A Greek hero, depicted as a strong man with lion-skin and club, and often represented as a comic on stage. He undertook Twelve Labours for Eurystheus of Argos: (1) to kill the Nemean Lion, (2) to kill the Hydra of Lerna, (3) to capture the Hind of Ceryneia, (4) to capture the Boar of Erymanthus, (5) to clean the Stables of Augeas, (6) to shoot the Birds of Stymphalus, (7) to capture the Cretan Bull, (8) to capture the Horses of Diomedes, (9) to steal the Girdle of the Amazon, (10) to capture the oxen of the giant Geryon, (11) to fetch the Apples of the Hesperides, (12) to capture Cerberus, the guardian of Hades. His wife Deianira killed him by mistake with a shirt smeared with the poison of Nessus; after immolation on a pyre he was received into Olympus, and became the subject of a cult. His name means Hera's glory.
In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles ("glory of Hera", or Alcides, original name) "Ἥpα + κλέος, Ἡpακλῆς)" was a divine hero, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, stepson of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus.
Extraordinary strength, courage, ingenuity, and sexual prowess with both males and females were among his characteristic attributes. Although he was not as clever as the likes of Odysseus or Nestor, Heracles used his wits on several occasions when his strength did not suffice, such as when laboring for King Augeias, wrestling the giant Antaeus, or tricking Atlas into taking the sky back onto his shoulders.
Origin and character
Many popular stories were told of his life, the most famous being The Twelve Labours of Heracles;
The greatest of Hellenic chthonic heroes, yet unlike other Greek heroes, in that no tomb of Heracles was identified, Heracles was both hero and god, as Pindar says heroes theos; The core of the story of Heracles has been identified by Walter Burkert as originating in Neolithic hunter culture and traditions of shamanistic crossings into the netherworld.
Christian dating
In Christian circles a Euhemerist reading of the widespread Heracles/Hercules cult was attributed to a historical figure who had been offered cult status after his death, Thus Eusebius, Preparation of the Gospel (10.12), Clement could offer historical dates for Hercules as a king in Argos: "from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the deification of Hercules himself and of Asclepius there are comprised thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus the chronicler: and from that point to the deification of Castor and Pollux fifty-three years: and somewhere about this time was the capture of Troy."
Christian readers with a literalist bent have asserted from this remark that, since Heracles ruled over Tiryns in Argos at the same time that Eurystheus ruled over Mycenae, and since at about this time Linus was Heracles' teacher, one can conclude based on Jerome's date— in his universal history, his Chronicon— for Linus' notoriety in teaching Heracles in 1264 BC that Heracles' death and deification occurred 38 years later in approximately 1226 BC.
Cult of Heracles
The ancient Greeks celebrated the festival of the Herakleia, which commemorated the death of Heracles, on the second day of the month of Metageitnion (which would fall in late July or early August). What is believed to be an Egyptian Temple of Heracles in the Bahariya Oasis dates to 21 BC.
Myths of Heracles
Birth and childhood
A major factor in the well-known tragedies surrounding Heracles is the hatred that the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, had for him. A full account of Heracles must render it clear why Heracles was so tormented by Hera, when there are many illegitimate offspring sired by Zeus. Heracles was the fruit of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman Alcmene. Zeus made love to her after disguising himself as her husband, Amphitryon, home early from war (Amphitryon did return later the same night, and Alcmene became pregnant with his son at the same time, a case of superfecundation, where a woman carries twins sired by different fathers). Thus, Heracles's very existence proved at least one of Zeus's many illicit affairs, and Hera often conspired against Zeus's mortal offspring, as revenge for her husband's infidelities.
On the night the twins sharing the same mother were to be born, Hera, knowing of her husband Zeus's adultery, persuaded Zeus to swear an oath that the child born that night to a member of the House of Perseus would be High King. Meanwhile, she caused another boy Eurystheus to be born prematurely, making him High King in place of Heracles. She would have permanently delayed Heracles's birth had she not been foiled by Galanthis, her servant, who lied to her that she had already delivered the baby. it was only later on that he became known as Heracles.
One of the boys, Iphicles, was Amphitryon's son and a mortal, while the other was the demi-god Heracles. Heracles was named in an unsuccessful attempt to mollify Hera. Heracles throttled a snake in each hand and was found by his nurse playing with their limp bodies as if they were child's toys.
Youth
After killing his music tutor with a lyre, he was sent to tend cattle on a mountain by his foster father Amphitryon. Accordingly, Heracles did this in one night (sometimes referred to as his 13th Labour).
Later in Thebes, Heracles married King Creon's daughter, Megara. However, Hera drove Heracles into a fit of madness during which he killed his wife and children.
Twelve Labors
In a fit of madness induced by Hera, Heracles slew his own and his brother's children. To expiate the crime, Heracles was required to carry out ten labors set by his arch-enemy, Eurystheus, who had become king in Heracles' place. Heracles accomplished these tasks, but Hera ordered Eurystheus to give two more tasks to Heracles, which he then carried out.
Not all writers gave the labors in the same order, but the Capture of Cerberus is always depicted as Heracles' final task.
Further adventures
After completing these tasks, Heracles joined the Argonauts in the search of the Golden Fleece. Iphitus became Heracles best friend. But once again, Hera drove Heracles mad and he threw Iphitus over the city wall to his death. Once again, Heracles purified himself through servitude - this time to Queen Omphale of Lydia.
Omphale
Omphale was a queen or princess of Lydia. As penalty for a murder, Heracles was her slave. After some time, Omphale freed Heracles and married him.
Hylas
While walking through the wilderness, Heracles was set upon by the Dryopians. Years later, Heracles and Hylas joined the crew of the Argo. Heracles, heartbroken, searched for a long time but Hylas had fallen in love with the nymphs and never showed up again. Story of Heracles and Hylas
Iole
King Eurytus of Oechalia promised his daughter, Iole, to whoever could beat his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won but Eurytus abandoned his promise. Heracles killed him and his sons–excluding Iphitus–and abducted Iole.
Laomedon of Troy
Before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy. Heracles happened to arrive (along with Telamon and Oicles) and agreed to kill the monster if Laomedon would give him the horses received from Zeus as compensation for Zeus' kidnapping Ganymede. Heracles killed the monster, but Laomedon went back on his word. Accordingly in a later expedition Heracles and his followers attacked Troy and sacked it and slew all Laomedon's sons present there save Podarces, who saved his own life by giving Heracles a golden veil Hesione had made.
Other adventures
Heracles defeated the Bebryces (ruled by King Mygdon) and gave their land to Prince Lycus of Mysia, son of Dascylus. Heracles visited Evander with Antor, who then stayed in Italy. Heracles killed King Amyntor of the Dolopes for not allowing him into his kingdom. Heracles killed Lityerses after beating him in a contest of harvesting. Heracles killed Poriclymenus at Pylos. Heracles founded the city Tarentum (modern: Taranto) in Italy. Heracles learned music from Linus (and Eumolpus), but killed him after Linus corrected his mistakes. Heracles was an Argonaut. When Hippocoon overthrew his brother, Tyndareus, as King of Sparta, Heracles reinstated the rightful ruler and killed Hippocoon and his sons. Heracles slew the giants Cycnus, Porphyrion and Mimas. The expedition against Cycnus, in which Iolaus accompanied Heracles, is the ostensible theme of a short epic attributed to Hesiod, The Shield of Heracles. Heracles went to war with Augeias after he denied him a promised reward for clearing his stables. Later, however, he was able to ambush and kill the Molionides, and thus march into Elis, sack it, and kill Augeias and his sons. Heracles visited the house of Admetus on the day Admetus' wife, Alcestis, had agreed to die in his place. By hiding beside the grave of Alcestis, Heracles was able to surprise Death when he came to collect her, and by squeezing him tight until he relented, was able to persuade Death to return Alcestis to her husband.Marriage, liaisons and death
Heracles had numerous liaisons with women.
Heracles' women
During the course of his life, Heracles married four times. His first marriage was to Megara, whose three children he murdered in a fit of madness and whom he later gave in marriage to his beloved Iolaus, because the sight of her was too painful.
His third marriage was to Deianira, for whom he had to fight the river god Achelous. (Upon Achelous' death, Heracles removed one of his horns and gave it to some nymphs who turned it into the cornucopia.) Soon after they wed, Heracles and Deianira had to cross a river, and a centaur named Nessus offered to help Deianira across but then attempted to rape her. Enraged, Heracles shot the centaur from the opposite shore with a poisoned arrow (tipped with the Lernean Hydra's blood) and killed him. As he lay dying, Nessus plotted revenge and told Deianira to gather up his blood and spilled semen and, if she ever wanted to prevent Heracles from having affairs with other women, she should apply them to his vestments.
Later, when Deianira suspected that Heracles was fond of Iole, she soaked a shirt of his in the mixture. Heracles chose a voluntary death, asking that a pyre be built for him to end his suffering.
No one but Heracles' friend Philoctetes (in some versions: Iolaus or Poeas) would light his funeral pyre.
Another episode of his female affairs that stands out was his stay at the palace of King Thespios, who encouraged Heracles to make love to his daughters, all fifty of them, in one night.
Heracles' eromenoi
As paragon of masculinity and warriorship, Heracles also had a number of pederastic male beloveds. Of these, the one most closely linked to Heracles is the Theban Iolaus. Also in keeping with the initiatory pattern of the relationship, Heracles in the end gives his pupil a wife, symbolizing his entry into adulthood. Iolaus' ritual functions parallelled his relationship with Heracles.
One of Heracles' best known love affairs, and one frequently represented in ancient as well as modern art, is the one with Hylas.
Sparta, as a warrior city where pederastic pedagogy—ostensibly of a chaste nature—was enshrined in the laws given by Lycurgus, the legendary legislator, also provided Heracles with an eromenos—Elacatas, who was honored there with a sanctuary and yearly games.
Among the lesser-known myths is that of Iphitus. Ptolemy adds that certain authors made Nireus out to be a son of Heracles, a fact thought to authenticate this tradition.
There is also a series of lovers who are either later inventions or purely literary conceits.
Heracles' children
Telephus is the son of Heracles and Auge. Hyllus is the son of Heracles and Deianeira or Melite. The sons of Heracles and Hebe are Alexiares and Anicetus.
Heracles in Rome
In Rome, Heracles was honored as Hercules, and had a number of distinctively Roman myths and practices associated with him under that name.
Modern and ancient interpretations
Via the Greco-Buddhist culture, Heraclean symbolism was transmitted to the far east. Herodotus connected Heracles both to Phoenician god Melqart and to the Egyptian god Shu. Temples dedicated to Heracles abounded all along the Mediterranean Sea coastal countries.
Heracles was cannonized by Aleister Crowley as a saint in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica.
Heracles appeared as a villain in the pages of Wonder Woman.
Hercules is the mentor and ancestor of Herry Hercules from Class of the Titans
Spoken-word myths – audio files
| Heracles myths as told by story tellers |
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| 1. Heracles and Hylas, read by Timothy Carter |
| Bibliography of reconstruction: Homer, Odyssey, 12.072 (7th c. |
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