Wednesday 31 July 2013

Hebe

In Greek mythologyHēbē (Greek: Ἥβη) is the goddess of youth  (Roman equivalent: Juventas). She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe was the cupbearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia, until she was married to Heracles (Romanequivalent: Hercules); her successor was Zeus's lover Ganymede. Another title of hers, for this reason, is Ganymeda. She also drew baths for Aresand helped Hera enter her chariot.
In Euripides' play Heracleidae, Hebe granted Iolaus' wish to become young again in order to fight Eurystheus. Hebe had two children with Heracles:Alexiares and Anicetus.
The name Hebe comes from Greek word meaning "youth" or "prime of life". Juventas likewise means "youth", as can be seen in such derivatives asjuvenile. In art, Hebe is usually depicted wearing a sleeveless dress. Hebe was also worshipped as a goddess of pardons or forgiveness; freed prisoners would hang their chains in the sacred grove of her sanctuary at Phlius.



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