Hercules
Youth and Origins
Hercules is widely known for his incredible strength and being the greatest hero of Greece. All of Greece admired him greatly except for Athens because they admired Theseus. Although he was the strongest man on earth, he had the self-confidence to be as great as he was. Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Later on when Hera had found out that Zeus's mistress was pregnant, so she sent two serpents to kill Hercules. Hercules defeated the serpents by strangling them. Hera then casted a spell when Hercules grew out of adolescence causing him to go insane and kill his wife and his two children. Hercules found Apollo and asked for forgiveness. He ordered Hercules to go on 12 heroic labors for the Mycenaean king Eurythesus and then he would absolve his actions. These labors are listed below.
Hercules is widely known for his incredible strength and being the greatest hero of Greece. All of Greece admired him greatly except for Athens because they admired Theseus. Although he was the strongest man on earth, he had the self-confidence to be as great as he was. Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Later on when Hera had found out that Zeus's mistress was pregnant, so she sent two serpents to kill Hercules. Hercules defeated the serpents by strangling them. Hera then casted a spell when Hercules grew out of adolescence causing him to go insane and kill his wife and his two children. Hercules found Apollo and asked for forgiveness. He ordered Hercules to go on 12 heroic labors for the Mycenaean king Eurythesus and then he would absolve his actions. These labors are listed below.
The Nemean Lion
This was the first labor. The lion was impervious to weapons so he werstled it to the ground by his neck. Hercules skinned it to make lion skin cape, which was one of his distinct attributes. He placed the lion with the stars as the constsllation of Leo.
The Lernaean Hydra
This is the second labor. The Lernaean Hydra was a nine headed water serpent, that constantly grew two more heads when one was cut off. He had to severe the wounds in order to prevent regeneration. During the battle, ha had to crush a giant crab that was helping hydra. They were also placed among the stars as the constellations of Hydra and Cancer.
Cerynitian Hind
This is the third labor. The Cerynitian Hind was a golden horned deer that was sacred to the goddess Artemis. It took one year for Hercules to catch and captured in on Mount Artemision. It was assigned a constellation just like the other beasts Hercules conquered.
The Ermanthean Boar
The fourth labor was the Ermanthean Boar, who destroyed farmlands. Hercules chased it through deep winter snows and captured it by netting it. The boar was the assigned a constellation.
The Stables of Augeas
Hercules's fifth task was to clean the Augean stables in a single day. He did this by diverting he waters of the river Alpheios through the plain, washing the manure away.
The Stymphalian Birds
The sixth labor was to slay the Stymphalian Birds. They were man eating birds that haunted Lake Stymphalis in Arkadia. He shot them down one by one with a bow and arrow. The birds have been placed among the stars as the constellation Aquila and Cygnus.
The Cretan Bull
The Cretan Bull was a handsome bull sent from the sea by Poseidon. When Hercules found the bull, he set it free and it came to an Athenian town where it lay to waste. Theseus destroyed it. The gods placed among the stars as the constellation of Taurus.
Mares of Diomedes
Hercules's eighth labor was to fetch the Mares of Diomedes. Diomedes was a king who fed his mares human flesh. He captured the animals and left it with his young squire to watch while Hercules dealt with Diomedes. While Hercules was gone, the boy was eaten. Hercules then fed Diomedes to the beasts.
The Belt of Hippolyte
The ninth labor was to bring Eurythesus the belt of Hippolyte. Hippolyte was the queen pf the Amazons. This belf was special because it was given to her by Ares and was used to hold her sword and spear. When Hercules went to get the belt, his friends knew that he could not defeat all of the Amazons himself so the helped him. Once he defeated the Amazons, he sailed back to Mycenae and gave Eurythesus the belt.
Cattle of Geryon
Geryon was a three-bodied, four-winged giant who dwelt on the island of Erytheia. He possessed a fabulous herd of cattle whose coats were tinged red by the light of the sunset. Hercules was sent to fetch these. He had encountered and slew the herder Eurytion, the two-headed dog Orthos, and the giant himself.
Apples of the Hepserides
Hercules was sent to fetch the apples of the Hesperides for his eleventh labor. The daughters of the Night were entrusted to take care of the tree of the golden apples. Hercules slayed a serpent and got the apples.
Cerberus
Cerberus was a giant three-headed hound which guarded the gated of Haides. Hercules was sent to fetch the hound from the underworld.
This was the first labor. The lion was impervious to weapons so he werstled it to the ground by his neck. Hercules skinned it to make lion skin cape, which was one of his distinct attributes. He placed the lion with the stars as the constsllation of Leo.
The Lernaean Hydra
This is the second labor. The Lernaean Hydra was a nine headed water serpent, that constantly grew two more heads when one was cut off. He had to severe the wounds in order to prevent regeneration. During the battle, ha had to crush a giant crab that was helping hydra. They were also placed among the stars as the constellations of Hydra and Cancer.
Cerynitian Hind
This is the third labor. The Cerynitian Hind was a golden horned deer that was sacred to the goddess Artemis. It took one year for Hercules to catch and captured in on Mount Artemision. It was assigned a constellation just like the other beasts Hercules conquered.
The Ermanthean Boar
The fourth labor was the Ermanthean Boar, who destroyed farmlands. Hercules chased it through deep winter snows and captured it by netting it. The boar was the assigned a constellation.
The Stables of Augeas
Hercules's fifth task was to clean the Augean stables in a single day. He did this by diverting he waters of the river Alpheios through the plain, washing the manure away.
The Stymphalian Birds
The sixth labor was to slay the Stymphalian Birds. They were man eating birds that haunted Lake Stymphalis in Arkadia. He shot them down one by one with a bow and arrow. The birds have been placed among the stars as the constellation Aquila and Cygnus.
The Cretan Bull
The Cretan Bull was a handsome bull sent from the sea by Poseidon. When Hercules found the bull, he set it free and it came to an Athenian town where it lay to waste. Theseus destroyed it. The gods placed among the stars as the constellation of Taurus.
Mares of Diomedes
Hercules's eighth labor was to fetch the Mares of Diomedes. Diomedes was a king who fed his mares human flesh. He captured the animals and left it with his young squire to watch while Hercules dealt with Diomedes. While Hercules was gone, the boy was eaten. Hercules then fed Diomedes to the beasts.
The Belt of Hippolyte
The ninth labor was to bring Eurythesus the belt of Hippolyte. Hippolyte was the queen pf the Amazons. This belf was special because it was given to her by Ares and was used to hold her sword and spear. When Hercules went to get the belt, his friends knew that he could not defeat all of the Amazons himself so the helped him. Once he defeated the Amazons, he sailed back to Mycenae and gave Eurythesus the belt.
Cattle of Geryon
Geryon was a three-bodied, four-winged giant who dwelt on the island of Erytheia. He possessed a fabulous herd of cattle whose coats were tinged red by the light of the sunset. Hercules was sent to fetch these. He had encountered and slew the herder Eurytion, the two-headed dog Orthos, and the giant himself.
Apples of the Hepserides
Hercules was sent to fetch the apples of the Hesperides for his eleventh labor. The daughters of the Night were entrusted to take care of the tree of the golden apples. Hercules slayed a serpent and got the apples.
Cerberus
Cerberus was a giant three-headed hound which guarded the gated of Haides. Hercules was sent to fetch the hound from the underworld.
Conclusion
Hercules death was a tragic accident. He was on his way taking his future wife, Deianeira, home and encountered Nessus centaur along the way. He shot a poisoned arrow at the centaur, which eventually killed him. Hercules accidentally obtained the poison also from the arrow, causing excruciating pain and burning his skin to death. Today, in Greek Mythology, Hercules will always be remembered for being the greatest hero of all time and achieving the twelve labors all by himself.
Hercules death was a tragic accident. He was on his way taking his future wife, Deianeira, home and encountered Nessus centaur along the way. He shot a poisoned arrow at the centaur, which eventually killed him. Hercules accidentally obtained the poison also from the arrow, causing excruciating pain and burning his skin to death. Today, in Greek Mythology, Hercules will always be remembered for being the greatest hero of all time and achieving the twelve labors all by himself.