Hera

Trees and wood | Part 3: Mythological trees

"... Sinis used to take hold of pine trees and draw them down. All those whom he overcame in fight he used to tie to the trees, and then allow them to swing up again. Thereupon ... the bound man...was torn in two. This was the way in which Sinis himself was slain by Theseus." I looked for examples of myths, rituals, and sacred spaces associated with trees and wood. Read more

Hair, part 2 | Female hair: descriptions

"But the mane of the other one, my kinswoman Hagesikhora, blossoms on her head like imperishable gold" How did the ancient Greeks view women's hair? In this second post of the series, we are looking at physical descriptions of women's hair: is it depicted as an object of attraction for others, and how do women themselves use it as a means of seduction? Read more

Gallery: Jewels and Precious Objects

This Gallery is going to show you some jewels and some precious ornements or objects. The pictures were taken at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In this passage, when Hera wants to seduce Zeus, she goes to her room to prepare herself. Earrings are part of her attire. "... she fastened it [her robe] about her bosom with golden clasps, and she girded herself with a girdle… Read more