Four Functions  

Metaphysical Hercules had a god as one of his parents. (Zeus) He has to fight all of these evil creatures because he killed his kids. Hercules cutting off Hydra's heads and having them grow back.   Lesson This teaches that you should behave because your actions will affect more than just you. This is a lesson that if you do something bad then you will have to pay a price. Teaches that it takes longer to make a problem better if you do many small things rather than head on.  

Cosmological Hercules was challenged to kill the Nemean lion. He had to bring back a huge boar alive. Third labor was to capture the Cerynitian hind. (A deer) Took him a year to get the deer. Lesson This shows that he has to do something courageous to start the rest of his life. This is saying that you have to be careful when doing things. Teaches that it takes a long time to do something great. 

Sociological Hercules was sentanced to perform twelve Labors. As one of Hercules' labors Hercules had to clean Out the stables of King Augeas. Since he did not get dirty doing this and demanded pay, Eurytheus refused to count this as one of his labors.  His ninth labor required him to get a belt from the Amazons. To complete this he had to get a group of heros to accompany him.   Lesson  Tesches that if you do something thats forwned upon then society will come back at you. This is saying that when doing something you have to take your time on it rather than rushing through. Team work rather than being alone will help get thigs done faster and easier.

Psychological When he had come of age, he already proved himself an earring marksman with a bow and arrow. He was a possessor of superhuman strength. he was driven mad by Hera and killed his children.  Lesson When you have a talent, use it to the best of your ability. This teaches that if you are granted with something special, use it for good things. Don't let people get to you or it will get you into trouble.

        Character Bios Hercules

Hercules The greatest of the heroes in Greek mythology. Son of the Theban Alcmene and Zeus. 

Hera The earth goddess of Argos.  A pre-Greek deity, assimilated as the daughter of Kronos and Rhea, and the sister-wife of Zeus. 

Nemean Lion A monstrous lion that Hercules defeated with his bear hands.

Hydra A 9 headed dragon sacred to Hera. It has lethal breath that will kill anything that inhales it.

Erymanthian Boar Wild Boar of Mount Erymanthos. Hercules fourth labor, had to bring it back alive.

Nymphs Any of numerous minor deities represented as beautiful maidens inhabiting and sometimes personifying features of nature such as trees, waters, and mountains.   

 Creative Retelling Hercules

Let's Go!!!!

                    Like most authentic heroes, Hercules had a god as one of his parents (Zeus) and a mortal as the other. Zeus's queen Hera was jelous of Hercules and sent 2 snakes to kill him. They later found Hercules laughing with a strangled serpent in each hand.  

Hercules was driven mad by Hera and ended up killing his own children                    Hercules was driven mad by Hera and ended up killing his own children. For this crime he was forced to perform a series of tasks, or "Labors", for his cousin Eurystheus.

The 12 Labors   Labor One: The Namean Lion   Labor Two: Many-Headed Hydra   Labor Three: To capture the Cerynitian Hind   Labor Four: To hunt an enormous boar and bring it                    back alive.   Labor Five: To clean out the stables of King Augeas                    in a single day.   Labor Six: The Stymphalian Birds    

    Labor Seven: The Cretan Bull   Labor Eight: The Mares of Diomedes   Labor Nine: To retrieve Hippolyte's Belt   Labor Ten: To bring the Cattle of Geryon back to                    Greece.   Labor Eleven: Retrieve the Apples of Hesperides   Labor Twelve: The Capture of Cerberus    

Hercules was the only hero to become a god upon his demise                    Hercules was the only hero to become a god upon his demise. By vitue of his spectacular achievements, he was givin a home on Mount Olympus and a goddess for a wife.

Hercules This picture is the cartoon version of Hercules that was made into a movie in 1997 by Ron Clements and John Musker.

Hercules(cont.) " Hercules you were without a doubt, Greece's greatest hero you overcame the greatest trials and tribulations known to man " - http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?id=157581   " Hercules, people are safe when near him! Hercules, only the evil fear him! " - http://www.themediadrome.com/content/articles/words_articles/poems_strength.htm

Hercules(cont.) On this slide you are going to see a clip of the main song from the cartoon version of Hercules. The song represents Hercules rise from a nobody to a somebody.

Nemean Lion The Nemean Lion was an evil monster from ancient Greece and he was eventually killed by Hercules in an epic battle.

Nemean Lion(cont.) "See the neck-breaking hand that Perseus' descendant [Herakles] lays with all manner of skill on the flesh-eating lion [the Nemeian Lion]; for the gleaming man-mastering bronze refuses to pierce its unapproachable body: his sword was bent back."   "The luxuriant ground of Nemeian Zeus, where white-armed Hera nurtured the sheep-killing deep-voiced lion, first of Herakles' glorious contests." http://www.theoi.com/Ther/LeonNemeios.html

The Cretan Bull The Cretan Bull, out of Greek mythology, was the bull that carried away Europa. Other legends have him being a bull that Pasiphae fell in love with and they had a child named Minotaur.

The Cretan Bull Pop Culture The Cretan Bull is well represented in museums around the world because he is considered a huge reason for the success of Hercules.