ウォルター・バーカートによれば、ヘーラーとデーメーテールはともにギリシア以前の大女神の特徴を多く持っているという<ref>"The goddesses of Greek polytheism, so different and complementary"; Greek mythology scholar Walter Burkert has observed, in ''Homo Necans'' (1972) 1983:79f, "are nonetheless, consistently similar at an earlier stage, with one or the other simply becoming dominant in a sanctuary or city. Each is the Great Goddess presiding over a male society; each is depicted in her attire as Potnia Theron "Mistress of the Beasts", and Mistress of the Sacrifice, even Hera and Demeter."</ref>。
また、イギリスの学者チャールズ・フランシス・ケアリーは、ヘーラーは古代においてある種の「大地の女神」信仰を持っており、(ヘロドートスが言及した)ペラスゴイアの女神としての起源と考えられることと結びつけられている<ref>Keary, Charles Francis. ''Outlines of primitive belief among the Indo-European races''. New York: C. Scibner's Sons. 1882. p. 176.</ref><ref>Renehan, Robert. ''HERA AS EARTH-GODDESS: A NEW PIECE OF EVIDENCE''. In: Rheinisches Museum für Philologie Neue Folge, 117. Bd., H. 3/4 (1974), pp. 193-201. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41244783]</ref><ref name="sacred-texts.com">[https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/mgr/mgr05.htm Harrison, Jane Ellen. ''Myths of Greece and Rome''. 1928. pp. 12-14]</ref>と指摘している<ref>Keary, Charles Francis. ''Outlines of primitive belief among the Indo-European races''. New York: C. Scibner's Sons. 1882. p. 176 (footnote nr. ii).</ref><ref name="sacred-texts.com"/>。
In the same vein, British scholar [[Charles Francis Keary]] suggests that Hera had some sort of "[[Mother goddess|Earth Goddess]]" worship in ancient times,<ref>Keary, Charles Francis. ''Outlines of primitive belief among the Indo-European races''. New York: C. Scibner's Sons. 1882. p. 176.</ref><ref>Renehan, Robert. ''HERA AS EARTH-GODDESS: A NEW PIECE OF EVIDENCE''. In: Rheinisches Museum für Philologie
Neue Folge, 117. Bd., H. 3/4 (1974), pp. 193-201. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41244783]</ref><ref name="sacred-texts.com">[https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/mgr/mgr05.htm Harrison, Jane Ellen. ''Myths of Greece and Rome''. 1928. pp. 12-14]</ref> connected to her possible origin as a Pelasgian goddess (as mentioned by Herodotus).<ref>Keary, Charles Francis. ''Outlines of primitive belief among the Indo-European races''. New York: C. Scibner's Sons. 1882. p. 176 (footnote nr. ii).</ref><ref name="sacred-texts.com"/>
According to [[Homeric Hymn]] II to [[Delian Apollo]], Hera detained [[Eileithyia]] to prevent [[Leto]] from going into labor with Artemis and [[Apollo]], since the father was [[Zeus]]. The other goddesses present at the birthing on [[Delos]] sent [[Iris (mythology)|Iris]] to bring her. As she stepped upon the island, the divine birth began. In the myth of the birth of [[Heracles]], it is Hera herself who sits at the door, delaying the birth of Heracles until her protégé, [[Eurystheus]], had been born first.<ref name="Hom. Il. 19.95">[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hom.+Il.+19.95 19.95ff.]</ref>