Hera And Zeus Research Paper

Zeus had many relationships with both mortals and gods. These relationships helped to portray the lifestyle and values of ancient Greece, for ancient Greeks myths were a way to explain the unknown and to provide a code of conduct. This is why many myths were adapted to suit specific towns or cities of Greece. However, most variations of myths kept the same reoccurring theme reflecting the nature in which women were treated and the supreme power of the gods over Greek culture.

The relationships previously studied between Hera and Zeus, Prometheus and Zeus and Athena and Zeus, all portray women in an antagonistic way. In the relationships Hera (Zeus’s wife) and Pandora (the first mortal woman used to punish mortals for Prometheus’s doings), were depicted as deceitful, evil and
Anyone who claimed to be mightier than the gods was severely punished and anyone who dared defying the highest authority, be it that of the highest God or that of the highest representative of the legal system, was also harshly punished. This also symbolizes the supreme power the gods had over the mortals as no mortal was allowed to be mightier than the gods. All the myths studied above convey the idea that women and female Gods have to be of service of and accountable to men, whereas male Gods and men could do all they desired without being held accountable by their female counterparts. This demonstrates the real unbalance of power between men and women in ancient Greece. These relationships and myths also help demonstrate how the ancient Greeks were expected to behave. Women were expected to concede under the authority of males, which is evident in the relationship between Zeus and Hera and Prometheus and Zeus. Whereas males were expected to be strong, brave and wise which is evident in the relationship between Athena and