Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Herakles, the most popular figure from ancient Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and the mortal woman Alcmene. He performed amazing feats, including wrestling death and traveling twice to the underworld, and his stories were told throughout Greece and later in Rome. However, he was abhorred by Zeus’ wife, Hera, who sought to destroy him.
Hera made Hercules lose his mind. In a confused and angry state, he killed his own wife and children. When he woke up from his madness, he realized what he had done and decided to atone for his sins. He prayed to the god Apollo for guidance, and the god’s oracle told him he would have to serve Eurystheus, and had to perform twelve Labors, feats so difficult that they seemed impossible.
The tasks were to slay the Nemean Lion, kill the Lernean Hydra, catch the Golden Hind, capture the Erymanthian Boar, clean the Augean Stables, kill the Stymphalian Birds, capture the Cretan Bull, bring back the Mares of Diomedes, obtain the Belt of Hippolyta, get the Cattle of Geryon, bring the Golden Apples of Hesperides and capture Cerberus. These tasks were so difficult and intricate, they took Hercules 12 years to complete.
A few words on one of the tasks, the slaying of the Nemean Lion. The lion was a legendary creature in Greek Mythology, and its impenetrable fur had made it invincible. Hercules tracked it and tried to kill it by shooting arrows, but it would not even injure it.
He then waited for the lion to enter his lair from one of the two entrances and then blocked off one of the entrances. He then entered from the second entrance. There, he managed to kill the lion with his bare hands, then used the lion’s own claws to skin the creature. He wore the lion’s fur throughout his life.
After completing the 12 tasks, Hercules was free from his sins and could live his life as he wanted, however, Hera struck him with madness again. Following this, he killed the prince Iphitus of Oechalia and was then asked to sell himself as a slave. His struggles continued throughout his life, until he asked the gods to kill him, who gave him a place on Mount Olympus.
Image credits: Artsmia
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