January 10: Wedding Month

It must have been the wedding to top all weddings. The venue was the garden of the Hesperid-nymphs, where earth goddess Gaia had planted a tree with golden apples as a wedding gift. (Does resemble another garden from another book, but let’s not dwell on that.) All gods, nymphs, satyrs and demigodss were invited to witness the sacred union between Zeus and Hera. The bride looked ravishing and wore the unique crown that Zeus ordered for her, as a token of her new status. But one can’t help wondering if she smiled. She was forced into this marriage after all. Zeus had failed to win her heart the traditional way, so had taken the form of a little cuckoo, pretending to shiver with cold. Hera had held the poor creature to her breast for warmth. Zeus had then shamelessly taken advantage of her, and overcome with shame, she had agreed to marry him. So maybe she didn’t smile. But in spite of everything, she must have been pleased with her freshly gained position as queen of heaven. And she would do whatever it took to hold on to it. Whatever it took.