Queen of the Gods Print

Fine Art Giclee on Fine Art Paper 

8" x 10"

"Queen of the Gods"

Hera, Queen of the Gods and Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, has a bit of a bad reputation in Greek Mythology. She is often reduced to a jealous wife who is always catching her husband, Zeus, in lies about his affairs. Most myths involving Hera are about her punishing her husband’s mistresses, but there was one story in particular that inspired my painting of Hera that I thought to be better than the rest and that is the story of her rebellion.

Hera didn’t actually want to marry Zeus, but was forced into union with him, by him. One day, she led a rebellion against him. With the help of a few other Gods, Hera drugged Zeus, stole his thunderbolt, and bound him to his bed. As the Gods and Goddesses debates who would take over, Thetis, a lover of Zeus, alerted Briareus, a hundred-handed god, of the rebellion and Briareus then freed Zeus from his bindings, promptly putting an end to the rebellion.

Zeus, obviously pissed, punished the gods involved, including Hera. Zeus hung Hera from the heavens with gold chains and in order for her to be released, Hera had to swear to never rebel against him again.