“Adultery, they say, takes two guilty parties, but sometimes, especially when the male is a world leader, it would take superhuman will power, strength, or both to sidestep his advances. And when he's Zeus, the King of the Gods, it may not even be possible.” This is a great dilemma for Hera, the Queen of the Gods, and purportedly the goddess of marriage and protector of women. As Zeus' wife and queen, Hera was frequently enraged by her husband's constant adulterous escapades, and she often went out of her way to punish his mistresses and illegitimate children. She had a particular hatred of Hercules, and famously orchestrated most of the hardships and tragic events of his life, including his famous Twelve Labors. But it was Hera's uncommon beauty that attracted the attention of her future husband, the lusty Zeus, who tricked her into taking him to her breast by changing himself into a small, frightened and wounded bird that elicited her pity. In Greek mythology Hera, although wounded, remained faithful and steadfast in her loyalty to Zeus, electing instead to vent her fury on “the other women” rather than Zeus himself even though it was Zeus who had deceived, seduced or raped these innocent women. Portrayed as majestic and solemn, often enthroned, and crowned with the 'polos'(a high cylindrical crown worn by several of the great goddesses, Hera may bear a pomegranate in her hand, emblem of fertile blood because Hera was also the goddess patron of childbirth and death and a substitute for the narcotic capsule of the opium poppy. The cuckoo, another Hera emblem, symbolized Zeus' love for her because Zeus was disguised in a cuckoo when he conquered her. Some of the most known Hera's symbols are the peacock- ancient symbol of immortality, the scepter and the diadem(wiki.com). In the God of War series, Hera has a necklace with an emerald pendant. Kratos finds it by putting together a puzzle of stone blocks in a cave upon the Cliffs of madness. This necklace, along with the necklace of Aphrodite are two items Kratos needs in order to reach the Architect's tomb and continue his path to Pandora box. When obtained, the necklace must be placed on the stone bust of the goddess herself. Hera's Chalice is an ornate silver cup, with elaborate handles on either side, a stemmed base, and a green jewel set near its lip. Hera is seen drinking from it when Kratos confronts her in the Forum, and throws it away in frustration while he approaches her in the Gardens. Using this Chalice during bonus play will continuously drain the health bar, without fully depleting it. As with all Possessions, it disables trophies when activated. The nature of the Chalice when used in Bonus Play may be a reference to it always having some beverage in the cup, without completely emptying it.(wikia.com) Categorically, more than any of the Greek goddesses, the goddess Hera reminds us that there is both light and dark withing each of us and the joy and pain are inextricably linked in life. The Greek goddess Hera represents the fullness of life and affirms that we can use our own wisdom in the pursuit of any goal we choose.
