i loved the story about the milky way/hera; please, may i have your
reference? i've dug out my references and delved into 20 yr old memories
of greek/roman myth. what i've found is that heracles was born to a
mortal, alcmene, after she was tricked by zeus. he was named heracles
which means 'glory of hera' or 'hera's glory' in an attempt to stave
hera's fury/jealousy.  it didn't work- she sent the goddess of childbirth-
ilithyia/lucina- to hinder the birth of heracles and his twin brother.
when that failed, she sent serpents to kill the infants and finally set
the twelve tasks in front of him hoping to kill him. i can hardly see her
suckling him. but the milky way myth must ave come from somewhere- i'm
just wondering now who it was? thanks, deborah danzeiser