Module 20 - Heracles and the Labours

Heracles is in myth strongly connected to Argos and Thebes, but his exploits stretch around the Greek world. Heracles is a remarkable hero for many reasons, but perhaps no more so than for the fact that he is one of the few mortals in Classical Mythology to be divinized.

He is well known for his trademark lion-skin and club.

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Places

Tyrins

City of which Eurystheus is king.

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People

Achelous

Horny, shape-shifting god who had hornds and could change into different shapes. Heracles had to wrestle him to win the hand of Deianira.

Amphitryon

Often referred to as the father of Heracles, but isn't actually. Husband to Alcmena.

Alcmena

Mortal woman, mother of Heracles. Wife of Amphitryon.

After sleeping with Zeus (disguised as her husband), she gives birth to twins Heracles and his brother Iphicles.

Deianira

Heracles' second wife, sister of Meleager. Tricked by Nessus into taking some of his poisoned blood to prevent Heracles from loving another woman.

She does this and kills herself with a sword when she realizes what she did.

Eurystheus

King of Tyrins. Made by Hera to be born just before Heracles, making him fulfill Zeus' prophecy of becoming "a ruler among men". Heracles has to accomplish the 12 labours for him.

Eurytus

Taught Heracles archery. Does not let Heracles have his daughter Iole.

Hebe

Daughter of Hera, wine pourer for the gods. Marries Heracles when he ascends to Olympus.

Heracles

The hero of our journey. Son of the mortal Alcmena and Zeus (while her husband was away).

From birth he's able to accomplish extraordinary feats. Similar to Hermes. In some versions, Hera sends a pair of snakes to kill him, which (as an infant) he strangles as they attack him.

Later in life, Hera makes Heracles go mad with rage, killing his first wife Megara and their children. This prompts him to visit the Oracle, who purifies him and advises him to go to Tyrins to serve Eurystheus.

Here are Heracles' 12 labours (known as athloi in Greek):

1. Nemean Lion: A beast who ravaged the countryside. Heracles takes it's skin (which is said to be invincible) as armour.
2. Lernaean Hydra: Serpent with 9 heads (8 mortal, 1 immortal). He kills a crab sent by Hera, then kills the Hydra with his nephew Iolaus, who burns the stumps with a brand so they can't grow back. Heracles buries the immortal head under a rock and gains poisoned arrows by from the Hydra's venom.
3. Cerynean Hind: Has to catch a Stag with golden horns that was sacred to Artemis. Artemis stops him.
4. Erymanthian Boar: Vicious animal that lived on a mountain. Heracles also encounters some centaurs, who attack him, but are wounded by his poisoned arrows.
5. Augean Stables: Augeus, son of Helios, had a lot of cattle, Heracles cleans out the stables by diverting the rivers ALpheus and Peneus.
6. Stymphalian Birds: Deadly birds that kill men. Heracles shoots them with arrows
7. Cretan Bull: [Theseus overlap] Heracles goes to fetch the bull that was given to Minos. It's later released and sacrificed by Theseus.
8. Mares of Diomedes: Man eating horses OF DOOM. Belonged to king Diomedes, who Heracles feeds to the horses to tame them.
9. Girdle of Hippolyta: Queen of the Amazons had a belt. Heracles defeats her in battle and takes it. On his way back, he saves Hesione from a sea monster.
10. Cattle of Geryon: Geryon had 3 bodies and tended callte, helped by giant Eurytion and 2-headed dog Orthus. Heracles kills them with Helios' help, and builds the Pillars of Heracles at the entrance of the Mediterranean.
11. Apples of the Hesperides: Hesperides are 3 daughters of Night, who live in far West. Guarded a tree with golden apples, which was guarded by the serpent Ladon.
12. Cerberus and Underworld: Brings Cerberus.

Heracles soon marries Deianira, but falls in love with Iole. Iole's father Eurytus does not let him have her, and Heracles get super pissed and throws Iole's brother from the citadel of Tiryns.

Heracles goes to Delphi to ask how he can be cured of madness, but gets no reply, causing him to get pissed, wrestle with Apollo, and be told by Zeus to go into slavery for a year.

There his wife accidentally tries to kill him with a poisoned blood robe. Heracles is burned at on a pyre, after which his mortal part is consumed and he ascends to Olympus where he marries Hera's daughter Hebe.

Iphicles

Heracles' twin brother.

Iole

Daughter of Eurytus. Heracles falls in love with her after meeting Deianira.

Meleager

Sister of Heracles' second wife Deianira. Heracles meets Meleager in the Underworld while getting Cerberus.

Nessus

Centaur that carries away Deianira across a river on her way back home, and tries to rape her. Heracles kills him with a poisoned arrow.

Nessus tricks Deianira into taking his poisoned blood, which he said would keep Heracles from loving another woman.

Sthenelus

Alcmena's uncle. Father of Eurystheus.