symbols
- Hera appears in art as a crowned woman wearing a polos and carrying royal symbols and pomegranates for fertility.
- Regional cults used specific materials, like Argos' star-grass polos, linking iconography to local worship.
