HERAKLES

BIRTH Born as the child of Zeus and Alkmena, great granddaughter of Perseus. Zeus tricks her by disguising himself as her husband. In the same night her husband also mates with her. For this reason Herakles is semi-divine; he has both a mortal and immortal father. Hera tries to prevent his birth by delaying it for 7 days. Hera sends 2 snakes to his cradle; he kills them.

YOUTH He is taught wrestling by Autolykos. He is taught archery by Eurytos. This is somewhat strange since the Greeks viewed bows and arrows as primitive and unmanly weapons. He is taught fighting with arms by Castor and Pollux. He is taught the lyre by Linus, the brother of Orpheus. He kills Linus with the lyre out of frustration/temper.

He marries Megara, the daughter of the king of Thebes. ADULTHOOD He marries Megara, the daughter of the king of Thebes. His temper causes him to kill her and their six children. MADNESS SENT FROM HERA

HE GOES TO THE ORACLE AT DELPHI.

THE TWELVE LABORS OF HERAKLES

1. THE NEMEAN LION

2. THE LERNAEAN HYDRA

3. THE CERYNAEAN HIND

4. THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

5. THE STABLES OF AUGEAS

6. THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS

7. THE CRETAN BULL

8. THE MARES OF DIOMEDES

9. HYPPOLYTE’S GIRDLE

9. HYPPOLYTE’S GIRDLE

10. THE CATTLE OF GERYON

11. THE APPLES OF THE HESPERIDES

12. CERBERUS

Herakles remarries, but also wins another woman in an archery contest. While performing a sacrifice to his father Zeus, he asks his wife to send a clean cloak. She sends one soaked in the blood of one of his enemies killed by poisoned Hydra-arrows. The poison eats his flesh.

A passing shepherd burns him on a funeral pyre; he has become the sacrifice to Zeus. That shepherd uses his bow and arrow and uses it in the Trojan War. When the fires goes out, there is only armour, no body, no bones. He lives on Olympus, married to Hebe.