Greek Mythology Hercules - The Mortal Who Became a God

When Hercules was born to Alcmene, she named himstable only if he rewarded Hercules with a tenth of his
Herakles. But in Roman, Herakles is pronouncedcattle.
Hercules, which is the name we use for Hercules toAfter this success, Eurystheus was planning to make
this day. Hercules in Greek mythology is a great figuresomething tougher for Hercules. He commanded
of valor and muscle strength. Hercules bravery earnedHercules to force out an enormous flock of birds,
him a place among the gods. After he left the mortalwhich assembled at a lake near the town of
world, he found a position on Mount Olympus, the gods'Stymphalos. Goddess Athena helped him with a pair
dwelling place.of bronze krotala, an item similiar to castanets. The
Zeus, the King of the gods was an unfaithful husband.Cretan Bull was an easy task for Hercules. Hercules
He had a weakness for worldly pleasures. He fell inwrestled the bull, and then delivered it back to King
love with Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon. In a shortEurystheus.
time, Alcmene conceived Hercules. This angered HeraThe eighth task was to bring the Man-Eating Horses
and she tried to kill Hercules. Hercules survived his firstof Diomedes. It was followed by the battle against the
fatal assault with a miracle.Amazonian female army to get the belt of Hippolyte,
When Hercules reached adulthood he became athe queen. The tenth labor was an awesome one.
famous warrior. He also fell in love with a beautifulHercules had to go around the world, to bring the cattle
woman called Megara. Megara became the mother ofof the Monster Geryon. It had three heads and three
Hercules' children and together they made a happysets of legs all attached at the waist.
family. However, things were to be different. Hera tookThe tricky assignment was the eleventh one.
a vow to irritate Hercules during his lifetime. She trickedEurystheus asked Hercules to get the Apples of the
Hercules into a wild rage. In his rage, the mortal godHesperides. These were the golden apples gifted by
Hercules killed his family. This was exactly what HeraHera to Zeus. These apples were strictly guarded by
wanted!a hundred-headed dragon, named Ladon, and also by
When Hercules returned to his normal state of mind,Hesperides, daughters of Atlas. The other obstacle
he saw things were beyond remedy. He prayed towas that Hercules had no idea where these apples of
Apollo to get rid of his crime. Apollo was the sun godHesperides were located. Eventually, Hercules found
who could read into the future. We find in Greekthe location from Nereus whom he seized until Nereus
Mythology that Hercules requested his advice. Apollogave him the location of the apples of Hesperides.
assigned him ten important tasks (later it was turned toThen Hercules found out through Prometheus, whom
twelve) as the way of purifying his soul.Hercules had helped, that he would have to have Atlas
The Delphic oracle sent him to Tiryns where the kingretrieve the apples. Hercules agreed to hold the sky
Eurystheus ruled. Hercules was expected to serve himand the earth while Atlas retrieved the apples. When
as laborer for twelve years of his life. However, theAtlas returned with the apples, he told Hercules that if
difficult service was not fruitless. Apollo promised himhe would hold the sky and earth for the rest of time,
immortality. He was to become a god. However, thethat he would take them to Eurystheus himself. But
great Hercules of greek mythology had one problem,Hercules fooled Atlas by asking him to hold the earth
Hera. She actually kept her promise to make Hercules'until he padded his shoulders. Atlas took Hercules place
life as wretched as she could. Nevertheless, with theholding the earth, and Hercules picked up the apples
assistance of Hermes and Athena, Hercules pulled offand ran.
his term of twelve years with excellence. In addition, heAfter making the great Hercules do all sorts of
became the greatest mortal on the earth to become aunbelievable errands, Eurystheus made sure that he
god.did not succeed the last time. So, he ordered Hercules
Hercules In Greek Mythology - What Made Him Soto abduct Cerberus, the underworld beast. Did you
Special?ever hear a living man visiting the Hades? However,
The honorable penance of Hercules and his eventualGreek mythology tells us Hercules was no ordinary
success is what makes him so special. His successman. He was a hero.
brought him immortality, which would have beenHe eventually did complete all the tasks, purified his
unthinkable for ordinary mortals. Hercules' first tasksoul and rescued the princess of Troy from a
was to peel off the skin of the horrifying Nemean Lionravenous sea-monster. He also facilitated Zeus to
after capturing one. His next task was to kill Thebeat the Giants in a great battle for the control of
Lernean Hydra. The Lernean Hydra was a serpentOlympus. He married again, to the charming Deianira.
with nine heads, which never gave peace to the livesShe presented him a cloak, which was coated with
of those around it. The third task for him was to bringwhat she mistakenly thought to be a magic love potion.
a Hind (a sacred red deer) from Ceryneia to the king.She was told that the balm would make the person
The deer was the pet of Diana, the Moon goddess.love her forever.
The fourth task for Hercules was to bring a liveIronically, it was poison, which burned Hercules skin.
Erymanthian Boar. It was very dangerous to men andHercules, not being able to endure the pain asked his
animals living around the mountain Erymanthus. Thenfriends to kindle a fire. Then Hercules placed himself on
Hercules was asked to clean up King Augeas' stablesthe fire to be burned up alive. But the gods looked
in one day. Are you thinking what is so great about it?down, and Zeus thought that Hercules had suffered
King Augeas had an awesome amount of cattle ofenough. So he asked Hera to end her anger toward
cows, bulls, goats, sheep and horses. HerculesHercules, which she did. Then Hercules was brought to
proposed to King Augeas that he would clean theOlympus in Athena's chariot by Zeus' request.