The story of Jason continues…..

Unknowingly, Jason was to play his part in an evil plan hatched on the home of the Gods, Mount Olympus. Hera, who was the wife of almighty Zeus himself, nursed a huge rage against King Pelias. For Jason’s Uncle, Pelias, the usurper king, had honored all the gods but Hera.

But why was Hera so important? Hera was the goddess of Marriage, Women and Child birth. Women thought Hera could help them get a succesfull marriage, get pregnant and successfully have a child. In ancient Greece, women wanted to have a son more than a daughter. (NOTE: Even in the modern times, that’s what society is hoping for as they share a more male and chauvinistic approach)

The women would often pray to Hera to get healthy children. After the child was born, the mother would beg Hera to protect the child. They also requested Hera to help them have financial protection. These are the reasons why people worshipped Hera.

But why did people worship Hera? Truth be told, lots of people worshipped her. There were temples built for Hera. People even gave offering to Hera. Sacrifices were made such as Teiresias the Hermaphrodite Seer, and prayers were made to her. Some of the offering people made to Hera were sculptures that looked like her, and objects that displayed her name on them. People even brought sacrificial cakes. They would place the offerings on the altar for her and burnt it with fire. Some people would take the statue of Hera out of the temple and hide it. This would represent how Hera ran away from Zeus. This was also a part of worshipping Hera. These are the ways of how people worshipped her.

People also worshipped Hera because they believed that she could help them with a successful marriage (love) and successfully have offspring. They again gave offerings, built her majestic temples, make sculptures that resembled her and make objects that had her name on it.

Jason had rashly begrudged the Queen of Heaven for her due. Hera’s plan was fraught with danger; it would require a true Hero. In order to test his mettle, she contrived it that he came to a raging torrent on his way to Iolcus. And would it be just when he was impatient or would he give way to her request to ferried across the stream?

Well, Jason did not think twice. He took the “crone” on his back, and set off into the current. Halfway across he began to stagger under her unexpected weight. For the old woman, of course, was none other than Hera herself. Some say that she did indeed reveal herself to Jason on the far shore; others claim that he never learned of the divine service or task that he had performed. Jason had lost one of his sandals, and that’s why he was named the “MONOSANDALOS”. This event would prove rather significant. For an oracle warned King Pelias that he should “Beware of a stranger who wears but a single sandal”. When Jason arrived in Iolcus, he asserted his claim to the throne. However, his uncle Pelias had no intention of giving it up, particularly to a one-shoed stranger.