Yes, according to the provided reference, Zeus tricked Hera into marrying him. He did not initially win her affections through courtship.
Zeus's Deception
The mythology surrounding Zeus and Hera's union portrays a scenario where Zeus employed deception to achieve his goal. The reference explicitly states that after failing to win Hera's favor through traditional courtship, Zeus resorted to trickery. He transformed himself into a vulnerable cuckoo, eliciting Hera's compassion. This act of deception allowed him to take advantage of her sympathy, ultimately leading to the union. Hera's subsequent marriage to Zeus can be interpreted as an attempt to conceal the shame associated with this forced encounter.
- The Deception: Zeus disguised himself as a cuckoo to exploit Hera's empathy.
- The Exploitation: He used this disguise to take advantage of Hera and force himself upon her.
- The Marriage: Hera's marriage to Zeus was a consequence of this forced encounter and an attempt to manage the resulting shame.
The provided text clearly indicates that the marriage wasn't consensual but rather a result of Zeus's trickery and exploitation of Hera's compassion.
