The Queen Archetype
Goddesses Hera, Juno, Mut, Parvati, and Medb (Maeve)
1. Queenship & Authority

• Hera (Greek), Juno (Roman), and Mut (Egyptian) are all considered queens of their respective pantheons, often associated with divine rulership.
• Parvati (Hindu) is the wife of Shiva, making her a divine consort with great influence.
• Medb (Irish) is a mortal queen but holds extraordinary power, often acting like a deity in myth.

2. Marriage & Wife Roles

• Hera and Juno are specifically goddesses of marriage and fidelity, though both struggle with their husbands’ infidelities.
• Mut, whose name means “Mother,” is also linked to motherhood and queenship, often depicted as a divine wife.
• Parvati represents the ideal wife and is devoted to Shiva, though she has many independent aspects.
• Medb, while not a goddess of marriage, was known for choosing and discarding husbands at will, emphasizing her control over relationships.

3. Fertility & Motherhood

• Hera and Juno are linked to childbirth, despite their vengeful nature.
• Mut, as her name suggests, symbolizes motherhood and nurturing.
• Parvati is the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, reinforcing her role as a nurturing goddess.
• Medb, though not known for fertility, is said to have had multiple children in various legends.

4. Power & Influence Over Men

• All five figures hold great influence over male figures in their myths.
• Hera and Juno manipulate events involving Zeus/Jupiter.
• Mut is often depicted as an equal partner to Amun, a major Egyptian god.
• Parvati’s power can rival Shiva’s, and she has multiple fierce warrior forms like Durga and Kali.
• Medb rules in her own right and often takes lovers and husbands as she pleases.

5. Connections to War & Strength

• Hera and Juno are not typically war goddesses but do influence battles (e.g., the Trojan War).
• Parvati has warrior aspects, especially as Durga and Kali.
• Medb is strongly associated with war, leading armies and engaging in battle herself.
• Mut, though not primarily a war goddess, has some associations with power and kingship.

Personality Comparison of Hera, Juno, Mut, Parvati, and Medb (Maeve)
1. Hera (Greek Mythology)
Personality Traits:

• Jealous & Vengeful: Hera is infamous for her jealousy, particularly regarding Zeus’s many affairs. She often punishes his lovers and their children (e.g., Heracles, Io, Semele).
• Proud & Dignified: As queen of the gods, she expects respect and does not tolerate humiliation. She upholds her status as the supreme wife and queen.
• Maternal (But Selectively): Hera is protective of legitimate marriage and children, yet paradoxically cruel to Zeus’s illegitimate offspring. However, she is a protector of married women and childbirth.
• Strategic & Manipulative: Hera does not hesitate to use deception and cunning to achieve her goals, often plotting against Zeus or interfering in mortal affairs (e.g., the Trojan War, where she supports the Greeks).

Psychological Depth: 

• Hera’s personality is shaped by her difficult position: she is married to the most powerful being in existence, but she has little control over his faithfulness. Her anger is not simply petty jealousy but a response to the deep humiliation she suffers as Zeus constantly disrespects their marriage. She is both a tragic and formidable figure, embodying both righteous fury and the pain of a neglected wife.

2. Juno (Roman Mythology)
Personality Traits:

• Regal & Protective: Juno is deeply tied to Rome itself, serving as a patroness of the state, women, and marriage. She represents the ideal matron who protects her people.
• Maternal & Authoritative: She is seen as a divine mother figure, particularly in her role as Juno Regina (Queen Juno). She protects women, fertility, and childbirth (as Juno Lucina).
• Vengeful & Resentful: Like Hera, Juno harbors deep grudges against Jupiter’s lovers and their offspring. She famously torments Aeneas, delaying his journey to Italy out of spite for the Trojans.
• Patriotic & Devoted to Rome: Unlike Hera, who mainly focuses on her personal struggles with Zeus, Juno’s wrath is often tied to Rome’s destiny. She acts in the interest of Rome, even when her actions seem cruel.

Psychological Depth:

• Juno represents the ideal Roman matron: dutiful, powerful, and fiercely protective of her people. Her anger is often more nationalistic than personal. While she shares Hera’s vengeful nature, she also has a broader role as a guardian of Roman power and prosperity. Her conflicts are not just about her marriage but about the fate of civilizations.

3. Mut (Egyptian Mythology)
Personality Traits:

• Wise & Dignified: Mut is a calm, wise, and authoritative figure. Unlike Hera or Juno, she does not display jealousy or vengefulness but embodies the ideal of a stable, nurturing queen.
• Maternal & Protective: Her name means “mother” and she is often depicted as a divine mother figure. She is not as explicitly tied to fertility as Isis but is associated with motherhood in a more symbolic, regal way.
• Mysterious & Transcendent: Unlike Hera and Juno, who engage in dramatic interpersonal conflicts, Mut remains somewhat aloof and transcendent. She is more symbolic of the divine feminine than an active player in mythological drama.

Psychological Depth:

• Mut embodies quiet strength. She is a stabilizing force in Egyptian mythology, representing the power of a divine wife and mother without the drama of jealousy or conflict. She reflects a more harmonious view of feminine power, one that complements rather than competes with the male gods.

4. Parvati (Hindu Mythology)
Personality Traits:

• Loving & Devoted: Parvati is deeply devoted to Shiva, representing the ideal of a loving and faithful wife.
• Independent & Determined: Unlike Hera and Juno, who struggle with their husbands’ infidelity, Parvati chooses her own path. She undergoes extreme asceticism to prove her worthiness to marry Shiva.
• Fierce & Powerful (When Necessary): Though usually gentle, Parvati has powerful warrior aspects, such as Durga and Kali, where she becomes a fierce protector and destroyer of evil.
• Maternal & Nurturing: She is the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, embodying both tenderness and the ability to guide and discipline her children.

Psychological Depth:

• Parvati’s strength lies in her balance. She is both a loving wife and a powerful goddess, embodying different aspects depending on the situation. Unlike Hera and Juno, who suffer due to their husbands, Parvati actively shapes her destiny. She does not accept her role passively but fights for what she wants, whether in love or battle.

5. Medb (Maeve) (Irish Mythology)
Personality Traits:

• Ambitious & Power-Hungry: Medb is one of the few mythological queens who rules in her own right. She desires power above all else and is not content to be subordinate.
• Sexually Liberated & Independent: Unlike Hera, Juno, or even Parvati, Medb openly takes multiple lovers and husbands, asserting control over her relationships rather than being bound by them.
• Warrior-Like & Cunning: Medb is not just a queen; she is a military leader who leads armies into battle (e.g., the Cattle Raid of Cooley). She is willing to use manipulation and force to get what she wants.
• Proud & Vain: She believes herself to be the greatest queen and will not accept anything less than an equal (or weaker) partner. Her demand that her husband match her wealth (leading to the Tain Bo Cuailnge) reflects her ego and assertiveness.

Psychological Depth:

• Medb is unique among these figures because she is not defined by her relationships with men. While Hera and Juno react to their husbands’ infidelities, Medb dictates the terms of her relationships. She is a queen who refuses to be controlled, embodying a raw, unapologetic form of feminine power that values dominance, war, and desire.

BACK TO SEVEN GODDESS ARCHETYPE PAGE