1. Greek Mythology: lecture 3
HERACLES

2. Birth & Ancestry
Amphitryon (son on Alcaeus) m. Alcmene > sent to avenge death of her brothers
Zeus comes to Alcmene & lengthens night
Amphitryon returns to Thebes & fathers Iphicles: heteropaternal superfecundation
Hera angry: persuades Zeus to swear that child born that night to House of Perseus would be king > slows Alcmene’s labour & causes Eurystheus (son of Sthenelus) to be born prematurely

3. Youth Attacked by serpents in cradle
Taught by Amphitryon (chariot), Autolycus (wrestling), Eurytus (bow), Castor (sword/javelin), Linus (lyre)
Murdered Linus
Slayed Cithaeronian lion
Bedded 50 daughters of Thespius

4. Labours Bring skin of Nemean lion Kill Lernaean hydra
Capture Cerynitian (Ceryneian) hind
Capture Erymanthian boar
Clean stables of Augeias
Drive away Stymphalian birds
Capture Cretan bull
Capture mares of Diomedes
Get belt of Hippolyta
Bring cattle of Geryon
Fetch apples of the Hesperides
Bring Cerberus from Hades
Different sources give different reasons for labours, and occasionally different tasks
Originally 10 set, but Eurystheus would not acknowledge hydra (Iolaus helped) or stables (offered payment) – set last 2
Accomplished many minor labours while doing these, including Argo. Also took many lovers, both male & female.

5. Minor labours (parerga)
Rescued Hesione from sea-monster
Battled Achelous for Deianeira
Slew centaur Nessus as he tried to rape her
Slew giant Alcyoneus
Slew earthborn giant Antaeus
Captures Cercopes (thieves)
Slew eagle set to torment Prometheus
Slew centaur Eurytion
Battled centaurs

6. a) Killing monstrous animals
LION
HYDRA

7. b) Capturing edible animals
HIND
BULL
MARES
BOAR
BIRDS
CATTLE

8. c) Labours for/against humans
STABLES
GIRDLE

9. d) ‘otherworld’ labours
APPLES OF HESPERIDES
CERBERUS

10. Wives, lovers & dynasties
52 sons by 50 daughters of Thespius (kings of Thespiae/founded colony of Sardinia)
Echidna (Dracontidae – house of Cadmus)
Megara (Therimachus, Deicoon, Creontiades – murdered)
Deianeira (Hyllus, Ctesippos, Glenos, Oneites, ‘Macaria’ – Dorian/Spartan kings)
Omphale (Agelaus – Lydian kings)
Iole (given to Hyllus)
Full list:

11. Eromenoi Iolaus (Argos/Thebes) Hylas (Dryopian/Chios)
Elacatas (Sparta)
Abderus (Abdera)
Philoctetes, Nestor, Iphitus, Nireus, Adonis, Jason, Corythus, Stichius, Phrix/Trinx

12. Fundamental ambiguity
God/apotheosised
Son of Zeus
Name means ‘glory of Hera’
Culture hero
Hyper-masculine
Mortal/dead
Eternally in service
Hounded by stepmother
Destructive brute
Gender ambiguity

13. Explanations? Burkert 1985: Sergeant 1987:
Conglomerate of tales with no authoritative poetic definition?
Wish-fulfilment & its antithesis – extreme must turn to opposite to reaffirm itself?
Sergeant 1987:
2 different Heracles in ancient tradition – Argive wild-man & Boeotian culture hero?