2. Hera
Wife of Poseidon (Ποσειδῶνος Δάμαρ), Motherless Mother (Ἀμήτωρ
Μήτηρ), Mother of the Gods (Μῆτηρ Θεῶν), Dispenser of all Power
(Δυνάμεώς Δότειρα Προπάσης), Cause of Matter (Ὕλης Παραγωγὸς),
Seat for the Forms Here (Ἕδρa τοῖς τῇδ’ Εἴδεσσιν), leader of the
procession into multiplicity of inferior beings.
Philosophical matter (ὕλη) is whatever can receive form
or definition, and so it is potentially any form. This is
primordial (πρεσβυτάτης), indestructible (ἀνωλέθρου) matter, the
everlasting substrate of all that comes to be and passes away. As
the Idea of Matter, Hera contains all the Forms, not as definite
Ideas, but in all the infinite diversity and abundance of their
instances. Poseidon and Hera possess in common all Forms.
In contrast to Poseidon, who is Limit-itself, Hera is unlimited,
infinitely productive. Therefore, she is also the goddess who
gives birth to the infinite in mathematics, such as the infinite
progression of the integers and the infinite divisibility of
continuous magnitudes. She is the first female principle (θήλειαν)
and the nature of the female principle, which furnishes to all
beings matter and nourishment. As the cause of matter, Hera
assists Poseidon in the generation of embodied beings (e.g.,
celestial gods, daimons, humans, animals).
August One, goddess Hera, daughter of great Zeus,
O thou whose husband is Poseidon, thou who art
the cause of matter, and the seat here for the forms,
dispenser of all power, and among the rest,
you lead us into excellence and all that’s fair.
You bring together laws for everything from which
the multitude eternally comes forth; you grant
us to live well; to virtue bring us graciously.
Laws III.15
[104, 114], III.34
[134, 154, 158, 174], III.35 [206], Summ.
[262–4].
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