#hera akraia

[fabledfoxglove]

♛ ✦ ʜᴇʀᴀ • 𝙌ᴜᴇᴇɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs, ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇss ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋʏ, ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ, ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ, ᴄʜɪʟᴅʙɪʀᴛʜ, ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀʜᴏᴏᴅ, ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ, & ʀᴜʟᴇʀs/ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ✦ ♛

[transbutchblues]

Heraion of Perachora — sanctuary of Hera Akraia

[theoihalioistuff]

I was just about to make a post about this!! (luckily for me someone else went through the trouble of compiling sources 😜). In case you're interested, the Scholia on Pindar goes something like this:

"Medea is mentioned because she lived in Corinth and ended a famine that afflicted the Corinthians by sacrificing to Demeter and the Lemnian nymphs. There Zeus fell in love with her, but Medea did not yield, avoiding the anger of Hera. Therefore, Hera promised to make her children immortal. After their deaths, the Corinthians honored them, calling them 'μιξοβαρβάρους' [mixed-barbarians]." (Schol. Pind. Olympian. 13.74g.)

I think the implication is that the children are deified after their deaths, an aitiological reason for why they receive the usual chthonic worship of heroes (inhabiting the edge between the dead and the divine):

"But as their death was violent and illegal, the young babies of the Corinthians were destroyed by them [Medea's Children] until, at the command of the oracle, yearly sacrifices were established in their honor and a figure of Terror was set up. This figure still exists, being the likeness of a woman frightful to look upon, but after Corinth was laid waste by the Romans and the old Corinthians were wiped out, the new settlers broke the custom of offering those sacrifices to the sons of Medea, nor do their children cut their hair for them or wear black clothes." (Paus. 2.3.7)

Do we know anything about the relationship between Hera and Medea, apart from the fact that she made her fall in love with Jason?

In Euripides' Medea (1378–1383), she says that she will bury her children in the sanctuary of Hera Akraia and that holy rites will be held in payment for their murder.

A similar idea appears in sources where Medea doesn't herself kill the children, or at least not on purpose. Apparently in the Corinthiaca of Eumelos Medea buried them in Hera's temple in an attempt to make them immortal: „Through her [Medea] Jason was king in Corinth, and Medea, as her children were born, carried each to the sanctuary of Hera and concealed them, doing so in the belief that so they would be immortal. At last she learned that her hopes were vain, and at the same time she was detected by Jason. When she begged for pardon he refused it, and sailed away to Iolcus. For these reasons Medea too departed, and handed over the kingdom to Sisyphus.” (Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.3.11)

„According to Parmeniskos, when Medeia became queen of Corinth, she was despised by the other Corinthian women for being a barbarian and an enchantress, with the result that her children, seven boys and seven girls, were all killed by them in the shrine of Hera Akraia, where they tried to find refuge. Because of this act of sacrilege a plague befell the city and many Corinthians died. The oracle prophesied that, in order to cleanse the city from this pollution, the Corinthians need to select seven boys and seven girls and have them spend a whole year inside Hera's precinct, as well as offer sacrifices to appease the goddess' anger.” (Christos K. Tsagalis, Early Greek Epic Fragments I: Antiquarian and Genealogical Epic)

Similarly, Pseudo-Apollodoros (Library 1.9.28) mentions an account in which Medea left her children in the temple of Hera Akraia where they were killed by the Corinthians: „Another tradition is that on her flight she left behind her children, who were still infants, setting them as suppliants on the altar of Hera of the Height; but the Corinthians removed them and wounded them to death.”

Finally a variant that brings Hera and Medea even closer is attested in a scholion to Pindar (Olympian 13.74g). According to this source, Zeus took an erotic interest in Medea but she refused to have anything to do with him out of respect or fear of Hera, whereupon Hera promised to make Medea's children immortal. She didn't keep her promise for whatever reason, however, and the children died anyways.

[beautyofaphrodite]

Aphrodite Epithets

okay okay I know I talk a lot about Her epithets I know. But I just posted a bunch of polls about Her epithets and didn’t add the meanings and also some of my other lists of epithets aren’t this detailed so here you go!

Domain Epithets

Ambologêra: Delaying/Postponing Old Age

Anadyomene: Goddess Rising from the Sea

Androphonos: Killer of Men

Anosia: Unholy

Antheia: The Blooming

Apatouros: Decieving one

Aphrogenia: Foam Born

Apostrophia: Averter of (Unlawful Desires)

Apotrophia: The Expeller

- “Expelled from the hearts of men the desire after sinful pleasure and lust” (theoi.com)

Areia: Of Ares; the Warlike

Despoina: The Ruling Goddess; The Mistress

Dia: Divine; Shining

Dionaea: Daughter of Dione

Dios Thugater: Daughter of Zeus

Doritis: Bountiful

Eleemon: Merciful

Enoplios: Armed

Epistrophia: She who Turns to (Love)

Erototrophus: Mother of Love

Euploia: Fair Voyage

Eustephanos: Richly Crowned; Well Girdled

Gamêlii: Protector or Goddess of Marriage

Genetyllis: Protectress of Births

Hera: Of Hera; Of Marriage

Hoplismena: Armed

Kallipygos: Round of Form

Kataskopia: Spying;Peeping

Khrysee: Golden

Kopois: Of the Garden

Limenia/Limenitês/Limenodkopos: Protectress of the Harbor

Makhantis: Deviser; Contriver

Mechanitis: Skilled at Inventing

Melaenis: The Dark

Migontis: Union (Marital)

Morpho: of Fair Shape; of Shapely Form

Nikêphoros: Bringer of Victory

Nymphia: Bridal

Ourania: Heavenly

Pandemos: Common to All People

Peitho: Persuasion

Philomides: Laughter-Loving

Philomedes: Genital-Loving

Pontia: Of the Sea

Pothon Mater: Mother of Desire

Praxis: Action (Sexual)

Psithyristês: Whispering

Skotia: Dark One

Symmakhia: Ally (In Love)

Tymborychos: Grave-Digger

Xenia: of Foreigners

Location Epithets

Akidalia: the well Acidalius near Orchomenos where Aphrodite swam with the Graces

Akraia: Temples were situated on hilltops

Amathusia: Amathus in Cyprus

Amyklaios: Of Amyclae (Laconia)

Aphakitis: Aphace in Coele-Syria

Aracynthus: Mount Aracynthus

Kastinia: Of Mt Castium (Pamphylia)

Knidia: Cnidus in Caria

Kôlias: Attic promontory of Colias

Kypria/Kyprus/Kyprogenia/Kyprogenes: Cyprus-Born

Kytheria/Kytherias: Cythera in Crete, or from the island of Cythera

Erukinê: Eryx, in Sicily

Idalia: Idalion in Cyprus

Melinaia: Argive town Meline

Migônitis: Migonium, in or near the island of Cranne in Laconia

Paphia: Paphos in Cyprus

Pyrenaea: Of Pyrenees Mts (Gaul)

Syria Dea: Syrian Goddess (Syrian Aphrodite refers to Astarte, a Syrian goddess similar to Aphrodite)

Zephyritis: Zephyrium in Egypt

Zerynthia: Zerinthus in Thrace

Sources: theoi.com and wikipedia mostly

[crazycatsiren]

My Favorite Epithets of Hera:

Akraia, "of the heights".

Anassa, "queen".

Antheia, of the flowers, the blooming, the blossoming, the friend of flowers, a surname of Hera, under which she had a temple at Argos. 

Argeia, of Argos, a surname of Hera derived from Argos, the principal seat of her worship.

Boôpis, "cow eyed", an epithet given to Hera by Homer.

Gamêlia, "of marriage", and of the gamêlioi theoi, the divinities protecting and presiding over marriage. It is said by Plutarch, that those who married required the protection of five divinities: Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Peitho, and Artemis. The Athenians called their month of Gamelion after these divinities.

Hêniokhê, "of the chariot".

Hippeios, equester/equestris.

Hyperkheiria, "whose hand is above", the goddess who holds her protecting hand over, a surname under which Hera had a sanctuary at Sparta.

Nymphevomenē, "led as a bride", in relation to her festival Daedala.

Samia, a surname of Hera, derived from her temple and worship on the island of Samos. There was a tradition that Hera was born or brought up on Samos.

Zygia and Zygios are surnames of Hera and Zeus, "yoke of marriage", describing them as presiding over marriage. 

(Art by Yliade)

[spiritual-entries]

𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎!

This is the second post for an overview of various Greek deities. The formatting is the same as my post for Lord Hermes but this post will be about Lady Aphrodite! And if things seem a bit repeatative....well I apologise. I did use my Hermes post as a base and only changed the information provided.

Lady Aphrodite is fairly new to my list of deities I'm working with. She's a lovely goddess to honor and work with. Strict when needed but knows when to show you the love that you need. Praise be Lady Aphrodite!

𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜

Who is Aphrodite?

Epithets

Family Tree

Symbols & Associations

Offerings & Devotions

Festivals

Outro

Sources

Aphrodite is the Olympian goddess of love, procreation, seduction, beauty, pleasure, happiness, and war.

She is typically depicted as a beautiful woman with Eros by her side, and she is usually nude in ancient depictions of her.  

Pop Culture

Aphrodite is another fairly popular goddess. She can be seen in any media depicting Greek myths and featuring the Greek gods. Percy Jackson, Hades game, Epic the Musical, the list can go on.

There are many different epithets for Aphrrodite. What are epithets? Well they are essentially surnames for the gods to describe their different aspects. If you wish to call upon a specific aspect of a god you would use their epithet when talking with them.

Now for the different epithets of Aphrodite. I will be including the transliteration version of the names as the Greek names use special characters that I am unsure if it’ll even show up. So we’re getting close enough.

𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜

A

Ambologêra

Postponer of Old Age

Apatouros

Deceptive One

Apostrophia

Averter of (Unlawful Desires)

Areia

Of Ares, Warlike

D

Dôritis

Bountiful

E

Epistrophia

She who Turns to (Love)

Euploia

Fair Voyage

H

Hêrê

Of Hera (of Marriage)

Hôplismenê

Armed

K

Kataskopia

Spying, Peeping

L

Limenia

Of the Harbour

M

Makhanitis

Deviser, Contriver

Melainis

Black (of Night)

Migôntis

Union (Marital)

Morphô

Of Shapely Form

N

Nikêphoros

Bringer of Victory

Nymphia

Bridal

O

Ourania

Heavenly, Divine (Love)

P

Pandêmos

Common to all people (Love)

Pontia

Of the Sea

Praxis

Action (Sexual)

Psithyristês

Whispering

S

Symmakhia

Ally (in Love)

X

Xenia

Of the Foreigner

Location Based

Akraia

Of the Heights

Amyklaios

Of Amyclea (Laconia)

Anadyomenê

Risen from the Sea

Eyrkinê

Of Eryx (Sicily)

Kastiniê

Of Mt. Castium (Pamphylia)

Kêpois

Of the Gardens

Knidia

Of Cnidus (Caria)

Kôlias

Of Colias (Attica)

Kythereia

Of Cytherea (Laconia)

Kypria

Of Cyprus

Paphia

Of Paphos (Cyprus)

Pyrênaia

Of Pyrenees Mts. (Gaul)

Syria

Of Syria, Syrian

𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜

A

Aphrogeneia

Foam-Born

Aphrogenês

Foam-Born

D

Dia

Divine, Shining

Diôniaia

Daughter of Dione, Daughter of Zeus

Dios thugatêr

Daughter of Zeus

E

Eustephanos

Richly-Crowned, Well-Girdled

K

Khryseê

Golden

Kythereia

Of Cytherea (Laconia)

Kyprus

Of Cyprus

Kyprogenês

Of Cyprus-Born

Kyprogeneia

Of Cyprus-Born

Kyprogenêa

Of Cyprus-Born

P

Paphia

Of Paphos (Cyprus)

Paphiê

Of Paphos (Cyprus)

Philommeidês

Laughter-Loving

Philomeidês

Laughter-Loving

Philommêdês

Genital-Loving

Pothôn Mêtêr

Mother of Desire

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜

FATHER ; 

       Zeus - King of the Gods

       Ouranos - primordial god of the sky

MOTHER ; 

Dione - titan goddess of the oracle of Dodona 

Hemera - primorial goddess of the day

Parents depend on the myth. Can be born of the genitals of Ouranos, Zeus & Dione, or Ouranos & Hemera

𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜

*If using the myth where Zeus is Aphrodite’s father. 

Lady Artemis 

Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Wild Animals & Wilderness, & Virginity

Lord Apollon 

God of the Sun, Prophecy, Truth, Music & Poetry, Archery, Healing, & Light

Lord Ares 

God of War

Lady Athena 

Goddess of War, Wisdom, & Arts & Crafts

Lord Hermes 

God of herds and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy and astrology

Lord Hephaestus 

God of Fire, the Forge, Metalworking & Sculpting, Craftsmen, & Technology

Lord Dionysus

God of Wine, Fertility, & Theatre

*If using the myth where Ouranos is Aphrodite’s father. 

Kronos

King of the Titans and god of time

Koios, Krios, Iapetos

Elder Titans

Hyperion

Titan god of heavenly light

Okeanos

Primoridal titan god of fresh water

Theia

Titan goddess of sight and the shining ether of the bright, blue sky

Rheia

Titan mother of the gods, goddess of female fertility, motherhood, and generation

Themis

Titan goddess of divine law and order

Mnemosyne

Titan goddess of memory and remembrance, the inventress of language and words

Tethys

Titan goddess of the primal font of fresh water which nourishes the earth

Brontes, Steropes, Arges

The Elder Kyklopes

Briareos, Kottos, Gyes

The Hekatonkheires

The Erinyes 

(Furies)

𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗

Anteros - god of reciprocal (or unrequited) love // Son of Ares & Aphrodite

Beroe - goddess of the city of Beroe // daughter of Adonis & Aphrodite // wife of Poseidon

Deimos - god of fear // son of Ares & Aphrodite

Eros - Winged god of love // son of Aphrodite 

Erotes - winged godlings of love // sons of Aphrodite

Harmonia - goddess of harmony // daughter of Ares & Aphrodite 

Hermaphroditos - hermaphroditic daimon // son of Hermes & Aphrodite

Himeros - god of desire, twin to Eros // Son of Aphrodite

Iakkhos - god of the Eleusian Mysteries // son of Dionysus & Aphrodite

Peitho - goddess of persuasion and seduction // daughter of Aphrodite in some myths

Phobos - got of panic // son of Ares & Aphrodite

Pothos - god of sexual longing // son of Aphrodite // one of the Erotes 

Priapos - god of garden fertility // son of Aphrodite & Dionysus, Zeus, or Adonis

Rhodos - goddess of the islam of Rhodes // wife of Helios // daughter of Aphrodite & Poseidon

𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚕  𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗

Aeneas - prince of Dardania // son of Aphrodite & Ankhises

Astynoos - prince of Syria // son of Aphrodite & Phaethon

Eryx - king of Sicily // son of Aphrodite & Argonaut Boutes

Herophilos - one of the sibyl prophetesses // daughter of Poseidon & Aphrodite

Lyros - prince of Dardania in the Troad // son of Aphrodite & Ankhises

𝚂𝚢𝚖𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚜

Dove

Apples

Myrtle-Wreath

Flowers

Hearts

Mirror

𝙰𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚜

Hare

Turtle Dove

Sparrow

Goose

Swan 

Bees

Dolphins

𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚋𝚜, 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚝

Red Rose

Anemone

Apple

Narcissus / Daffodil

Myrtle

Myrrh

Lettuce

Pomegranate

Strawberries

Oranges

Pears

𝙲𝚛𝚢���𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚜/𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜

garnet

Ruby

Rose Quartz

Pearls

Diamond

Sapphire

Aquamarine

𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚜

pink 

red

blue

green 

white

gold

𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

Water

𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚝

Venus

Aster Aphrodites

𝙳𝚊𝚢

Friday

Hemera Aphrodites

𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚝 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜

Can really be any card that you decide to use as an identifier between you and Lady Aphrodite. These are just some suggestions. 

The Empress

The Star

The Lovers 

These are just suggestions! You can always find a different offering or devotional act based on your own personal associations and practice. And if you can’t provide any physical offerings, that’s okay. Devotional acts or digital offerings are just as good. 

This list consists of UPG and SPG suggestions. 

Offerings

Images of associations

Jewellery

Perfume

Bath salts

Scented lotions / body or hair products 

Seawater

Seashells

Sand

Markup

feathers

Foods & Drinks

red wine

Olive oil

Fruit

Honey

Chocolate

Sweets

Vanilla

Cinnamon

water

Devotional Acts

acts of self care & self love

Caring for your mental and physical health

Collect seashells 

Visit the beach or a nearby body of water

Support sex workers

Doing things that make you feel confident/beautiful/empower you

Honor her children and Ares

Stand up for yourself and what you believe in 

Prayer to Aphrodite

Beloved Aphrodite, goddess who grants to us the greatest of joys, the harshest of sorrows, the sharpest of pleasures, the dearest of pains.

Aphrodite, freshest of Olympos’ flowers, your lightest touch can turn the hearts of men towards love; with voice sweet as honey, sweet as wine, you speak words of persuasion, we hear and heed, rapt in wonder.

O Aphrodite, grace and beauty surround you, where you pass, the roses bloom, with sweetest scent and sharpest thorn: with reckless hands we grasp them.

Aphrodite, born of blood in the cold salt sea, born of the fallen sky, goddess whose kindness can be so brutal, who cruelty we cherish, blessed are your children, blessed those your favor, blessed those who have felt your might, blessed those who dwell in your domain.

Aphrodite, honored one, incomparable one, with each breath I praise you.

Aphrodisia

Festival dedicated to Aphrodite, celebrated in a number of towns, particularly in Cyprus. no bloody sacrifices were allowed to be offered, instead, they focused more on pure fire, flowers, and incense.

Kinyrades

Summer festival celebrated in Paphos, Cyprus.

Adonia

Festival mourning the death of Adonis and celebrating him becoming a god. Adonia celebrated the return of Spring and typically includes spring flowers with other offerings.

𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜

Adonia

Aphrodisia

Theoi Summary

Theoi

A Guide to Worship

Greek Gods Cheat Sheet

Prayers to Aphrodite

[likethexan]

Arne, Amaltheia, and Hera's three Oceanid nurses Prosymna Euboea and Akraia should have a club

[persephoneism]

I know "Akraia" is supposed to mean "she of the heights," but I keep calling her "extreme." Extreme Hera.

[seleniangnosis]

Deity Aesthetic: Hera

Queen of the Gods , Greek Goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family. Patroness and protectress of married women.

Some of her titles:

Queen of Heaven

Queen of the Gods

Queen of All Goddesses

Queen of Olympos

Glorious Goddess

Goddess of Childbirth

Golden One

Golden Throned

Mistress of Animals

Mother of Showers and Wind

Hellenic Epithets:

Zygia (Uniter)

Bounaia (of Bounos; a hero)

Ammonia (of the Oracle of Zeus Ammon in Libya)

Gamelia (of Marriage)

Lakinia (of Lakinios; a hero)

Leukolenos (White-Armed)

Limenia (of the Harbor)

Nympheuomene (Led as a Bride)

Akraia (of the Heights)

Pais (Maiden)

Pelasga (Pelasgian Woman or Goddess)

Prodromia (of the Pioneer)

Symbolism of Hera:

The diadem

The scepter

The pomegranate

The lily flower

[verdantlyviolet]

Hera and the River Gods of Argos

"I go now to the ends of the generous earth on a visit to Okeanos, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother who brought me up kindly in their own house, and cared for me and took me from Rheia, at that time when Zeus of the wide brows drove Kronos underneath the earth and the barren water." Iliad 14.200

As early as the Iliad, Homer claims Hera was raised by Okeanos and Tethys, the river encircling the world and his wife the goddess of all freshwater. In the Iliad, Hera, as the goddess of marriage, wishes to travel to see them to fix their broken marriage so they may forever call her dearest and worthy of reverence. While there are several stories of where Hera was raised after being disgorged by her father, this particular one is perhaps a nod to her oldest cult site and patron city, Argos. Argos is one of the cities that claims to be the birthplace of Hera, and has their own myth of her upbringing upon their riverbanks. Here she was raised by the Asterionides, not the titans.

"The sanctuary [of Hera] itself is on a lower part of Euboia. Euboia is the name they give to the hill here, saying that Asterion the river had three daughters, Euboia, Prosymna, and Akraia, and that they were nurses of Hera. The hill opposite the Heraion they name after Akraia, the environs of the sanctuary they name after Euboia, and the land beneath the Heraion after Prosymna. This Asterion flows above the Heraion, and falling into a cleft disappears. On its banks grows a plant, which also is called asterion. They offer the plant itself to Hera, and from its leaves weave her garlands." Pausanias 2.17.1

Hera’s special bond with the potamoi is linked to her patronage of Argos itself. Pausanias relates two local tellings of the story in which Hera won the Argolid in a contest with Poseidon, as judged by the river gods, or, the King Inakhos, eponymous of the local river. This story also cements the line of kings in Argos, as either the mortal Inakhos or the divine river of the same name was the ancestor of Phoroneus, the first man and supposed founder of the city.

“The land [of Argos] was without water [when Danaus and his daughters arrived there], thanks to Poseidon, who, in anger at Inakhos for testifying that the region belonged to Hera, had dried up even the springs.” Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 13

"The oldest tradition in the region now called Argolis is that when Inakhos was king he named the river after himself and sacrificed to Hera. There is also another legend which says that Inakhos . . . was not a man but the river. This river, with the rivers Kephisos and Asterion, judged concerning the land between Poseidon and Hera. They decided that the land belonged to Hera, and so Poseidon made their waters disappear. For this reason neither Inakhos nor either of the other rivers I have mentioned provides any water except after rain." Pausanias 2.15.4

"They say that Poseidon inundated the greater part of the country [Argos] because Inakhos and his assessors decided that the land belonged to Hera and not to him. Now it was Hera who induced Poseidon to send the sea back, but the Argives made a sanctuary to Poseidon Prosklystios at the spot where the tide ebbed." Pausanias 2.22.4

While the bathing of a goddess’ image is a widespread practice, one particular instance of this is the yearly procession of Hera’s image south from Argos to the Kanathos spring in Nauplia. There, Hera is bathed and regains her virginity, presumably before her ritual marriage to Zeus. Pausanias mentions a potential mystery cult of Hera, and at the Heraion in the Argolid there is a spring that flows beside the temple where Hera’s priestesses also partake in their own ritual.

"In Nauplia is a spring called Kanathos. Here, say the Argives, Hera bathes every year and recovers her maidenhood. This is one of the sayings told as a holy secret at the Mysteries which they celebrate in honor of Hera." Pausanias 2.38.2

As the patron of Argos and undoubtedly concerned with the success and fertility of her beloved city, it is no wonder Hera has such recurring close ties with the rivers of her sacred land.

[witchbitchheadedtoaditch]

Olympian Deities: Hera

This is a brief overview of Hera

Realm: Queen of the Gods, Goddess of marriage, women, the sky and the stars of heaven

Parents: Kronos and Rhea

Offspring:

By Zeus: Hebe, Ares, Eileithyia, Angelos, Enyo, Eris

By Dionysus: The Charities

No father: Hephaestus, Typhon

Symbols: Royal scepter, diadem, lotus-tipped staff

Colors: Yellow, gold, white, royal blue, purple, dark green, grey, silver

Offerings: Honey, flowers, incense, perfume, pomegranates, bread, chocolate, pomegranate seeds, volunteering, donations to foundations for domestic abuse victims, taking care of yourself.

Sacred Animals: Cows, lions, cuckoos, peacocks, doves, carrion-crows, snakes, dragons, crabs, snails, shelled creatures in general

Sacred Plants: Pomegranate, lilies, poppies, irises, white roses, waterlilies

Element: Earth? Air?

Metals/Stones: Pearls, garnets, citrine, amber, diamonds, star sapphires, gold, silver

Number: ?

Planet: Venus

Time: ?

Tarot Cards: The Empress, Strength, The Hierophant

Altar Ideas: Peacock feathers, peacock images, cow patterns, cow images, cuckoo bird art, cuckoo clocks, family photos, throne imagery, perfumes, silver and gold jewelry

Epithets:

Alexandros: protector of men

Aigophagos: goat-eater

Akraia: she of heights

Argeia: she of Argos

Basileia: queen

Bounala: she of the mound

Boopis: cow-eyed, cow-faced

Leukolenos: White-armed

Pais: child

Parthenos: virgin; from the Parthenius river

Teleia: Goddess of marriage, matron Goddess, woman

Chere/Chera: widowed, divorced; lady of authority

Acraea: she who has a temple on a hill

Ammonia: derived from her worship in Elis

Antheia: blooming, friend of the flowers

Game'lii: one of the deities presiding over marriage

Hi'ppia: she of the horses

Hyperche'ria: the Goddess who holds her protecting hand over something; protectress

Pharygaea: derived from her worship at Pharygae

Sa'mia: derived from the island of Samos

Zygia: presiding over marriage; yoked, married

Nympheuomene: betrothed bride

Aphrodite: of Aphrodite

Ataurote: unmarried, unbulled, virginal

Prodromia: of the pioneer

Aeromorphos: having the form of air, derived from her union with Zerfs

Exacesterius: one who averts or cures evil

Callistephanus: beautifully crowned

Chrysothronus: she who sits on a throne of gold

Cydra: glorious, illustrious, noble

Macaira: happy, blessed

Pambasileia: queen of all

Pantogenethlos: all-generating

Pancrates: all-powerful

Potnia: queen

[theoiprayers]

Prayer to Hera Basileia, in english.

How can I begin my song, o great queen? For there is so much to be said of you. That my words and honest intent, Hera Basileia, do you justice.

Akraia, lover of heights, from which the sight is clear. Presiding over cloud and peak, atop the very centre of the world, it is your word that echoes. Lady of Argos, monumental and imposing, nurturing and all-encompassing, your rule is adamant and just. Hyperkheiria, your might alone protects and keeps darkness at bay. Panbasileia, imposer of boundaries, you, o great one, command the path of the wind, much like each mortal under your guidance must learn to hold their own reins.

Majestic one, with glittering eyes and soulful stare White-armed queen of heavens and most beloved of Zeus Basileus You inspire in us the will to stand and face adversity and to see, amongst the mist, a blooming field and shining heights. I am thankful to you, o Basileia. That my words and deeds do please you this day, and in the days to come.

by @matriarca-inodora

[trvgcdiv]

Medea didn't kill her kids.

Consider the following:

Medea and her Children in the Scholia in Euripidem (Ancient commentaries found in some of the manuscripts)

From E. Schwartz, Scholia in Euripidem, vol. 2, Berlin, 1891 (reprinted 1966).

ad 9 (the scholion to line 9 of the text of Medea)

A story is prevalent [? or widespread*; literally much-flitting] among scholars, which Parmeniskos also sets forth, that Euripides, upon receipt of five talents from the Corinthians, transferred to Medea the charge of murdering the children. For, in fact, Medea’s children were murdered by the Corinthians, incensed over her wanting to be queen because Corinth was her father’s allotment, which he transferred to Medea. Hippys and Hellanikos are our sources for her life in Corinth. That she was queen of Corinth Eumelus and Simonides narrate. Mousaios in the Isthmia relates that she was immortal and in the same work expounds upon the rites of Hera Akraia.

ad 264 (the scholia to line 264 of the text of Medea)

Parmeniskos writes word for word the following: 

The Corinthian women, not wishing to be ruled by a foreign woman and sorceress, plotted against her and killed her children, seven boys and seven girls. (But Euripides says she only had two.) They were being pursued and fled into the temple of Hera Akraia and sat as suppliants at the altar. Even so the Corinthians did not keep their hands off them but slit all their throats right on the altar. A plague fell upon the city and many people perished of the disease. When they consulted the oracle the god told them to expiate their guilt for Medea’s children. And so up to our own times every year seven boys and seven girls of the most notable citizen families among the Corinthians spend a year in the goddess’ precinct and with sacrifices appease the wrath of Medea’s children and the goddess’ anger on their behalf.

Didymus, however, disagrees, citing the evidence of Kreophylus:

For it is said that Medea during her stay in Corinth killed Creon, the ruler of the city-state at that time, with poisons; that in fear of his friends and relatives she emigrated to Athens; but her sons — since they were too young to travel with her — she placed upon the altar of Hera Akraia, believing that their father would look after their safety. But Creon’s relatives killed them and spread the story that Medea had killed not only Creon, but her own children as well.

[littlesparklight]

Deaths in Corinth

"Medea, what have you done?"

Medea looks up from Medeios greedily sucking little face as he tries to empty her out to still his hunger, and though she'd been worried by Jason's tone alone, the expression on his face leaves her breathless. The dark gazes of two of the most hostile and contrary elders that are supposed to be their ever-ready and ever-helpful advisers and instead have been like snakes in the grass since she and Jason arrived silences for yet another beat or two. A shiver, chill like the grimmest wind blown in from the mountains, steal down her spine. Clutching her youngest child closer to her breast - which he doesn't mind at all, just yet, Medea straightens up.

"What am I supposed to have done?" she asks, voice light, spine stiff, her hands wishing to curve into claws in answer to those dark, dark eyes of the old men flanking Jason.

"Th--- You, the children, Medea. How could you?" Jason is moments from crying, his voice breaking twice and threatening more, and he is utterly unknowing of the sneering little look from one elder. The other has better control, but Medea can see the aborted twitch that reveals the suppressed eyeroll. She can also see what has happened, and Medes wails a protest as she inadvertently rips him from her breast to pull him close, up against her instead of peacefully laying in her arms, little hand squeezing her full breast.

The children. The children, all thirteen of them, that she'd left at Hera's sanctuary last night as she'd done for the last several years on this very night every time it came by again, to see if this would be the night Hera would fulfil her promise. The children are dead, and those vulture-eyed, dog-mouthed men flanking her husband have killed them. Killed them because they had never been happy at foreigners ruling them, one more foreign than the other, and that a woman should be the primary of said rulers.

Or they have had a part in the killing in some way, even if they didn't do it themselves, which makes them just as guilty as she, though the people she has indeed killed were not her own children.

Medea grits her teeth, then opens her mouth, but between that and uttering her next few words in defence, she can see it doesn't matter what she says. They have poisoned Jason against her, and they have broken him.

"When I left our children at the sanctuary, they were alive, Jason. What has happened?"

The truth is sludge in her mouth, and they all know she's understood what's happened, but her quick understanding has only damned her further. She can see what little light, mad and needy, that still clung to Jason's brown eyes go out like she'd snuffed a candle with her last words. He's not going to survive this. She could drag him with her and he will still die, for it will take her too long to convince him she isn't at fault. In fact, she might have to fight for her life as he wished to kill both of them in whatever last spark of actual agency that might still exist in him.

Oh, Jason.

Too easily downtrodden, always looking for others to lead, so often laid to catastrophising. She'd never minded, not really, but now his faults have allowed others to break him, and they know it.

The only reason Medea isn't planning some way to take suitable revenge is that she knows death will be coming for them anyway, and for the whole of Corinth. They have killed in Hera's sanctuary, and more than that, they've killed children the goddess have promised a gift to. Maybe if the goddess had actually given her gift earlier, they wouldn't be here, but now it is late, all too late, and Medea's galloping heart and tight grip on her last living child can't quiet or soothe Medeois.

The room rings with his cries, and for now that is the only mourning his other siblings will receive. Jason as well, dead man walking as he is. She just hopes he kills himself in a kind way, but she has a feeling he will wish to punish himself when he has done no wrong.

"Medea... You're the one who was last seen with them, and they're dead." Jason closes his eyes, and she can breathe a little more easily for being out under that haunted, broken stare. Enough to jog her thoughts into more than a swirl.

Great Helios, beloved of Rhodes, grandfather, hear me! I am without recourse, cornered like a lioness with only one cub left, the strong father lying slain before her with his great mane covered in gore. Aid your family if you ever had any love left for your mortal children!

She can only hope he has heard her and, more than that, is willing to offer aid that might be when and where she'll need it.

"And it is me you think would kill them? I, who have fed them at my breast, each and every one of them, who have given them to Hera Akraia in the hope of immortality for them, as I was promised?"

Jason flinches at her words as if she's punched him, but, compared to what might have been the result years before, now it doesn't urge him to listen to her. Instead he merely hunches, as if his spine had just been broken, and he looks at her with wide, begging eyes and holds his hands out. They're strong, still, but trembling, revealing the sensitivities and weakness that were always there.

The poison is too deep, and she can feel the smug pleasure of the two elders lurking behind her husband.

"Please, Medea. Just confess," Jason whispers, his voice raw like the blood surely coating Hera's altar right this moment, for Medea doubts the Corinthians have washed it away just yet. No, they needed to have Jason see it, needed him to know it was still there, and it needs to stay until she's dead, until Jason is dead too. It will only condemn them further.

Oh, she has killed for this man, and he has been dear to her, but she cannot kill herself for him as well.

Medea smiles tightly, her ears ringing with Medeios' cries, and stands up. Shifts Medeios onto one arm, tipping her to lie against her chest, head cushioned against her shoulder, and at last his cries dwindle into sobbing hiccups, slowly calming just as Medea's heartbeat is. The breeze coming in from the window is warmer than it was minutes ago, and there's a golden tint to the light that wasn't there before.

"I can't confess to a crime I haven't committed, my heart. I might have killed my brother, I might have killed Pelias, bu---"

"And you killed Kreon," one of the men sneers at her, righteous when there is the blood of thirteen children on his hands. Medea laughs, mockingly. Jason only slumps further, but there's a brief frown she can just barely see on his forehead, there and then gone. He doesn't believe that, at least, well as he might when he was there right with her being summoned to Kreon and heard the man himself.

"I gave Kreon the assistance he wished for, after he'd already proclaimed my birth, as well as that of my husband’s, made us worthy to rule this fair city of yours that you have besmirched with innocent blood. I have killed, but not my children."

Jason, her poor, poisoned husband, starts crying. Medea's heart hurts, but there's nothing she can do. Not when he draws his sword - and not to turn on the men behind him, for the poison they have given him have eaten its way far too deep into his heart, via his eyes and ears. A far more powerful poison than any magical such she could devise.

She smiles as he makes ready to charge her, but he's slow, so slow she has all the time she needs to draw the fragile little glass bottle from the layered flounces of her skirts, and as she throws it he looks almost grateful for it.

Oh, Jason.

She can't kill herself for him, but she can also not kill him, for either of them.

That will be her weakness and another pain to bear into the future, for this is only a distraction, a way for her to escape.

Smoke explodes up as the glass shatters, noxious and dark like the ink of squid, and she is the squid fleeing. Medea whirls around, throwing herself at the window, then out of it, and she almost falls straight off the chariot as she hits it hard with her shoulder and hip, her weight and speed tipping it sideways. Clutching at the rim with strength only a desperate mother could know, Medea manages to pull herself up, grab the reins and urge the shining drakones to move, all without falling off or losing her baby.

Her baby, who is giggling now, despite the shock of their flight, and Medea looks down with burning eyes and tears spilling down her cheeks to the boy in her arm, chewing at one of the golden rings that binds her tresses. He looks like Jason.

"Don't worry, my eyes," she whispers, leaning down to kiss the top of his soft head, tiny wisps of dark curls caressing her chin and cheeks while tears caress Medeios' skull, "they might have gotten all the others, but they won't get you. Or me."

Exhaling sharply, Medea straightens up, tightens her grip on the reins as she turns the snakes eastwards, and lets the golden wind dry her tears.

***

So, this is inspired by, and drawing from, several old/er sources (Pausanias, Eumelos, scholia on Eumelos) for what happens in Corinth. Medea seems most often to have killed her children, either inadvertently, or, as in Euripides, intentionally. The scholia says it was the Corinthians, angry at having a foreigner ruling them, for Eumelos in his Korinthiaka had Medea (and Jason) summoned to Corinth and given rulership, explicitly on the grace of Medea’s bloodline. The children are killed in the sanctuary of Hera Akraia (by the Corinthians in this version), where Medea has been leaving them in expectation of Hera fulfilling her promise to her (here, my intention is that Hera’s promise is the reward for Medea’s help to kill Pelias). In the version where the killings happen inadvertently, Jason can’t forgive her and leaves for Iolkos. So what happens as a background to this is Medea, as an agent of Hera, kills Pelias for his insult to her, she and Jason have to leave Iolkos, they are summoned to Corinth and given rulership, Kreon dies (childless, hence why Medea and Jason have been summoned).

I would honestly not have done this at all but reading all this in Early Greek Myth by Gantz I was just slapped in the face by inspiration, and as much as I am so damn cranky over so many people crowing about Medea doing nothing wrong (her brother and her children says hello), I am pleased with this.

[hellenismosonline]

Olympian Deities: Hera

This is a brief overview of Hera

Realm: Queen of the Gods, Goddess of marriage, women, the sky and the stars of heaven

Parents: Kronos and Rhea

Offspring:

By Zeus: Hebe, Ares, Eileithyia, Angelos, Enyo, Eris

By Dionysus: The Charities

No father: Hephaestus, Typhon

Symbols: Royal scepter, diadem, lotus-tipped staff

Colors: Yellow, gold, white, royal blue, purple, dark green, grey, silver

Offerings: Honey, flowers, incense, perfume, pomegranates, bread, chocolate, pomegranate seeds, volunteering, donations to foundations for domestic abuse victims, taking care of yourself.

Sacred Animals: Cows, lions, cuckoos, peacocks, doves, carrion-crows, snakes, dragons, crabs, snails, shelled creatures in general

Sacred Plants: Pomegranate, lilies, poppies, irises, white roses, waterlilies

Element: Earth? Air?

Metals/Stones: Pearls, garnets, citrine, amber, diamonds, star sapphires, gold, silver

Number: ?

Planet: Venus

Time: ?

Tarot Cards: The Empress, Strength, The Hierophant

Altar Ideas: Peacock feathers, peacock images, cow patterns, cow images, cuckoo bird art, cuckoo clocks, family photos, throne imagery, perfumes, silver and gold jewelry

Epithets:

Alexandros: protector of men

Aigophagos: goat-eater

Akraia: she of heights

Argeia: she of Argos

Basileia: queen

Bounala: she of the mound

Boopis: cow-eyed, cow-faced

Leukolenos: White-armed

Pais: child

Parthenos: virgin; from the Parthenius river

Teleia: Goddess of marriage, matron Goddess, woman

Chere/Chera: widowed, divorced; lady of authority

Acraea: she who has a temple on a hill

Ammonia: derived from her worship in Elis

Antheia: blooming, friend of the flowers

Game'lii: one of the deities presiding over marriage

Hi'ppia: she of the horses

Hyperche'ria: the Goddess who holds her protecting hand over something; protectress

Pharygaea: derived from her worship at Pharygae

Sa'mia: derived from the island of Samos

Zygia: presiding over marriage; yoked, married

Nympheuomene: betrothed bride

Aphrodite: of Aphrodite

Ataurote: unmarried, unbulled, virginal

Prodromia: of the pioneer

Aeromorphos: having the form of air, derived from her union with Zerfs

Exacesterius: one who averts or cures evil

Callistephanus: beautifully crowned

Chrysothronus: she who sits on a throne of gold

Cydra: glorious, illustrious, noble

Macaira: happy, blessed

Pambasileia: queen of all

Pantogenethlos: all-generating

Pancrates: all-powerful

Potnia: queen

[extemporaneousmusings]

12/2/20

Pictured: the lower part of the sanctuary of Hera Akraia at Perachora

Back in Athens, baby! Made it through trip three and now I’ve got a week to recover and prep for the next one. There’s no food in the house so I ordered noodles and I am so excited to eat them once they arrive :)