Hebe

Hebe is the Greek goddess of youth. She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, as well as the former cup bearer of the gods (along with Ganymede), and the wife of Hercules. Her Roman counterpart is Juventas.

History


Hebe is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She is the former cup bearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia, until she was married to her half-brother Hercules, and 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' his wish to become young again in order to fight Eurystheus. Hebe had two children with Hercules: Alexiares and Anicetus. In Roman mythology, Juventas received a coin offering from boys when they donned 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. Hebe was also worshiped as a goddess of pardons or forgiveness; freed prisoners would hang their chains in the sacred grove of her sanctuary at Phlius.

The Last Olympian
During the Battle of Manhattan, an automaton of Hebe's son, William H. Seward, fights against the Titans. After the battle, Percy Jackson makes the Olympians promise have a cabin for all the minor gods, including Hebe.

Personality
Hebe is a very generous and kind goddess, having granted Iolaus (her husband's friend and nephew) renewed youth so that he could fight Eurystheus.

Juventas
Juventas is Hebe's Roman Counterpart. As Juventas, she becomes more disciplined, militaristic, and warlike. She might have children or/and descendants in Camp Jupiter near San Francisco. For the Greeks, Hebe was not only the Goddess of Youth, but also the Patroness of Brides, but the Romans credited Juventas only for being the Goddess of Youth.

As goddess of eternal youth, she greets the hypothesized heroes on their entrance into Olympus, presenting to them the cup of Nectar which immediately restores them to the first bloom of youthfulness and beauty, and endows them with immortality as the reward of victorious combats. And since we know that "growing old in Heaven is to grow young," (H. H. 414), we find that Juventas constantly waits upon all the gods at their Olympian banquets, pouring out for them that same elixir of eternal life, from which each day they quaff unending and ever-renewing youth.

Juventas is portrayed in works of art as a charming young girl, her light garments adorned with roses, and on her head a wreath of flowers. In one hand she carries the amphora of nectar, and with the other she presents the cup of eternal youthfulness. Like Ganymede, she is often seen playing with the royal eagle of her father.

Children
Hebe had two children with her husband Hercules: Alexiares and Anicetus. She also had demigod William H. Seward with mortal Samuel Seward. In the Hidden Oracle another demigod child was mentioned, Paolo Montes

Trivia

 * 6 Hebe, a large asteroid in the asteroid belt, is named after her.
 * Words like Hebephilia and Hebephernia are derived from her name, and words such as Juvenile are derivatives from her Roman name, Juventas.
 * Hebe is also a genus of plants, named after the youth goddess Hebe.
 * Lettuce and Ivy spring were both plants associated with Hebe.
 * Hebe was also worshiped as goddess of forgiveness or pardon.
 * A Hebe is a purple plant that originates in New Zealand.