Unit 9. Heracles Classical Studies Teacher: Ana Martinez

Definition of a Hero: If a hero is properly defined as somebody who does something dangerous to help somebody else, then the heroes of Greek mythology do not qualify. But knowing their names and exploits is essential for understanding references in literature and even popular culture today. So let's recognize and celebrate Hercules

Hercules and his biography

HÉRCULES (Sometimes known as Heracles) Hercules was half man and half god. His mother was a mortal. But his father was a king - a very special king, the king of all the gods, the mighty Zeus. But Hercules did not know he was part god until he had grown into a man.   Right from the beginning, Hera, Zeus' wife, was very jealous of Hercules. She tried all kinds of ways to kill him, including sending a couple of big snakes into his crib. Hercules crushed those snakes in a flash! Hercules was incredibly strong, even as a baby! 

Zeus loved his little son Zeus loved his little son. He figured that sooner or later Hera might actually find a way to kill little Hercules. To keep his small son safe from attack, Zeus sent him to live with a mortal family on earth. Hercules grew up loved and noble. But he didn't fit in on earth. He was too big and too strong. One day, his earth father told him he was a god, well, part god anyway. 

Story of Hercules Hercules was the greatest of the mythological Greek heroes. He was famous for his incredible strength, courage, and intelligence. Hercules is actually his Roman name. The Greeks called him Heracles.

Birth of Hercules Hercules was a demigod. This means that he was half god, half human. His father was Zeus, king of the gods, and his mother was Alcmene, a beautiful human princess. Even as a baby Hercules was very strong. When the goddess Hera, Zeus' wife, found out about Hercules, she wanted to kill him. She snuck two large snakes into his crib. However, baby Hercules grabbed the snakes by the neck and strangled them with his bare hands!

Growing up Hercules mother, Alcmene, tried to raise him like a regular kid. He went to school like mortal children, learning subject like math, reading, and writing. However, one day he got mad and hit his music teacher on the head with his lyre and killed him by accident. Hercules went to live in the hills where he worked as a cattle herder. He enjoyed the outdoors. One day, when Hercules was eighteen years old, a massive lion attacked his herd. Hercules killed the lion with his bare hands.

Hercules is Tricked Hercules married a princess named Megara. They had a family and were living a happy life. This made the goddess Hera angry. She tricked Hercules into thinking his family was a bunch of snakes. Hercules killed the snakes only to realize they were his wife and kids. He was very sad and riddled with guilt.

Oracle of Delphi Hercules wanted to get rid of his guilt. He went to get advice from the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle told Hercules that he must serve King Eurystheus for 10 years and do any task the king asked of him. If he did this, he would be forgiven and wouldn't feel guilty any more. The tasks the king gave him are called the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

The 12 Labours of Hercules Each of the Twelve Labors of Hercules is a story and adventure all to itself. The king did not like Hercules and wanted him to fail. Each time he made the tasks more and more difficult. The final task even involved traveling to the Underworld and bringing back the fierce three-headed guardian Cerberus.

The Twelve Labours 1. Slay the Lion of Nemea 2. Slay the Lernean Hydra 3. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis 4. Capture the Boar of Erymanthia 5. Clean the entire Augean stables in one day 6. Slay the Stymphalian Birds 7. Capture the Bull of Crete 8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes 9. Get the girdle from the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta 10. Take the cattle from the monster Geryon 11. Steal apples from the Hesperides Bring back the three-headed dog Cerberus from the Underworld

To Sump up….. Hercules went on a number of other adventures throughout Greek mythology. He was a hero who helped people and fought monsters. He continuously had to deal with the goddess Hera trying to trick him and get him into trouble. In the end, Hercules died when his wife was tricked into poisoning him. However, Zeus saved him and his immortal half went to Olympus to become a god.