1. HERCULES
By Mrs. Kubiak

2. Who was Hercules: Birth
Parents
Zeus and Alcema = Hercules
Demi-God: Half god, half mortal
Could not be killed by anything that lived on land, sea or air – only by magic
He was courageous

3. Hercules: The Story Very strong baby
Hera was jealous of him and sent two snakes to his crib to kill him
Snakes - Killed two snakes with his bare hands
Music Teacher - Accidentally kills his teacher when he is a teenager
Doesn’t realize his own strength
Thespian Lion - Kills the Thespian lion and wears the skin as a cloak

4. Trouble Begins
Princess Megara – Marries princess Megara but Hera struck Hercules with madness and he kills Megara and his children
Theseus – saved Hercules from killing himself
Oracle – sent Hercules to King Eurystheus of Mycenae to do penance for his sin
Penance = works to make up for your sin
King of Mycenae – with Hera’s help, devised 12 tasks for Hercules

5. Other Adventures
Giant Anteus – strangled in the air, because the giant gains strength when he (the giant) touches the ground
Prometheus – on his way to the Golden apples, Hercules freed Prometheus

6. Death
Deianira – Hercules killed a river god to get this princess as a wife, she thought he loved another and so she put what she thought was a magic potion on a robe for Hercules
Centaur Nessas – carries Deianira across the river but insulted her and Hercules shot him. As he died he told Deianiara to save his blood as a love potion if Hercules ever strayed (his blood was poisoned…)
Pyre – Hercules was in such agony, because he wouldn’t die quickly, that he decided to burn himself on a funeral pyre
Philoctetes – lights the funeral Pyre
Olympus – went to Olympus after his death and was turned into a full god. Reconciled with Hera.
Hebe – Daughter of Zeus and Hera, married Hercules

7. The 12 Tasks of Hercules 1. Kill the lion of Nemea
Could not be killed by weapons.
2. Kill Hydra, the 9-headed monster
Had one immortal head that grew back when chopped off
3. Capture the golden-horned stag of Artemis and bring it back alive
4. Capture a giant boar

8. 5. Clean the stables of King Augeas in one day
The stables were filled with manure that had not been cleaned for years
6. Get rid of wild birds in Stymphalus
7. Capture the wild bull of Minos
8. Capture the flesh eating horses of Diomedes
9. Capture the girdle (belt) of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons

9. 10. Capture the cattle of Geryon
11. Steal golden apples of Hesperides
12. Bring Cerberus (3-headed dog) up from the underworld

10. HOMEWORK:
Hercules has to complete 12 tasks in order to make-up for killing his family. You know what the tasks were, but how does Hercules complete each task?
In pairs, use your Mythology book to find the answers. (Story begins on page 166)