(LT) Myth Lit Ancnt World Religion & Theology Essay

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The Greek society was strongly patriarchal; marriages were arranged and not based on romantic love etc. What are the implications of this for our understanding of Hera and her jealousy over Zeus's affairs?
In ancient Greece, marriages were arranged. There was no regard for personal relationships or love or the couples’ emotions. Romance was not an idea that was either embraced, practiced, or considered essential in marriage. Couples were married because it was their social responsibility. The purpose or goal of marriage was mainly reproduction. There was no exchange of love vows or promises couples gift each other: To love and to protect were alien to the Greeks. Like all patriarchal societies, all the major decisions belonged to men. For girls, therefore, it was upon their fathers to decide who they will marry. Fathers would gift suitable male figures the permission to marry their daughters. Once the decision was made, dowry was paid to the girl’s family. However, a marriage was not said to be legal until a couple was living together. Since marriages were arranged, women had no power over their husband’s actions. Theirs was to remain and act within the boundaries of marriage while their husbands did all manner of things. One marriage that helps to shed light on the above is that of Hera and Zeus.
Hera was the goddess of marriage and birth. She was also Zeus’s sister. Before her marriage to Zeus, Hera was known as the Queen of Heaven because she ruled over the heavens and the earth. After getting married to Zeus, she became the Queen of the Gods or the Queen of Mount Olympus. However, their relationship was not without its fair share of problems as Zeus had affairs with almost everything that seemed to please his eyes. But, in spite of everything that happened, Hera remained faithful to her husband. Her attention and wrath were turned towards the women and offspring her husband sired. However, this story does help to paint a clear picture of why Hera was jealous of her husband, but never for once considered leaving him or saw herself as anything else than his wife.
Tasked with being the goddess of marriage meant that Hera had to lead by example. She had to make sure that her marriage succeeded in spite of everything that was happ...