Today’s topic is about what I consider to be the worst misconception people have about Hera. And I think it is the modern preoccupation with Hera being the “jealous” wife who torments every child of Zeus other than those by her. This is a perception that, in my opinion, really was thrust into prominence by the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (starring Kevin Sorbo, who is most known these days as a Christian apologist in the same vein as Kirk Cameron).
This portrayal was not found in movies dating from the 1960’s such as Jason and the Argonauts where Hera was portrayed in a far more sympathetic way. However, despite Hera being shown in the movie from 1963 as a more rounded character, the portrayal popularized by the television series, is the one more people know about.
When dealing with Hera, it is the issue of her focus on a wide variety of mankind’s problems that is ignored. And, personally, I despise how two-dimensionally people view her.