Kara Sears
Heracles, also known as Hercules in Roman lore, is a divine hero in Greek mythology and the son of Zeus and Alcmene. He is celebrated for his prodigious strength and Twelve Labours, which earned him a place among the gods on Olympus. In one version of the story, Heracles was tried in a court and quoted a law of Rhadamanthys, stating that whoever defends himself against a wrongful aggressor shall be acquitted. The name Heracles is derived from the name of the goddess Hera and the Greek word kleos, meaning glory, and can be translated as Hera's glory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heracles (Greek) or Hercules (Roman) |
| Birth name | Alcaeus or Alcides |
| Etymology | "Glory of Hera" or "Wrath of Hera" |
| Parents | Zeus and Alcmene |
| Foster parents | Amphitryon |
| Marriages | Megara, Deianira, Hebe |
| Children | Hyllus, Therimachus, Creontiades, Deicoon, Ophitus, Archelaus, and at least 46 others |
| Weapons | Bow and club |
| Worshipped as | God of merchants and traders |
| Worshipped by | Ancient Greeks, Romans, Etruscans |
| Commemorated by | Festival of the Heracleia, cities named Heraclea, poleis with sanctuaries |
| Represented in | Art, literature, amulets, coins |
| Represented with | Bow, club, lions |
| Associated with | Strength, courage, valor, wisdom, luck, rescue |
| Common interjection | Hercule! or Mehercle! |
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Heracles' name
The name "Heracles" is derived from the name of the goddess Hera and the Greek word "kleos", meaning "glory". Thus, the name Heracles can be translated as "Hera's glory" or "he who carried the glory of Hera". This is ironic given that Hera, his stepmother, hated Heracles and made it her life's goal to make his life miserable. According to some traditions, Heracles was originally born with the name "Alcaeus" or "Alcides" in honour of his grandfather, the famous hero Perseus.
In Rome and the modern West, Heracles is known by the Romanized name "Hercules". The Latin name "Hercules" was borrowed through Etruscan, where it is represented as "Heracle", "Hercle", and other forms. Hercules was a favourite subject for Etruscan art and appears often on bronze mirrors. The Etruscan form "Herceler" derives from the Greek Heracles via syncope.
The name "Hercules" became more popular than the Greek version "Heracles" due to the influence of Latin and Roman culture. The Western Christian Church adopted Latin in the 400s AD with the acceptance of St. Jerome's Latin "Vulgate" translation. For centuries, Latin was the language of scholarship and culture, including mythology. While Greek remained a spoken language longer than Latin in parts of Italy and Spain, Latin still influenced the culture and language of Western Europe, including the naming of planets and the derivation of law.
In Renaissance mythography, the name "Hercules" was commonly used, drawing more extensively on the Romanised version of the name. This was also influenced by the invention of the printing press, which led to a renewed interest in Greek literature and the publication of works such as Natale Conti's "Mythologiae" (1567). Hercules was also a name favoured by Roman emperors such as Commodus and Maximian, who identified themselves with the hero.
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His role as a hero
Heracles, known in Roman mythology as Hercules, is considered one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology. He is the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and a descendant of Perseus. Heracles is known for his strength, courage, and his characteristic weapons: the bow and club.
Heracles is famous for his Twelve Labours, imposed upon him by Eurystheus, which include: the slaying of the Nemean lion, the capture of the elusive hind of Arcadia, the cleansing of the cattle stables of King Augeas, and the shooting of the man-eating birds of the Stymphalian marshes. These labours were often depicted in art and literature, such as in Etruscan bronze mirrors, and in a chapter of mythographer Natale Conti's book 'Mythologiae' (1567).
Heracles is also known for his role in various other stories, including his victory over the river god Achelous to win the hand of Deianeira, and his subsequent killing of the centaur Nessus. Heracles is said to have had many marriages and affairs, resulting in numerous children, including Hyllus, whose descendants were known as Heracleidae.
Heracles was worshipped as a god by some, particularly in ancient cities that adopted him as a patron deity, and in Italy, where he was revered as a god of merchants and traders. He was also seen as a demi-god or hero, with sacrifices made to him in this capacity. His death was commemorated in the ancient Greek festival of the Heracleia, and he was accepted into the Olympian Pantheon during Classical times.
Heracles' role as a hero was further solidified by his representation as a conqueror of dangerous forces, making "the world safe for mankind". He was also known for his loyalty and friendship, as demonstrated by his willingness to wrestle with Thanatos on behalf of Prince Admetus, and his restoration of Tyndareus to the throne of Sparta.
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His worship
Heracles, known as Hercules in Roman lore, was a divine hero in Greek mythology. He was celebrated for his prodigious strength and courage, and his characteristic weapon was the bow, though he also frequently used a club.
Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon. He was also a descendant and half-brother of Perseus, who was sired by Zeus. Heracles is said to have had a temper, which caused him problems throughout his life. His father, Zeus, sent him to live a simpler life as a cattle herder in Thespiae under the care of Amphitryon.
Heracles was worshipped as a god of merchants and traders in Italy, and others prayed to him for good luck or rescue from danger. He was also worshipped in several ancient cities named Heraclea in his honour. The ancient Greeks celebrated the festival of the Heracleia, which commemorated the death of Heracles, on the second day of the month of Metageitnion (late July or early August).
Heracles is best known for his Twelve Labours, imposed upon him by Eurystheus. These included the slaying of the Nemean lion, the capture of the wild boar of Mount Erymanthus, and the cleansing of the cattle stables of King Augeas of Elis, all of which he completed. After the Labours, Heracles went on to complete further enterprises, including warlike campaigns.
The myths surrounding Heracles are thought to have originated in Neolithic hunter culture and traditions of shamanistic crossings into the netherworld. It is possible that they were based on the life of a real person or people whose accomplishments became exaggerated over time.
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His death
Heracles, or Hercules in Roman and modern Western culture, is a divine hero in Greek mythology. He is the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon. He is known as the greatest of the Greek heroes, and his death is a significant event in Greek mythology.
Heracles' death came about due to a combination of trickery and jealousy. Heracles had battled and defeated many dangerous monsters, giants, and entire armies of mortal men throughout his life. However, his death was not in keeping with his heroic battles. The centaur Nessus tried to violate Heracles' wife, Deianira, and as a result, Heracles shot him with one of his poisoned arrows. As Nessus lay dying, he told Deianira to preserve his blood, saying that if Heracles wore a garment rubbed with it, he would love none but her forever.
Years later, when Deianira heard a rumor that Heracles was being unfaithful, she gave him the blood-stained tunic to wear, hoping to bind him to her. However, the poisoned blood on the tunic burned Heracles' flesh, causing immense pain. Realizing that he had been poisoned, Heracles built his own funeral pyre and burned himself to death on it. Athena then carried him to Mount Olympus on her chariot, where he was promised to spend eternity among the gods.
The ancient Greeks commemorated the death of Heracles with a festival called the Heracleia, which was held in late July or early August. Heracles' death was also referenced in ancient literature, such as Aristophanes' "The Frogs," where Heracles offers knowledge of how to reach the underworld.
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His marriages and affairs
Heracles, also known as Hercules, was a divine hero in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon. He was a descendant and half-brother of Perseus (as they are both sired by the god Zeus).
Heracles was married three times, according to most Greek myths. Later Roman writers added a fourth union with a Lydian queen. His first marriage was to Megara, the daughter of Creon, king of Thebes. Struck with madness by Hera, Heracles killed their children, and possibly Megara too. His second marriage was to Deianira, whom he won in marriage by wrestling the river god Achelous. On the way home, Deianira was almost kidnapped by the Centaur Nessus, whom Heracles killed with one of his poisoned arrows. Nessus gave Deianira his blood, telling her that it was a powerful love spell that would ensure Heracles remained faithful. Heracles did indeed remain faithful until, over ten years later, he fell in love with Princess Iole, the daughter of Eurytus, king of Oechalia. Deianira, believing her husband intended to abandon his family to marry Iole, smeared a potion made from Nessus's blood onto her husband's lionskin cloak. Despite this tragic incident, most accounts claim that Heracles was a loving and faithful husband to his third and final wife, Hebe, the goddess of youth. Hebe was also Heracles' half-sister, as another daughter of Zeus and Hera.
Heracles had dozens of children, including at least four daughters and several sons, the most prominent of whom was Hyllus, the son of Deianira or Melite. The descendants of Hyllus were known as the Heracleidae, and they were expelled from Peloponnesus by Eurystheus.
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