Only Skin Deep [Elis, 345 BCE] (tag: Athena)
The first Olympic games had been held in this place, the valley between the mountains the perfect location for such athletic endeavors. That had been approximately four centuries prior, and Hera had been back to the area several times since. It was Greece, after all, she went everywhere. Though she had to admit, despite the games and honor that was given to the gods at them, she wasn't terribly fond of the people that were indigenous to the region.
They were barbarians. Oh, not nearly as bad as those poor creatures to the north that were little better than animals. They were still Greek, and a Greek was still far superior to the northerners that rolled in dirt and wrapped themselves in animal skins. Hera frequently wondered what was wrong with the gods in that area that they let that continue, but it was not her problem. Elis was her problem, and one she kept trying to rectify in slow, measured steps.
But no matter what inspiration she gave the people, they were still backwards by the standards of every other Greek. Stratonicus of Athens, famous amongst the mortals for his musical talents, and a source of some amusement because of his predilection for sticking his foot in his mouth was once asked which were the greatest barbarians, the Boeotians or the Thessalians. He answered, completely deadpan, “The Eleans.” It drew a good deal of laughter from those that were listening, because it was entirely too true. Hera was not quite as amused.
Just look at what they were doing now. In an effort to elevate them out of their lower standard, Hera had tried to inspire them to look beyond themselves and the things they placed value upon. But they had taken that idea, that inspiration, that blessing she had offered and turned it into... Honestly, Hera wasn't certain what they thought they were accomplishing here today.
It was a festival to honor Athena, and in place of the normal games and challenges designed to display both athletic prowess and intelligent thought, there was a group of young boys lined up on the steps of the fountain in the village square. Hera watched dumbfounded as the young men seemed to preen before the crowd. Just what exactly were they doing? How was this honoring Athena? How was this elevating themselves to a better level?
Hera was beginning to think that all of the people of Elis were simply too stupid to help.