Heracles

The Hero of Twelve Labours

Heracles was the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Zeus's wife Hera hated him from the beginning, and stories say she sent snakes to attack him while he was still a baby. Heracles grabbed the snakes and killed them, showing the extraordinary strength that would define his life.

As an adult, Heracles became caught in a terrible tragedy caused by Hera. To make amends, he was ordered to serve King Eurystheus and complete a series of tasks. These became the famous Twelve Labours. They included killing the Nemean Lion and Hydra, capturing the Erymanthian Boar, cleaning the enormous stables of Augeas, taking the belt of Hippolyta and bringing Cerberus up from the Underworld.

The labours were not all about strength. Heracles sometimes needed help, cleverness or patience. He frightened birds with a rattle, redirected rivers to clean the stables and persuaded Atlas to fetch the golden apples of the Hesperides. His adventures took him across the mythical world and brought him into contact with gods, kings and monsters.

Heracles could be generous and courageous, but his temper caused disasters. His myths never pretend that great strength makes somebody perfect. After his death, Greek tradition said he became immortal and joined the gods on Olympus. The Romans worshipped him as Hercules. His club and lion skin became instantly recognisable symbols, and stories about his labours have remained popular for thousands of years.

Heracles travelled far beyond Greece during his labours. He met Amazons, giants, kings and gods, and several later adventures were added to his legend. Ancient artists usually made him easy to recognise by giving him a wooden club and the skin of the Nemean Lion. He also appears on pottery, temple sculpture and coins. After his mortal death, myth says Heracles was welcomed to Olympus and married Hebe, goddess of youth. This ending turns a deeply troubled human life into a story of eventual immortality and explains why Heracles could be honoured both as a hero and as a god.

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