The Heraia, also called Heraean Games, of ancient Greece were a series of female-only footrace events held within the Sanctuary of Olympia in Elis.
The Heraia were the female equivalent of the Olympic Games, which were open only to male participants, and they were held in honor of the Greek goddess Hera.[1]
Every four years, sixteen Elean women in charge of organizing the Heraean Games wove a new veil for the goddess and placed it on display in the Temple of Hera within the Sanctuary of Olympia.[2]
Trivia
- In real life, women were not allowed to participate in the Olympic games of antiquity, with the first competition where they were allowed to compete being the 1900 Games in Paris. This fact is acknowledged in the game's loading menus, but is largely ignored during the course of gameplay, should Kassandra be the chosen protagonist. Despite this, the fact that married women were not allowed to view the games unless a male relative of theirs was competing is addressed in the side mission Kallipateira.
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey novel