Episode 19: The Tragedy Brought by Hera's Jealousy

📑 Table of Contents

1. Hera, Queen of Olympus
2. Marriage and the Symbol of Power
3. Where Did the Jealousy Begin?
4. The Birth and Exile of Dionysus
5. Heracles: The Hero of Endless Trials
6. Why Does Hera's Emotion Repeat?
7. The Lessons from the Gods' Realm

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1. Hera, Queen of Olympus

Hera is the wife of Zeus and the most authoritative of the twelve Olympian gods, governing marriage and childbirth. She does not merely safeguard sacred unions, but serves as the axis of order and hierarchy in Olympus. Her stature stems not just from being Zeus's wife, but also as the daughter of Cronus and Rhea—making her a Titaness by birth. By marrying Zeus first among the gods, she solidifies divine legitimacy and dynastic continuity. In ancient Greek society, authority was rooted in family and bloodlines, and Hera embodies this cosmic order even among the gods.

2. Marriage and the Symbol of Power

In Olympian myths, marriage is not merely a union of affection but a fundamental device to maintain divine authority. The union between Zeus and Hera grants Zeus legitimacy and crowns Hera as the queen. It initially symbolized the harmony between sky and earth but evolved to signify societal and institutional order. As protector of marriage, Hera enforces sacred order and punishes those who disrupt it. This backdrop explains Hera's fierce responses to Zeus's numerous affairs and offspring—they represent threats to Olympus's stability.

📋 Heracles' 12 Labors (Table)

Labor	Description
Nemean Lion	Strangled an invincible beast with bare hands, used its skin as armor.
Lernaean Hydra	Burned its heads after decapitation to prevent regeneration.
Ceryneian Hind	Captured Artemis's sacred deer alive.
Erymanthian Boar	Trapped a destructive boar in snowdrifts.
Augean Stables	Cleansed decades of filth by rerouting a river.
Stymphalian Birds	Drove out razor-feathered birds using noise, then shot them.
Cretan Bull	Subdued a rampaging sacred bull of King Minos.
Mares of Diomedes	Tamed man-eating horses by feeding them their master.
Girdle of Hippolyta	Obtained the Amazon queen's belt through battle.
Cattle of Geryon	Slew the triple-bodied giant and herded his cattle.
Apples of Hesperides	Tricked Atlas to retrieve golden apples.
Cerberus	Wrestled the three-headed dog of Hades to the surface.