This is a book review of the latest offering from Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno is edited by Lykeia.
Disclaimer: I am a contributor of
a devotional hymn that appears in this anthology.
“Of all the Goddesses honoured in
modern times, it seems a bit surprising that Hera doesn’t get much love, when
in fact she was one of the more important Goddesses.” These are the opening lines by
editor Lykeia in her essay about the modern worship of Hera. Indeed, the worship of the queen of the Greek
Olympian pantheon may appear to pale by comparison to that of her wayward husband,
Zeus, or even other Goddesses such as Aphrodite and Artemis, yet, Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno is an anthology
bursting with original prayers, passionate pleads and devotional hymns to both
Hera and her Roman counterpart, Iuno.
Generally perceived as the ultimate
“evil” stepmother and jealous wife who is vengeful towards the offspring Zeus
sired by his numerous affairs, Hera was also the ultimate guardian of marriage,
a constitution, as Mila Suez reminds us in “Heartache of the Cuckoo”, vitally
important to a woman’s status in ancient Greece. However, there was more to this multi-faceted
Goddess than that. Hera also ruled over
childbirth, government and health. She
who was revered by the champions of ancient Greece, and her worship stretched
around the then known Greek world, even as far away as northern Africa and even
Great Britain.
Divided into four sections,
Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno contains
a wealth of information penned by modern day devotees.
-- Litaneia (Greek for “prayers”) contains many
heartfelt devotional hymns and prayers to Hera and Iuno;
-- Mythos includes modern
stories involving the Queen of Olympos;
-- Apologia presents modern analysis of
the status of Hera and Iuno within mythology, cosmology and philosophy; and
finally
-- Evlaveia (Greek for “devotion”) offers a collection of rites and modern
day worship. The classic Homer and
Orphic hymns are also included in an appendix.
Queen of Olympos: A
Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno proves that these Goddesses are
still as relevant today as they were in ancient times. Yet, save to the detailed information
provided on the backcover, this anthology does appear to lack any proper
introduction as to who both Hera and the less familiar Iuno (and all their
aspects) were, leaving the reader is left to scour the assortment of collected
works to find out for themselves.
Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno reminds us that there is so much
more to Hera than her being the jealous wife of a philanderer. This book offers a wonderful collection of
fresh and exciting devotional pieces as well as personal experiences from those
who work with and have an intimate relationship with this often misinterpreted
Goddess in the modern age.
Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno can be purchased via Amazon.com or direct from the bookstore of Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Queen of Olympos: A Devotional Anthology for Hera and Iuno can be purchased via Amazon.com or direct from the bookstore of Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
