The Audacity of HERA - Cosmic Creations : Theme [Mythology] | Alien Art Hive Contest

Hello Alien Art Hive Community members. This is my entry in the AAH community contests. I'm happy to participate and bring my version of "Hera". My approach to this contest was that of a an updated version of the Goddess Supreme of Greek Mythology.

This month's theme: Mythology

• Create art related to the above theme
• Make a post about it in Alien Art Hive
• Include the words Cosmic Creations in the title so they are easy to identify in the feed
• Please try to include some process images and discuss the techniques used in your creation
• Drop a link to your entry post the comments below
• The deadline is February 26th Midnight EST
• To participate, visit the contest post: Cosmic Creations Edition is LIVE: MYTHOLOGY

My short story accompanying my themed-project is below:

HERA : Greek Mythology

HERA. According to Greek mythology, she was Queen of their Goddesses. A supreme being herself, not only was she beautiful, but she was cunning. And she was the wife of Zeus who reigned supreme. Together they ruled Mount Olympus. Several temples were built in her honor as mortal humans regaled her as a Goddess of lawful marriage, women, marital harmony, a protective mother, and the protector of women during childbirth. ¹

Most of what we know about Greek Mythology is chronicled in the ancient epic poems by the brilliant poet, Homer. His works include "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". As can be seen in those works, we learn of Hera's personality, good deeds, and evil works.

Hera is described was stunningly beautiful. In her stature, she is tall and graceful with captivating eyes and white skin. Her elegant, long flowing robes and veils speak of her desire to be the best. Often seen wearing a high, cylindrical, golden crown studded with precious diamonds and an array of jewelry, her ears were pierced, which gave her the opportunity to wear exquisite earrings. At all times, Hera held a royal scepter with a lotus on the top, accompanied by a lion, a hawk, and a cuckoo.²

However, she almost not came into being. Worried that the prophesy would come true that one of his children would overthrow him once grown, at birth, her father Cronus, god of the Titans, swallowed her and other siblings. He took that drastic measure not knowing which child would defeat him.

Cronus succeeded in swallowing all but one of his children. Hera's mother, Rhea, was so fearful that she finally tricked her husband and fed him a stone instead of handing over her last beloved son, Zeus.

The child that survived was the one who would rise to defeat him. Before doing so, Zeus forced his father to vomit his siblings back to life. Among them were Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera.

After all siblings bonded to defeat their father, Zeus decided that his sister was to become his wife to rule. They left Titan to start their own dynasty of gods on Mount Olympus.

For several centuries, they ruled a happy couple as far as their definition of happiness could be described.

One night, at the dinner banquet on the eve of the centuries' long celebration of the truce between the Titans and Olympians, Hera felt particularly joyful and in a celebratory spirit. While tasting her favorite wine, she turned to answer questions from curious admirers.

The most baffling question of all concerned her husband, Zeus.

Hera turned and responded without hesitation.

"Don't get me wrong. I love my husband with an undying loyalty and passion," she'd professed. "But, I fear he's a womanizer to the depths of his being. Any young thing that comes within his sight, he's off chasing her, trying to figure out how best to subdue and entice her to fall madly in love with him. I've lost count of the number of illegitimate children he's fathered, on Mount Olympus and below."

Her entourage flashed wry smiles. They dared not laugh outright. They dared not show or express pity for her. For her powers rivaled their leader. But powers can't prevent the heart from hurting.

The younger goddesses listened in awe as Hera retold she and Zeus' history.

Together, Hera and Zeus bore Angelos, Arge, Ares, the Charites (goddesses of grace, beauty, and charm), Eileithyia, Eleutheria, Eris, Hebe, Hephaestus.

A devout believer in the institution of the marriage vows, Hera never initiated an affair with another god or human during her entire marriage.

Unfortunately, Hera's reputation is widely known for her jealousy and portrayal as a vengeful wife. Her loyalty in the face of her husband's infidelity drove her to a life of jealousy and revenge. Her supreme powers enhanced her vindictive strategies against her perceived enemies.

I still feel that although she spent much of her later life chasing and attempting to destroy her husband's mistresses and illegitimate children, the good she did to her godly realm and to the mortal world outweighed her actions.

However, Zeus's numerous affairs produced hundreds of illegitimate children. Many of them became the heroes and heroins of the mortal world who eventually rules as kings and queens.

The most famous of his children was the symbol of strength and manhood, his son, Hercules. Hera spent almost her entire life enacting vengeance against him. These acts are well chronicles in Homer's works. ⁴

When I say the "audacity" of Hera, what I'm referring to is the concept throughout our history of the rule by men. When a man leaves his home as a youth and takes a wife, she is supposed to cleave until him. He is supreme ruler of his home and over all his dominion.

However, men is ancient times were permitted to seek out and keep more than one wife. They were usually referred to as "concubines."

How dare she expect her husband to commit to her, then keep his word to remain faithful to her above all others.

The emotions of jealousy and revenge are powerful.

The Iliad documents Greek mythology's account of mortals as they head out to conquer the foreign land of Troy in the famous battle, The Trojan War. Such great Greek mythological heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus, Greek King Agamemnon, and Menelaus' wife Helen, referred to Helen of Troy after being kidnapped and taken there, thus launching the Trojan War, are featured prominently.

Hera had her hand in the kidnapping of Helen. Beforehand, Paris, a prince of Troy angered Hera and Athena, when asked to choose the most beautiful woman from three goddesses. Paris, young and unaware of his folly, chose Aphrodite. Furious, Hera vowed to destroy the land of Troy.³

Zeus, on the other hand, favored Troy and wanted to protect them. Hera decided to back the Greek armies and their allies. In the Iliad, the focus is on the journey going to war.

In the end, Hera enjoyed a partial victory. She accomplished this feat by conspiring to cause Zeus to sleep through the Trojan War so he couldn't help their cause.³ The Greeks won the battle of Troy, destroying the city as the inhabitants fled. But not before her beloved hero Achilles was killed, never to return home to Greece.

As has always been a woman's prerogative, Hera would switch sides, always in calculated moves opposite Zeus if it benefited her to best him at every turn.

That Zeus loved Hera above all else was evident. He'd tell anyone who questioned this. I would venture to say that their love was a match made with all their powerf in Olympian heaven for all eternity.

My approach to this mixed media art project for the Cosmic Creations Mythology theme was to focus on one character of Greek Mythology I admired and wanted to highlight. I chose Hera - Supreme Goddess of the Olympians. However, we've probably all seen images of the ancient depictions of the gods and goddesses. I wanted to portray Hera in a modern, almost futuristic version of a Goddess, then tell her story. The look of her is beautiful, yet powerful.

To complete my project, the first order of business was to locate a female image I felt wold represent a goddess in appearance with a futuristic vibe. I decided not to use stable diffusion for this project, so opted instead for free-sourced images. I located visually appealing images to represent both Hera and Zeus.

Next, I scoured my pure fractal inventory to locate ones that would lend credence to the aura of a Mount Olympus to represent the home of the gods. I feel the ones I chose fit perfectly in my theme.

The final image I needed was a torch to signify the lighting of Mount Olympus that would always burn.