Introduction
"Hera, I must
tell you how
flattered I am to cover your story, but I
don't understand why you would want to come out to the media with your
life story."
"Well,
I have a few
things I
wanted to get straightened out, and I just thought if someone could get
the real stories out there, you would be the journalist to do the job."
"My
job is to tell the truth
to the public and if you are willing to come forward with everything
that you know about the Olympian goddesses, not only am I willing to
listen, but I am certain that this will turn into an amazing
documentary."
"I
guess I am going to just
start from the beginning then."
"You
can start wherever. The
only thing I have to ensure is that the pieces of your story fit
together. Go ahead. The camera is recording..."
The
only reason I am going
public with the real stories of my fellow goddesses is because although
I am the Queen of the gods and the goddess of women and marriage,
people still have a very tainted view of me.
As
you know, my husband Zeus
has had a few affairs in his day and people believe that I have sought
revenge more than once and again with anyone has crossed or offended
me, but I am here to tell you that this is not the case.
As
Queen of the gods,
I have nothing to hide and I am jealous of no one. I do hold the most
powerful position among the goddesses, as my beloved husband is king. I
want to tell everyone the reals stories behind all of this "mythology,"
and show you how there is an explanation for all of this mess.
First,
I would like to
explain why I feel so sorry for Aphrodite. I know, I know that everyone
says I am jealous of her because Paris thought she was the most
beautiful goddess, but that isn't true at all. Aphrodite is one of my
dearest friends and I will always think of her fondly. She did me a
great favor by not sleeping with my husband Zeus, and actually refused
his offer! She ended up marrying Hephaestus anyway. So it really
shouldn't matter, well at least in my opinion. I mean he is DEFORMED!
Obviously it is impossible for her to be the most beautiful goddess if
she can't even find a proper husband! Why would the most beautiful
goddess marry someone who is deformed? If you want to know what I
think, I don't think she had many other offers. I can't even be
bothered to begin telling you Aphrodite's dirty little secrets. There
is
just TOO much to tell. She can't even cook! Can you believe it? Just
wait and see. Soon you will know about all of the skeletons in her
closet.
Next,
I would like to tell
you about my stepdaughter, Artemis. Yes, I said stepdaughter, but only
because it is true. Now, everyone believes that I was out to get
Artemis's mother, Leto, but it simply isn't so. If anything, these
so-called "true events" that occurred in Artemis's life just happened
to be a coincidence. Poor, poor girl. But if you think about it, her
tragedies did nothing but help her. I was only trying to make her
stronger so that Zeus wouldn't be ashamed of her, since she came from a
lesser goddess than me as her mother.
Everyone
says that when Leto
was trying to give birth to her babies, I chased her to Delos and
tormented her, but it was her own fault.
All
I was trying to do was
deliver a caretaker for Leto to that island. I really do pity her, and
poor Artemis, too.
She
will always be taking
care of other people's children because she is a virgin. And that's
probably because her mother was so hideous, but who will ever know.
Once I explain all of it, you'll understand how I have bent over
backwards for these women.
"Would you mind if you spoke a little bit more about your family to me
later on?"
Well, my siblings are a very special part of my life and I would never
want to do something to offend them. But, I do have a story about my
brother and sister that could maybe work. I am not too sure though.
"Well, what does it involve?"
My sister Demeter had a really traumatic experience happen to her. Her
daughter went missing and it was all my brother Hades' fault.
"Oh my, that sounds scandalous."
It was, so that is why I am going to save it for later on because this
is a story that must be done very tastefully! Do you understand?
"Of course I do. Okay, this is the last thing I am going to ask about
just because I think it will wrap things up..."
Oh no, what now?
"Well, I have heard so much about your mother and she simply fascinates
me. I would love to hear anything about her."
My mother is an amazing woman. She has become extremely strong
throughout the years.
"Strong from what?"
Well, she had a weak moment, it was a weird incident with my father. He
wasn't doing what was right for all of the kids.
"What was he doing?"
Let's just say that he was trying to rid us of our power, or at least
dampen it a little...
"This
is so fascinating
Hera. I am soaking it all up! These are going to be great stories, but
I think we should start with Aphrodite, just to clear the air about
your "situation" with her. What do you think?"
I love the way journalists
think. Let me go find my journals, just to trigger my memory of
course...
Coverpage
Storypage
1: Aprhodite
Storypage
2: Artemis
Storypage
3: Demeter
Storypage 4: Rhea
Image Information:
Pantheon
Athens, Greece
May 2008
Photographer: Alexa Helms
