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EPITHETS OF ÍRA

This list of titles of the Goddess Íra (Hera, Ἥρᾱ) includes all of the epithets found in Orphic Hymn 16 and more, gathered from various sources. The transliteration method used in this list is Reuchlinian and unique to this website where the emphasis is primarily on pronunciation, but to avoid confusion there are separate entries using the more familiar Erasmian spellings found in English and American universities.

Aærómorphos - (aeromorphus; Gr. ἀερόμορφος, ΑΕΡΟΜΟΡΦΟΣ. Etym. ἀέρος "air" + μορφή "form.") In Orphic hymn 16.1, Íra is called aærómorphos, having the form of air, for she is in union with Zefs (Ζεύς) who is swirling through the heavens generating, together with her, everything that is.

Æxakæstírios - (exacesterius; Gr. ἐξακεστήριος, ΕΞΑΚΕΣΤΗΡΙΟΣ) one who averts or cures evils.

Bunæa - See Vounaia.

Callistephanus - See Kallistǽphanos.

Chrysothronus - See Khrysóthronos.

Daughter of lovely-haired Rǽa - (Gr. Ρέα εὔκομος θυγάτηρ, ΡΕΑ ΕΥΚΟΜΟΣ ΘΥΓΑΤΗΡ) The Goddess Íra is daughter of lovely-haired Rǽa (Rhea; Gr. Ρέα).

Exacesterius - See Æxakæstírios.

Heré = Íra.

Íppios - (hippius; Gr. ἵππιος, ÍΠΠΙΟΣ, poet. form of ἵππειος) - of a horse or horses; epith. of Íra at Olympia.

Juno - Juno is the primary Roman name for Íra.

Kallistǽphanos - (callistephanus; Gr. καλλιστέφανος, ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ) beautifully crowned.

Khíra - (chera; Gr. χήρα, ΧΗΡΑ, literally "widow") a lady of authority.

Khrysóthronos - (chrysothronus; Gr. χρυσόθρονος, ΧΡΥΣΟΘΡΟΝΟΣ) having a throne of gold.

Kydra - See Kydrí.

Kydrí - (cydra; Gr. κυδρή, ΚΥΔΡΗ, fem. of κυδρός) glorious, illustrious, noble.

Mákaira - (macaira; Gr. μάκαιρα, ΜΑΚΑΙΡΑ; fem. of μάκαρ.) happy, blessed (Orphic hymn 16.2) as are all the deathless Gods.

Pambasileia - See Pamvasíleia.

Pamvasíleia - (pambasileia; Gr. παμβασίλεια, ΠΑΜΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑ) queen of all. (Orphic hymn 16.2)

Pancrates - See Pangkratís.

Pandoyǽnæthlos - (pantogenethlos; Gr. παντογένεθλος, ΠΑΝΤΟΓΕΝΕΘΛΟΣ) all-generating (Orphic hymn 16.4). Orphic fragment 132 says that Zefs (Ζεὺς) generates everything in conjunction with Íra and that she is his equal.

Pangratís - (pancrates; Gr. παγκρατής, ΠΑΓΚΡΑΤΗΣ. Adj.) all-powerful.

Polyóhnymos - (polyonymus; Gr. πολυώνυμος, ΠΟΛΥΩΝΥΜΟΣ) having many names (Orphic hymn 16.9)

Pótnia - (Gr. πότνια, ΠΟΤΝΙΑ = δέσποινα. Noun.) queen.

Uni - Etruscan deity identified as Íra/Juno.

Vounaia - (bunæa; Gr. βουναία, ΒΟΥΝΑΙΑ) epith. of Íra, because her temple stood on a vounós (bunos, βουνός, a hill) (Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις Παυσανίου 2.4.7.)

Zöógonos Thæá - (zoögonus Thea; Gr. ζωόγονος Θεά, ΖΩΟΓΟΝΟΣ ΘΕΑ) generative Goddess:

"Juno (Íra) is called by the Orphic theologers, according to Proclus ζωόγονος θεά, or the vivific Goddess: an epithet perfectly agreeing with the attributes ascribed to her in this Hymn (ed. Orphic hymn 16, or XV in the Taylor trans.). And in Theol. Plat. p. 483, he says that Juno is the source of the soul's procreation." (Thomas Taylor 1792.)

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology , the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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