Hebe (mythology)

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Hebe
Hebe by Antonio Canova
Hebe by Antonio Canova
Goddess of Youth
Abode Mount Olympus
Consort Heracles
Parents Zeus and Hera
Siblings Ares, Hephaestus, Eileithyia and Eris
Children Alexiares and Anicetus
Roman equivalent Juventas

In Greek mythology, Hēbē (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, (Roman equivalent: Hercules); her successor was the young Trojan prince Ganymede. Another title of hers, for this reason, is "Ganymeda." She also drew baths for Ares and 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 her husband Heracles: Alexiares and Anicetus. In Roman mythology, Juventas received a coin offering from boys when they put on the adult men's toga for the first time. The name Hebe comes from Greek word meaning "youth" or "prime of life". Juventas likewise means "youth", as can be seen in such derivatives as juvenile. In art, Hebe is usually depicted wearing a sleeveless dress. There is a bronze statue of Hebe, by Robert Thomas; (1966), in Birmingham city centre, England (at 52°29′04″N 1°53′32″W / 52.484438°N 1.892175°W / 52.484438; -1.892175). Antonio Canova also sculpted four different statues of Hebe: one of them is in the Museum of Forlì, in Italy. Tarentum, Pennsylvania in the United States of America displays two copies of a statue of Hebe (located at 40°35′59″N 79°45′09″W / 40.59977°N 79.752621°W / 40.59977; -79.752621 and 40°36′06″N 79°45′26″W / 40.601603°N 79.757264°W / 40.601603; -79.757264). The mold for these statues was donated to the borough by the Tarentum Book Club on June 6, 1912.

   Also, Hebe was a huge part of the Greek History, her citizens contributions can be found on Greek monuments.

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Preceded by
Deianira
Wives of Heracles Succeeded by
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