[Mythology]: Heracles

Heracles

Perhaps the most famous and beloved of all greek heroes is Heracles, son of Zeus and Alcmene. Alcmene was a mortal woman which infuriated Zeus’s wife, Hera, therefore Heracles was throughout his life the object of Hera’s hatred. Alcmene however didn’t sleep with Zeus willingly, he disguised as her husband Amphitryon.

Heracles first torment by here began when he was still a child. Hera sent two giant snakes to kill him but Heracles simply grabbed them and strangled them, foreseeing his future unusual strength, his birth right by his father heritage.

Perhaps, Hera’s most evil deed against Heracles was when she drove him mad so that he killed his own children. To atone for his crime Heracles was sent to carry ten labours, which then became twelve when two of them were not accepted as had been completed by him on his own. In order, those labours were: slay the Nemean Lion; slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra (invalidated); capture the Golden Hind of Artemis; capture the Erymanthian Boar; clean the Augean stables in a single day (invalidated); slay the Stymphalian Birds; capture the Cretan Bull; steal the Mares of Diomedes; obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon; steal the apples of the Hesperides; capture and bring back Cerberus. Since he succeeded Heracles was cleansed of his sin and, according to myth, became immortal (he was only half-mortal).
Hero however was never satisfied and once again drove Heracles to kill, this time his best friend Iphitus. Heracles cleansed himself of that sin after three years of servitude to Queen Omphale of Lydia.

Heracle’s love life was also very unfortunate for he married 4 times. First to Megara, then to Omphale, then to Deianira and finally to Hebe. HE surely had his share of affaird both men and woman and he fathered many children.

All in all, Heracles had a tragic but full life, filed with love, glory, humility, passion and madness.

Wordcount: 339
Class based on: Heroes and the Twelve Olympians
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracles