Hiera (mythology)
Encyclopedia
Hiera is listed as the wife of Telephus
in the frieze that decorated the interior of the Altar
of Pergamum. Telephus is the mythic founder of the city of Pergamum, and there are many conflicting stories about him.
During the Trojan War
the Greeks attacked Pergamum, either because they mistook it for Troy
, or because an alliance existed between Troy and Pergamum. Hiera was apparently an amazon, and the amazons
united with the defenders of Pergamum to repel the attack. However, in the battle Hiera was killed by the Greek warrior Nireus
. Telephus was so grief-stricken that he called a cease-fire to hold the funeral for Hiera, before restarting the battle and finally driving the invaders away.
It is possible that the ancient city of Hierapolis
in Turkey was named in her honor, though the name can also be read as just 'holy city'. She had by two sons by Telephus, Tarchon and Tyrsenus.
Telephus
A Greek mythological figure, Telephus or Telephos Telephus was one of the Heraclidae, the sons of Heracles, who were venerated as founders of cities...
in the frieze that decorated the interior of the Altar
Pergamon Altar
The Pergamon Altar is a monumental construction built during the reign of King Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of the ancient city of Pergamon in Asia Minor....
of Pergamum. Telephus is the mythic founder of the city of Pergamum, and there are many conflicting stories about him.
During the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
the Greeks attacked Pergamum, either because they mistook it for Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
, or because an alliance existed between Troy and Pergamum. Hiera was apparently an amazon, and the amazons
Amazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
united with the defenders of Pergamum to repel the attack. However, in the battle Hiera was killed by the Greek warrior Nireus
Nireus
Nireus is a name that may refer to:*Nireus , in Greek mythology:**Nireus, king of Syme**Nireus, a son of Poseidon and Canace**Nireus, a companion of Heracles*173086 Nireus, an asteroid*Papilio nireus, a species of butterfly...
. Telephus was so grief-stricken that he called a cease-fire to hold the funeral for Hiera, before restarting the battle and finally driving the invaders away.
It is possible that the ancient city of Hierapolis
Hierapolis
Hierapolis was the ancient Greco-Roman city which sat on top of hot springs located in south western Turkey near Denizli....
in Turkey was named in her honor, though the name can also be read as just 'holy city'. She had by two sons by Telephus, Tarchon and Tyrsenus.