Hercules mythology biography

Was Hercules a God?

Hercules was whoop a god but was hatched a mortal, although, like distinct mythic heroes, he had capital complicated family tree. According require legend, his father was Zeus, ruler of all the Hellenic gods on Mount Olympus predominant all the mortals on without ornamentation, and his mother was Alcmene, the granddaughter of the champion Perseus.

(Perseus, who was along with said to be one succeed Zeus’ sons, famously beheaded integrity snake-haired Gorgon Medusa.)

Then, after Hercules was born, Here sent two snakes to slay him in his crib. Nobleness infant Hercules was unusually tiring and fearless, however, and why not?

strangled the snakes before they could strangle him.

But Hera engaged up her dirty tricks. Just as her stepson was a callow adult, she cast a pitiless of spell on him go drove him temporarily insane come first caused him to murder monarch beloved wife and their mirror image children.

Guilty and heartbroken, Hercules tracked down Apollo, the god spectacle truth and healing (and substitute 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 her highness fault—Hera’s vengeful actions were thumb secret—but still he insisted lose concentration the young man make indemnification.

He ordered Hercules to send out 12 labors for the Mycenaen king Eurystheus. Once Hercules all set every one of the labors, Apollo declared, he would do an impression of absolved of his guilt final achieve immortality.

The Nemean Lion

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

(Some storytellers say that Zeus challenging fathered this magical beast makeover well.) Hercules trapped the celeb in its cave and put out it. For the rest motionless his life, he wore illustriousness animal’s pelt as a cloak.

The Lernaean Hydra

Second, Hercules traveled decide the city of Lerna defer to slay the nine-headed Hydra—a virulent, snake-like creature who lived submarine, guarding the entrance to high-mindedness Underworld.

For this task, Monster had the help of fulfil nephew Iolaus. He cut lecture each of the monster’s heads while Iolaus burned each turnup for the books with a torch. This dart, the pair kept the heads from growing back.

The Golden Hind

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

Eurystheus esoteric chosen this task for king rival because he believed consider it Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal coffee break pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the ideal, she allowed him to liberate on his way without punishment

The Erymanthean Boar

Fourth, Hercules used topping giant net to snare birth terrifying, man-eating wild boar be paid Mount Erymanthus.

The Augean Stables

Hercules’ 5th task was supposed to carbon copy humiliating as well as impossible: cleaning all the manure make of King Augeas’ enormous stables in a single day.

Banish, Hercules completed the job plainly, flooding the barn by absurd two nearby rivers.

The Stymphlaian Birds

Hercules’ sixth task was straightforward: Touring to the town of Stymphalos and drive away the exorbitant flock of carnivorous birds range had taken up residence hassle its trees. This time, accomplished was the goddess Athena who came to the hero’s aid: She gave him a couple of magical bronze krotala, example noisemakers, forged by the immortal Hephaistos.

Hercules used these attain to frighten the birds away.

The Cretan Bull

Next, Hercules went progress to Crete to capture a rampaging bull that had impregnated honourableness wife of the island’s painful. (She later gave birth reach the Minotaur, a creature look into a man’s body and graceful bull’s head.) Hercules drove grandeur bull back to Eurystheus, who released it into the streets of Marathon.

The Horses of Diomedes

Hercules’ eighth challenge was to be on familiar terms with the four man-eating horses pursuit the Thracian king Diomedes.

Without fear brought them to Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Here and set them free.

Hippolyte’s Belt

The ninth labor was complicated: rip-off an armored belt that belonged to the Amazon queen Hippolyte. At first, the queen welcomed Hercules and agreed to research him the belt without capital fight. However, the troublemaking Here disguised herself as an Behemoth warrior and spread a gossip that Hercules intended to abduction the queen.

To protect their leader, the women attacked honourableness hero’s fleet; then, fearing bring about his safety, Hercules killed Hippolyte and ripped the belt deprive her body.

The Cattle of Geryon

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

Flawlessly again, Hera did all she could to prevent the star from succeeding, but eventually, forbidden returned to Mycenae with greatness cows.

The Apples of Hesperides

Next, Eurystheus sent Hercules to steal Hera’s wedding gift to Zeus: fine set of golden apples wary 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 rocket off—but the hero eventually managed to run away with justness apples.

After he showed them to the king, he joint them to the gods’ parkland where they belonged.

Cerberus

For his finishing challenge, Hercules traveled to Organized crime abode o to kidnap Cerberus, the barbarous three-headed dog that guarded well-fitting gates.

Colossal managed to capture Cerberus from one side to the ot using his superhuman strength persecute wrestle the monster to glory ground. Afterward, the dog complementary unharmed to his post squabble the entrance to the Underworld.

How Did Hercules Die?

After completing monarch 12 Labors, Hercules had a-okay number of other adventures—rescuing honourableness princess of Troy and take up arms for control of Mount Olympus—but none were as taxing, secondary as significant, as the labors had been.

Later in monarch life, Hercules married his without fear or favour wife, Deianira. When a centaur (a half-man, half-horse) attempts principle steal her away, Hercules have a crack him with an arrow become absent-minded he had soaked in depiction poison of the Hydra. Variety he lay dying, the centaur, realizing that his own division is now also poisonous, gave his blood-stained tunic to Deianira, lying to her that going away will forever bind Hercules trigger her.

Years later, when Deianira hears a rumor that Hercules give something the onceover having an affair, she gave him the blood-stained tunic focus on wear, hoping it will indicate him back to her.

Dispel, the poisoned blood on dignity tunic burns Hercules’ flesh, deed intense pain. Realizing that loosen up has been poisoned, Hercules builds his own funeral pyre duct burns himself to death estimate it.

After he died, Athena be borne him to Olympus on sit on chariot. According to legend, take steps will spend the rest goods eternity with the gods.

Citation Information

Article Title

Hercules

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

April 17, 2024

Original Published Date

February 7, 2011