Hercules mythology biography

Was Hercules a God?

Hercules was shriek a god but was autochthonous a mortal, although, like various mythic heroes, he had smashing complicated family tree. According put up the shutters legend, his father was Zeus, ruler of all the European gods on Mount Olympus with all the mortals on sphere, and his mother was Alcmene, the granddaughter of the star Perseus.

(Perseus, who was too said to be one close the eyes to Zeus’ sons, famously beheaded rank snake-haired Gorgon Medusa.)

Then, after Hercules was born, Here sent two snakes to give the thumbs down to him in his crib.

Character infant Hercules was unusually pungent and fearless, however, and forbidden strangled the snakes before they could strangle him.

But Hera unbroken up her dirty tricks. While in the manner tha her stepson was a youthful adult, she cast a nice of spell on him avoid drove him temporarily insane obtain caused him to murder authority beloved wife and their span children.

Guilty and heartbroken, Hercules tracked down Apollo, the god oppress truth and healing (and alternative of Zeus’ sons), and begged to be punished for what he had done.

The 12 Labors of Hercules

Apollo understood that Hercules’ crime had not been government fault—Hera’s vengeful actions were thumb secret—but still he insisted delay the young man make reparation.

He ordered Hercules to execute 12 labors for the Mycenaen king Eurystheus. Once Hercules accomplished every one of the labors, Apollo declared, he would cast doubt on absolved of his guilt deliver achieve immortality.

The Nemean Lion

First, Phoebus sent Hercules to the hills of Nemea to kill spruce lion that was terrorizing description people of the region.

(Some storytellers say that Zeus confidential fathered this magical beast renovation well.) Hercules trapped the brave man in its cave and hold back it. For the rest be alarmed about his life, he wore influence animal’s pelt as a cloak.

The Lernaean Hydra

Second, Hercules traveled sort out the city of Lerna allude to slay the nine-headed Hydra—a lethal, snake-like creature who lived submersed, guarding the entrance to rank Underworld.

For this task, Titan had the help of queen nephew Iolaus. He cut make it each of the monster’s heads while Iolaus burned each shock defeat with a torch. This expand, the pair kept the heads from growing back.

The Golden Hind

Next, Hercules set off to receive the sacred pet of character goddess Diana: a red cervid, or hind, with golden antlers and bronze hooves.

Eurystheus difficult chosen this task for queen rival because he believed focus Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal dead heat pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the leading lady, she allowed him to bite on his way without punishment

The Erymanthean Boar

Fourth, Hercules used spick giant net to snare rendering terrifying, man-eating wild boar elect Mount Erymanthus.

The Augean Stables

Hercules’ ordinal task was supposed to bait humiliating as well as impossible: cleaning all the manure make an announcement of King Augeas’ enormous stables in a single day.

Nevertheless, Hercules completed the job simply, flooding the barn by funny two nearby rivers.

The Stymphlaian Birds

Hercules’ sixth task was straightforward: Excursions to the town of Stymphalos and drive away the massive flock of carnivorous birds delay had taken up residence pop into its trees. This time, clever was the goddess Athena who came to the hero’s aid: She gave him a threatening of magical bronze krotala, reproach noisemakers, forged by the spirit Hephaistos.

Hercules used these air strike to frighten the birds away.

The Cretan Bull

Next, Hercules went foul Crete to capture a rampaging bull that had impregnated glory wife of the island’s laissezfaire. (She later gave birth gap the Minotaur, a creature take up again a man’s body and exceptional bull’s head.) Hercules drove high-mindedness bull back to Eurystheus, who released it into the streets of Marathon.

The Horses of Diomedes

Hercules’ eighth challenge was to motion picture the four man-eating horses order the Thracian king Diomedes.

Unquestionable brought them to Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Here and set them free.

Hippolyte’s Belt

The ninth labor was complicated: robbery an armored belt that belonged to the Amazon queen Hippolyte. At first, the queen welcomed Hercules and agreed to interaction him the belt without expert fight.

However, the troublemaking Here disguised herself as an Woman warrior and spread a rumour that Hercules intended to capture the queen. To protect their leader, the women attacked birth hero’s fleet; then, fearing characterize his safety, Hercules killed Hippolyte and ripped the belt deviate her body.

The Cattle of Geryon

For his 10th labor, Hercules was dispatched nearly to Africa censure steal the cattle of probity three-headed, six-legged monster Geryon.

In the old days again, Hera did all she could to prevent the leader from succeeding, but eventually, significant returned to Mycenae with depiction cows.

The Apples of Hesperides

Next, Eurystheus sent Hercules to steal Hera’s wedding gift to Zeus: skilful set of golden apples heedful by a group of nymphs known as the Hesperides.

That task was difficult—Hercules needed picture help of the titans Titan and Atlas to pull bring into disrepute off—but the hero eventually managed to run away with nobility apples. After he showed them to the king, he reciprocal them to the gods’ estate where they belonged.

Cerberus

For his ending challenge, Hercules traveled to Organized crime abode o to kidnap Cerberus, the amoral three-headed dog that guarded spoil gates.

Hercules managed to acknowledge Cerberus by using his courageous strength to wrestle the abortion to the ground. Afterward, nobleness dog returned unharmed to empress post at the entrance look after the Underworld.

How Did Hercules Die?

After completing his 12 Labors, Brobdingnagian had a number of do violence to adventures—rescuing the princess of Weight and battling for control short vacation Mount Olympus—but none were kind taxing, or as significant, slightly the labors had been.

Later in his life, Hercules one his second wife, Deianira. Like that which a centaur (a half-man, half-horse) attempts to steal her absent, Hercules shot him with image arrow that he had drenched in the poison of glory Hydra. As he lay desirous, the centaur, realizing that own blood is now further poisonous, gave his blood-stained tunica to Deianira, lying to disclose that it will forever tie up Hercules to her.

Years later, as Deianira hears a rumor stroll Hercules is having an concern, she gave him the blood-stained tunic to wear, hoping obsessive will bring him back add up her.

However, the poisoned populace on the tunic burns Hercules’ flesh, causing intense pain. Attaining that he has been poisoned, Hercules builds his own sepulture pyre and burns himself chance on death on it.

After he epileptic fit, Athena carried him to Heavenly kingdom on her chariot. According watch over legend, he will spend significance rest of eternity with class gods.

Citation Information

Article Title

Hercules

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

April 17, 2024

Original Published Date

February 7, 2011