# Hera — The Argonautica character guide

> Hera in The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Pelasgian Hêrê, Hêrê, great Hêrê, Hêrê of Wedlock

**First appearance:** 0000-book-i

## Snapshot

The queen of the gods who takes Jason's quest as her own, scheming with Athena and Aphrodite to make a foreign sorceress fall in love.

## Who they are

Hera watches the Argonauts ambushed in the reeds and decides the Fleece must come to Hellas, whatever Zeus or Aeetes thinks. She proposes the plan that sends Aphrodite's son to bewitch Medea, and she steadies the girl when panic nearly drives her to poison. As Hêrê of Wedlock she also hears Jason's oath, which makes her both the quest's architect and its silent guarantor.

## Relationships

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/characters/zeus)

_family_

Hera is Zeus's wife, often in conflict with him over his infidelities and schemes.

### [Dionysus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/characters/dionysus)

_family_

Dionysus and Hera have a hostile stepmother-stepson relationship, marked by her jealousy and his defiance.

### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/characters/zeus)

_family_

Hera is Zeus's wife, often in conflict with him over his infidelities and schemes.

## In the story

### [Book III: The Love of Medea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/chapters/book-iii)

Queen of the gods, orchestrates the plan to use Medea's love for Jason to secure the Golden Fleece.

### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/chapters/book-iv)

Orchestrates divine aid, sending Iris to summon Thetis and command Hephaestus and Aiolus.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/characters/hera
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_argonautica_se/characters