HERCULESThe Greatest Hero of Greece

HERCULES

THE ROCK AS HERCULES

WHAT QUALITIES DIFFERENTIATE HERCULES FROM THESEUS? Hercules had supreme self-confidence

Intelligence never figured into what he did, rather he was emotional and physical with his strength.

THREE EXAMPLES OF USING STRENGTH WITHOUT CONSIDERING CONSEQUENCES: Once when it was too hot, he pointed

an arrow at the sun and threatened to shoot him.

Once in a boat and being tossed around by the waves, he told the waters he would punish them if they did not grow calm

While on the Argo with the hero Jason and the Argonauts, he deserted the Argo and forgot about his comrades in despair and grief over losing Hylas, his armor-bearer.

HERCULES HAS TRUE GREATNESS BECAUSE… Not because of his courage or

overwhelming strength, but for his sorrow for wrongdoing and his willingness to do anything to fix his wrongdoings. He showed greatness of soul, according to Hamilton (168)

HERCULES’ REAL PARENTS…NOT THE DISNEY VERSION Hercules was the son of Zeus and

Alcmena, born in Thebes. Zeus was married to Hera, Alcmena to

Amphitryon, a distinguished general. Zeus would visit in appearance of Amphitryon when the general was away.

Hera was furious at his birth, and of course vowed to kill Hercules

This is different than the Disney version.

WHAT ANIMAL DID HERCULES WEAR THE CLOAK OF? A lion he killed at the age of 18, alone

and by himself, from the woods near Cithaeron—the Thespian Lion. The head of the lion was a hood for his head, the body a cloak.

WHAT WAS HERCULES REWARD FOR CONQUERING THE MINYANS? As a reward, he won the hand of

Princess Megara for marriage.

HERA AND HERCULES—THE MADNESS Hera hated and was jealous of Hercules, as

he was the product of an affair Zeus had. When Hercules’ wife Megara bore Hercules 3 sons, Hercules went mad. Hera sent the madness upon him as an act of revenge. He kills his children and Megara.

Hercules did not know what he had done. Amphitryon had to tell him what he did.

He was saved by the hand of friendship from the other Greek hero, Theseus. So they (Herc and Theseus) essentially save each other at different times.

TO BE PURIFIED, THE DELPHIC ORACLE… The Delphic Oracle Priestess sends

Hercules to Eurystheus, the King of Mycenae. He was told to submit to whatever Eurystheus demanded of him

Eurystheus gives him as a penance to purify himself the TWELVE LABORS OF HERCULES:

The labors are as follows:

1) THE NEMEAN LION

Tasked to kill the lion of Nemea, which Hercules chokes to death with his own hands.

2) THE HYDRA Kills the many-headed snake/serpent. Every time he cut a head, the heads

would grow back double. So he would have to sear each head as he chopped it.

3) GOLDEN HORNED STAG OF ARTEMIS Captured the stag protected by Artemis He hunted a year before capturing it

alive. The labor shows great patience and the

lengths he would go to clear his name

4) THE ERYMANTHEAN BOAR He trapped it by tiring it out and forcing

it into deep snow.

5) AUGEAN STABLES Had to clean the stables in a single day He diverts two rivers and made them

flow through the stables to clean them.

DISNEY’S VERSION…

6) THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS He had to drive away the birds which

were plaguing the people due to their enormous numbers. Athena helps him drive them out of coverts into the air, and he shot them.

7) THE CRETAN BULL He had to go to Crete and fetch ta bull

that Poseidon had given to King Minos. Hercules mastered him, put him in a boat and brought him to King Eurystheus.

8) MARES OF KING DIOMEDES OF THRACE To capture the man-eating mares

(horses) of King Diomedes, Hercules had to kill the King In order to take the horses away, unopposed

9) THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTA (QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS) To obtain the magic girdle (fancy leather

belt—a symbol of her authority as queen)—Hippolyta cooperated and gave him her girdle. But Hera interfered by inciting the Amazons to charge after Hercules.

Hercules, assuming Hippolyta ordered the attack, immediately killed her.

He then escapes with the girdle.

HERCULES AND HIPPOLYTA

10) CATTLE OF GERYON

In order to bring back the Cattle of Geryon,

Geryon is a three-headed monster. Hercules fetches them and takes them

to Mycenae

11) GOLDEN APPLES OF HESPERIDES The most difficult task. He did not know where they were to be

found. He went to Atlas (the father of the

Hesperides), the one who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, and asked him if he could get the apples and he would take on the burden of the sky for him. Atlas, the huge Titan, agrees, thinking he could get out of the burden for good.

Atlas comes back w/the apples, but doesn’t give them to Hercules

APPLES, CONTINUED…(11) Atlas intended to leave Hercules in his

place forever. BUT Hercules tricks Atlas into trading places

and escapes with the apples!

12) CERBERUS Travels to the underworld to fetch

Cerberus, the three-headed dog. Hades said he must not use weapons, so Hercules instead uses his hands/strength to carry Cerberus to King Eurystheus.

HERCULES 2ND WIFE: DEIANIRA He fought the river-god Achelous to win

the young princess. He was in love with her, too, and didn’t want to fight, he wanted to reason w/Hercules instead.

Achelous took the form of a bull and attacked Hercules. He was used to taking on bulls and conquered him and broke one of his horns

HERCULES RESCUES OTHER SUFFERERS—OTHER HEROIC DEEDS:

1) At Troy, he rescued a maiden who was waiting on shore to be devoured by a sea monster—similar to Andromeda/Perseus story.

2) He freed Prometheus, slaying the eagle that preyed on him.

HOW DOES THE KING ADMETUS LOSE HIS WIFE, ALCESTIS? In a very odd way. Apollo was punished and sent to work in

servitude for Admetus (for killing Zeus’ workmen).

Apollo learns gods will kill Admetus unless he finds a substitute to die for him. His wife says she will take the place of him—as a last resort.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HERCULES COMES TO KING ADMETUS’ HOUSE? HE was greeted by Admetus, who is dressed

for grieving his wife, but instead acts happy. Admetus insists that Herules stay at his

house. Hercules dined alone, but then continued on

to drink to excess and make a fool of himself at the house of mourning. Admetus did not tell Hercules it was his wife they were mourning.

To make amends for acting inappropriately, Hercules fights Death and won. Brings Alcestis back to life.

WHY DOES HERCULES’ WIFE DENEIRA BELIEVE THAT HERCULES WAS UNFAITHFUL? WHAT DOES SHE DO ABOUT IT?

The man who brought Hercules home from Ophala in Lydia said that Hercules was in love with Iole, the King’s daughter.

Deneira was given a special love charm from the Centaur, Nessus (his blood) to use if he ever loved another woman more than she. She annointed a robe with the blood of Nessus and sent it to Hercules

HOW/WHY DOES HERCULES DIE? WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM AFTER DEATH?

Hercules receives the robe, and he puts in on. A fearful pain seizes him and suffers greatly—tortured by pain from the robe.

Deneira hears what pain it caused him, and she kills herself.

Hercules ordered a funeral pyre to be built, and had Philoctetes, his youthful follower, light the pyre. He died on the pyre.

Hercules went to Heaven and he was reconciled to Hera and marries her daughter, Hebe, and gains eternal peace.