Zeus and Hera are two of the most famous Olympian gods. They are also the parents of some of the most famous gods and goddesses in Greek mythology.
In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at their children, including who they are, what they do, and where they fall in terms of the Olympian hierarchy.
Zeus and Hera had three children: Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus.
Ares
Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was the god of war, violence, and bloodshed. He loved nothing more than to fight, and he was known for his fierce temper and brutal nature. He was often depicted as a young man, clad in armor, with a spear or sword in hand.
He is well known as the lover of APHRODITE, who was married to his brother HEPHAESTUS, and though Ares plays a limited role in literature, when he does appear in myths it is typically facing humiliation.
For example, one famous story of Ares and Aphrodite exposes them to ridicule by the gods when her husband Hephaestus trapped them both naked in a bed using a clever device he made. Ares had several children with Aphrodite.
Hebe
Hebe was the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She was the goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods. She was often depicted as a young woman, with a jug of nectar (the drink of the gods) in her hand.
She was a faithful servant dedicated to the task that had been assigned to her. However, she was at some point down the line cast out from doing the job that she had previously had. She lost that job in a most unusual way when she tripped and her dress came undone. The other Gods were not happy about this at all and decided that they would take her role as cup-bearer away from her.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was the god of fire, blacksmiths, and craftsmen. He was often depicted as a bearded man, with a forge and hammer in hand.
Hephaestus was cast out of Olympus by his own mother because she found him to be ugly.
Hephaestus was an engineer, but he was also stuck in his own workshop because he was lame and hunchbacked. One day, he got his revenge on all who had rejected him by building a magical throne that would trap whoever sat in it. Hera, without realizing the consequences of her actions, took the bait and sit in the throne – only to be incapacitated by it.
In order to free his mother he made that demand that the goddess Aphrodite would become his wife. Aphrodite was known for her allure and her ability to lure men into her bed. She was married to Hephaestus, but she had many affairs with other gods and mortals including his brother Ares.