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The Transformation of Hera
Did the goddess Hera achieve fame because she slept in the arms of great Zeus? In this book, Joan V. O'Brien explodes this verdict. Starting from the etymological link between Hera's name and the Greek words for 'hero' and 'the season,' O'Brien provides an archeological, historical, and literary reassessment of the goddess as a religious, cultural, and political construct.
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First published September 2, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 21, 2010
The Transformation of Hera is a scholarly consideration of the queen of the Olympians. While the title's subtext will tell you that the scope of the book is limited to her appearances in Homer's Iliad--and there is much use of the literary clues left behind in this work-- the author's research goes far more in depth than this. It reaches back to the pre-Hellenic worship of Hera to flesh out the usual shallow, shrewish description of the goddess through an etymological breakdown of her name and various epithets, archaeological clues left behind in her temples, statues, and artwork and the historical facts that can be gleaned about her worship. The research is substantial and well cited.
Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and full of information. This is not light reading, so be prepared if you aren't used to scholarly works. There is definitely a feminist bias to the book, which may turn some readers off, but didn't seem overdone to me. I would recommend this book to Hellenic reconstructionists, devotees of Hera, and anyone interested in Greek mythology or goddess spirituality.
Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and full of information. This is not light reading, so be prepared if you aren't used to scholarly works. There is definitely a feminist bias to the book, which may turn some readers off, but didn't seem overdone to me. I would recommend this book to Hellenic reconstructionists, devotees of Hera, and anyone interested in Greek mythology or goddess spirituality.
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October 25, 2012Unrated for reasons of "read only part of this monograph" -- this review is therefore only about chapter 4, on Hera in the Iliad. Which was excellent. I've never found Hera particularly interesting, but this study opens up several avenues for me to look at her in a new light — what does it mean for her to be the only god actively working against Zeus' decrees? are some of her epithets not quite as stock as I had always assumed? are some of the episodes in which she appears echoes of earlier traditions?
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted when I embarked on The Great Western Canon project, and so I am delighted to have misread the title on the spine when I was rushing through the stacks on my way out of the library. (I thought this was about the transformation of Helen.)
This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted when I embarked on The Great Western Canon project, and so I am delighted to have misread the title on the spine when I was rushing through the stacks on my way out of the library. (I thought this was about the transformation of Helen.)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews