Hera seduced Zeus, her husband, in the Iliad to distract him and aid the Greeks in the Trojan War.
Hera's seduction of Zeus is a key plot point in Homer's Iliad. Driven by her support for the Greeks and frustration with Zeus's partiality towards the Trojans, Hera orchestrates a plan to remove him from the battlefield. This involves several steps:
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Hera's Motivation: Hera's primary motive is to help the Greeks defeat the Trojans. She resents Zeus's support for the Trojan side, especially as he favors figures like Hector.
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Seeking Assistance: Hera enlists the help of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, to obtain a magical girdle that enhances her allure. Although Aphrodite usually supports the Trojans, she is tricked into helping Hera.
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Preparation and Beautification: Hera meticulously prepares herself, bathing and adorning herself with beautiful garments and jewelry. This is to make herself irresistible to Zeus.
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The Seduction: Hera finds Zeus on Mount Ida. She uses the girdle and her own charms to seduce him. They then make love within a golden cloud, effectively distracting Zeus from the ongoing battle.
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The Outcome: With Zeus preoccupied, Poseidon, the god of the sea and another supporter of the Greeks, is able to intervene on the battlefield, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Greeks.
In summary, Hera successfully seduces Zeus by leveraging her beauty, Aphrodite's girdle, and a carefully planned strategy, ultimately allowing the Greeks to gain an advantage in the Trojan War.
