Last Week on ‘As the pottery wheel Turns

We told the harrowing tale of the birth of Alcemene’s son, and how Hera almost stopped it from happening with witches and snakes. You can read more about how Hera was thwarted by another goddess in her attempts and how young Hercules helped form the Milky Way.

Hera’s Our Guest Today

Our vase this week, Hera’s Heart, follows the tale of tantrum and tears of one of the most famous gods of Olympus. She’s beautiful and her position as Queen of the gods has afforded her untold power. Today we take an in depth look at the goddess of women, marriage, child birth and family – Hera.

Trophy Wife

In order to try to understand the intricacies of Hera and her penchant for revenge, it is important to get to the root of most of her problems. Her marriage.

It’s not like young Hera had a thing for the bad boys. She had resisted the advances of Zeus for what seemed like forever.

Ladies, other people who have relationships with a certain kind of man, you know this story. We’ve all been there or know someone who has. That man comes along and you try to ignore him, which only makes him want you more. That’s because his attraction is based on the fact that he’s objectified you. Sure, it feels kind of flattering at first, but it gets awfully lonely on that pedestal he’ll put you on.

Part Time Lover

Zeus relentlessly pursued Hera, who had little interest in a relationship with him. She was a busy goddess, with important work, looking after women, their relationships and families. Eventually, though, his relentless advances paid off and the two would wed.

It is questionable whether or not they ever had a honeymoon period. Perhaps that’s because almost immediately after their nuptials, Zeus showed the true colours of his variable emotions by constantly falling in love with other women and having children with them. So much so that his offspring outside his marriage vastly outnumbered those conceived with Hera. In other words, he would definitely have been guest material for a Jerry Springer baby daddy show.

My husband won’t stop having babies with other women

Hera was a proud goddess. After all, she was Queen of Olympus. Unfortunately that pride was often injured. It wasn’t just the fact that Zeus was having affairs and chasing after several mortals, but also he was not the most discreet philanderer.

Couples find ways to work out their troubles oftentimes. But when do you know your marriage is in trouble? If your husband has children in the double digits with other women, it might be advisable to end that relationship.

Unfortunately that wasn’t really an option for Hera in her situation. The constant humiliation and whispers at Mount Olympus ate away at her. She soon become consumed with revenge.

You Better Don’t cross Hera

Girl Code doesn’t seem to have been a thing back in ancient times, at least not among the gods. Sadly, often bested by Zeus, Hera often took her revenge upon his mistresses.

Understand that these women were for the most part blameless mortals relentlessly pursued by a womanizing lothario with untold power and influence. After some time, Zeus must have known that these women he ‘loved’ would become the target of Hera’s wrath.

The moral of the story:

If he thinks he’s a God, He’s Probably Not

Take these words to heart, or yours may be broken!

Next week on ‘As the Vase Turns’

You’ve been hearing a lot about Zeus, King of the Gods of Olympus. He seems to have his hands everywhere. Next week our story will feature this sometimes ungodly God and we shall hear his side of the story.

What did you think about today’s raku pottery vase, Hera’s Heart, and our cautionary tale?