Heracles

Whom did Heracles marry?

Heracles’ first wife was a woman named Megara. But their marriage was cut short when Heracles was driven mad by Hera and killed his own children (in some versionshe killed Megaratoo). Heracles’ final wifeDeianirainadvertently caused the hero’s death. But he had many lovers in betweenincluding the Eastern queen Omphalewho would wear Heracles’ lion skin while forcing the hero to work the loom.

After he died and became a godHeracles married Hebethe goddess of youth and a daughter of Hera. This marriage represented Heracles’ reconciliation with the stepmother who had made him suffer throughout his life.

How did Heracles die?

Heracles was accidentally killed by his final mortal wifeDeianira. In the most familiar version of the mythDeianira feared that Heracles loved another womanso she sprinkled his shirt with a love potion that had been given to her by the Centaur Nessus. But Nessus had deceived Deianira: the “love potion” was actually laced with the toxic blood of the Hydra.

When Heracles put the shirt onhe immediately began to burn up. Realizing that he was dyinghe had a great pyre built. As the pyre burnedHeracles’ soul ascended to the heavens to join the gods.

Was Heracles a god?

Heracles was technically a demigodthe son of a god and a mortal. Howeverit was said that after his deathHeracles was granted immortality and a seat beside the gods on Mount Olympus. Thushe was one of the few Greek heroes to be worshipped as a full-fledged god. 

The cult of Heracles was widespread in ancient Greece. He was especially important in the Boeotian city of Thebeswhere he was bornand in Dorian cities such as Spartawhich claimed him as an ancestor.

The Twelve Labors of Heracles

Heracles completed his famous “Twelve Labors” after killing his family in a fit of madness. This madness had been inflicted by Herawho wanted to make Heracles suffer. To atone for his crimeHeracles was commanded to perform a series of tasks or “labors” for his cousin Eurystheusthe king of Mycenae.

Eurystheus hated and feared Heraclesso he assigned him the most challenging and dangerous tasks he could think of (in some accountsHera helped with this). Eurystheus sent Heracles to fight fearsome monsters such as the Nemean Lionthe Hydraand even Cerberusthe guard dog of Hades.

But Heracles—much to the disappointment of both Eurystheus and Hera—successfully completed each of his laborswhich only served to increase his fame.

Pronunciation

Alternate Names

According to some traditionsHeracles was originally named Alcaeus in honor of his grandfather and was only renamed Heracles later in an attempt to placate a furious Hera. He was known as Hercules in Roman literature.

Birth and Childhood

Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmenethe wife of the hero Amphitryon. Zeus had approached Alcmene in the form of her husbandwho was away at war at the time. The same night Zeus slept with AlcmeneAmphitryon came home early and also slept with her. Alcmene was thus impregnated twice on the same night. She eventually gave birth to twins: one of themHeracleswas Zeus’ sonwhile the otherIphicleswas Amphitryon’s.

From the very beginningHeracles was hated by HeraZeus’ queen. Hera was jealous of her husband Zeus’ mortal lovers and childrenand even before Heracles was born she tried to destroy him. 

While Alcmene was in labor with her twinsHera tricked Zeus into promising that the next male child born into the House of Perseus would become High King. Hera then forced Eileithyiathe goddess of childbirthto delay the births of Heracles and Iphicles by shutting Alcmene’s womb; at the same timeshe caused Heracles’ cousin Eurystheus to be born early. Both Heracles and Eurystheus were male descendants of Perseusbut since Eurystheus was born firstHera had ensured that he and not Heracles would be High King.

According to one mythAmphitryon and Alcmene feared Hera’s wrath and therefore left Heracles in the wilderness to die. But he was rescued by the goddess AthenaZeus’ daughter and thus Heracles’ half-sister. Athena brought the infant Heracles with her to Olympuswhere she convinced Hera to nurse him. Heranot recognizing Heraclestook pity on the child and gave him her breast.

But the spirited Heracles nursed so strongly that he hurt Hera. When the goddess pushed him awayher milk sprayed across the heavens and formed the Milky Way. Athena then brought the infant back to Alcmene to be raised by her and Amphitryon (who became his foster father).^[2]

In another mythHera sent two snakes to kill Heracles when he was still an infant. While Iphicles screamed in fearHeracles grabbed one snake in each hand and strangled them. His mother found him unharmed and playing with the dead snakes as though they were toys. Amphitryonshockedconsulted the prophet Tiresiaswho prophesied that Heracles would become a great hero.

Youth

Heracles’ physical strength went hand in hand with a quick temper. While still only a boyHeracles accidentally killed his music teacherLinusin a fit of rageso Amphitryon sent him away to herd cattle in the mountains.

In one storyinvented in the fifth century BCE by the philosopher Prodicusthe young Heracles was approached by the goddesses Virtue and Vice while tending the cattle. The two goddesses offered Heracles a choice between a pleasant but undistinguished life and a hard but glorious life. Heracles chose the latter.^[3]

LaterHeracles married Megarathe daughter of the Theban king Creon. But Hera had not forgotten her hatred of Heracles: she caused him to go mad and kill his family (in some versionshe murdered both Megara and his childrenwhile in others he killed only his children).^[4] 

After Heracles was cured of his madnesshe consulted the oracle of Delphi to find out how to atone for his crime. He was told to go to his cousin Eurystheus in Mycenae and perform whatever tasks he was assigned. Howeverin Euripides’ tragedy Heraclesprobably performed around 416 BCEHeracles was driven mad and killed his family only after his service to Eurystheus. 

Labors

The most familiar exploits of Heracles’ heroic career are the famous Twelve Labors (sometimes also called the “Labors of Heracles” or the “Twelve Labors of Heracles”). These were the tasks that Heracles was forced to perform for his cousin Eurystheusthe High King of Mycenae. 

In many accountsit was Hera herself who helped Eurystheus devise the most difficult and deadly taskshoping to destroy Heracles once and for all. But Heracles managed to successfully complete each of his laborsacquiring fame and immortal glory in the process.

In the best-known version of the mythHeracles was initially instructed to perform ten labors for Eurystheus. But after completing his tenth laborEurystheus found a flimsy excuse to add two morebringing the total to twelve. The canonical list and order of the laborsas reported by the mythographer Apollodorusis as follows:^[5]

Labor #1: The Nemean Lion

Heracles’ first labor was to slay the Nemean Liona lion that was terrorizing the city of Nemea. Since the lion’s skin was invulnerableHeracles could not use his weapons against it and had to kill the lion with his bare hands. 

After completing this laborHeracles wore the skin of the Nemean Lion as armor.

Labor #2: The Lernaean Hydra

Heracles’ next labor was to slay the Hydraa monster with multiple serpent heads (the number of heads varies depending on the source) that lived in a swamp near Lerna. 

Heracles discovered that each time one of the monster’s heads was cut offtwo new heads would grow in its place. He finally managed to destroy the Hydra with the help of his nephew Iolaus: every time Heracles cut off a headIolaus would cauterize the wound with a torchthus preventing new heads from growing. 

After defeating the HydraHeracles dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood.

Labor #3: The Ceryneian Hind

Since the Ceryneian Hind (sometimes called the Golden Hind) was sacred to ArtemisHeracles was told to bring it to Eurystheus alive rather than kill it (according to most versions).^[6] 

This was no small task: the Ceryneian Hind was a massive female deer noted for its incredible speed. According to some sourcesit had antlers like a stag and breathed fire. Eventually Heracles managed to run down the hind and presented it to Eurystheus.

Labor #4: The Erymanthian Boar

Heracles was then tasked with capturing the Erymanthian Boara huge and violent boar on the loose around the marsh of Erymanthia. 

The scene in which Heracles brings the boar to Eurystheus was popular in early Greek art: according to this traditionwhen Eurystheus saw Heracles coming back with the Erymanthian Boar on his shouldershe became terrified and hid in a large ceramic storage container called a pithos.

Labor #5: The Augean Stables

Heracles’ next labor was as humiliating as it was difficult: he was sent to clean the stables that housed the immortal cattle of King Augeas (a gift from his father Helios). Heracles managed to complete the labor quickly and ingeniously: he diverted the nearby rivers Alphaeus and Penaeus into a ditch he dug around the stablesthus washing the stables clean.

Labor #6: The Stymphalian Birds

Heracles was then sent to get rid of the Stymphalian Birdsman-eatingbronze-beaked birds who were terrorizing a forest near Stymphalia. Heracles used a rattle given to him by Athena to frighten the birds out of hiding. When the birds flew out of the forestHeracles was able to shoot and kill many of them with his arrows tipped with the Hydra’s poison.

Labor #7: The Cretan Bull

Heracles’ seventh labor took him to the island of Crete. Poseidon had originally sent the Cretan Bull as a gift to his son Minos. It was intended to be sacrificed to Poseidonbut Minos wanted to keep the bull for himself. Poseidon became angry and sent the bull to ravage the land around Minos’ kingdom of Knossos (but only after the bull fathered the Minotaur). 

After Heracles captured the bullEurystheus released it in Marathon. Thereit continued to terrorize the city until it was killed by the Athenian hero Theseus.

Labor #8: The Mares of Diomedes

Heracles was then sent to steal the mares of Diomedeswho had been trained by their master to eat human flesh. Heracles accomplished this by feeding Diomedes to his own horsesthen binding the animals’ mouths shut and taking them to Eurystheus.

Labor #9: The Girdle of Hippolyta

Heracles’ next task was to steal the magnificent girdle of the Amazon queen Hippolytawhich she had received as a gift from her father Ares. When Heracles arrivedhe was quickly attacked by the warlike Amazonsbut he managed to defeat Hippolyta and bring her girdle to Eurystheus.

Labor #10: The Cattle of Geryon

Heracles’ tenth labor took him far from the Greek worldto the western Mediterranean. His task was to steal the cattle of Geryona monster with three heads and six arms. These cattle were guarded by another multi-headed creaturethe two-headed dog Orthrus. Heracles killed both Orthrus and Geryon (as well as Geryon’s herdsman Erytion) and herded the cattlewith some difficultyto Eurystheus in Greece.

Labor #11: The Apples of the Hesperides

According to the best-known version of the mythHeracles was originally instructed to complete only ten labors for Eurystheus. But after Heracles had finished his tenth laborEurystheus demanded two more. He claimed that the slaying of the Hydra did not count because Heracles had been helped by his nephew Iolausand the cleaning of the Augean stables did not count because Heracles had received payment for his labor. 

Eurystheus sent Heracles to retrieve the golden apples from the mythical Hesperideslocated in a remote region in the far western Mediterranean. According to some versionsHeracles caught the shapeshifting Nereus and forced him to reveal the location of the Hesperides; in other versionsit was the Titan Prometheus who gave this information to Heracles. 

The golden appleswhich were sacred to Herawere protected by a many-headed dragon named Ladon. Heracles shot the dragon but was unable to gain entry into the garden. 

In the endHeracles managed to convince the Titan Atlas to get the apples for him (in some versionsAtlas was the father of the maidens guarding the garden). Since Atlas had been tasked by Zeus to hold up the heavens for eternityHeracles agreed to shoulder the burden for him while he retrieved the apples. 

When Atlas came back with the promised fruithe tried to leave Heracles holding the heavens for himbut Heracles was able to trick Atlas into taking them back. Heracles then collected the apples and returned to Eurystheus.

Labor #12: Cerberus

Heracles’ final labor was the most daunting: to go down to the Underworld and bring back CerberusHades’ three-headed guard dog. Against all oddsHeracles was able to cross into the Underworldwrestle Cerberusand convince Hades to let him bring the dog to Eurystheus.

Other Myths

There is a similar myth about Heracles being forced to undergo a period of servitude in order to atone for a crime: this timeHeracles was told to serve the Lydian queen Omphale after he went mad and threw his friend Iphitus from a city wall to his death. 

As Omphale’s slaveHeracles was forced to wear women’s clothing and do what was traditionally considered women’s work (such as weaving) while Omphale wore his lion skin and wielded his club. EventuallyOmphale freed Heracles and became his wife.

Other myths take Heracles to almost every corner of the known world. In AfricaHeracles fought and killed the giant Antaeus. A son of the earthAntaeus was invincible as long as he was in contact with the ground. Heracles finally defeated him by lifting him into the air and breaking his back.

In AsiaHeracles sacked Troy after its kingLaomedoncheated him. Laomedon had promised to give Heracles his prize horses if the hero rescued his daughter Hesione from a sea monster. Heracles saved Hesionebut Laomedon refused to hand over the horses. This did not sit well with Heracleswho sacked Troykilled Laomedonand claimed the horses he had been promised.

On another adventurein the CaucasusHeracles freed the Titan Prometheus from his torture. As punishment for stealing fire from the godsZeus had chained Prometheus to a mountain and sent an eagle every day to eat his liverwhich would grow back only to be eaten again the next day. Heracles killed the eagle and broke Prometheus’ chains.

Heracles also traveled with Jason and the Argonauts to Colchis (on the eastern coast of the Black Sea) to steal the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes. Heracles was accompanied by the young Hylaswho was his shield bearer and lover. On one of the Argonauts’ stops on their way to ColchishoweverHylas disappeared. Heracles went in search of himand the Argonauts left without them. Heracles thus did not make it to Colchis with the Argonauts.

According to some traditionsHeracles even went up to Olympus to help the gods in their war against the Giants.

Death

After defeating the river god Achelous in a wrestling competitionHeracles carried away the Calydonian princess Deianira as his bride. As the newlyweds traveled to Heracles’ homethe centaur Nessus offered to help Deianira cross a river. But while Heracles was still making the crossingNessus tried to run off with Deianira. Heraclesangryshot Nessus with one of the arrows tipped with the poisonous blood of the Hydra. 

The dying Nessusknowing that his blood had been tainted by the Hydra’s poison and hoping for revengegave his bloody tunic to Deianira. He told her to keep the tunic and to use it as a love charm if she ever needed to reignite her husband’s feelings for her.

Years laterDeianira became convinced that Heracles had a new lover. Remembering Nessusshe gave Heracles the bloody tunic. As soon as Heracles put it onhoweverhe was poisoned by the blood of the Hydra. When Heracles tried to remove the tunichis skin came off with it. 

Heracles began dying in extreme agony. He built a pyreclimbed on top of itand begged his family and friends to set it on fire. Only Philoctetes (or Philoctetes’ fatherPoeasin some versions) agreed to do soand in return Heracles gifted him his bow and arrows. Many years laterPhiloctetes would use the bow of Heracles in the Trojan War.

After his body was consumed by the flamesHeracles became a god. When Heracles arrived at OlympusHera was finally persuaded to put aside her hatred of himand he was married to Hebeone of Zeus and Hera’s daughters and the goddess of youth.

Children

During his lifeHeracles was married several times and took many loversmost of whom gave him children (primarily boys). Some of his most famous children included Telephushis son by Augeand Tlepolemushis son by Astyoche. Both Telephus and Tlepolemus played a role in the saga of the Trojan War. 

Heracles’ most important son by his wife DeianiraHylluswould invade the Peloponnese and fight a war against Eurystheus after Heracles’ death. Several generations laterHeracles’ descendants (also called the Heraclidae) invaded Greece and took over the Peloponnese. This would later come to be known as the “Dorian Invasion.” Throughout Greek historythe Spartans and many other Peloponnesian kingdoms who identified as Dorians claimed that they were descended from Heracles.

Festivals

In many parts of GreeceHeracles was worshipped as a hero as well as a godand festivals in his honor were usually called “Heracleia.” Such festivals are known to have been celebrated throughout the important regions of Attica (especially Cynosarges and Marathon),^[7] the Peloponnese (SicyonSpartaetc.),^[8] and Boeotia (ThebesThisbeTiphaSiphaeetc.).^[9]

In northern Greecea festival of Heracles was celebrated in Ambraciathe main city of Epirus.^[10] Another festival in Heracles’ honorcalled the Iolaiawas held in the city of Thebes.

Temples

There were many major and minor temples of Heracles scattered across the Greek world. In Atticaimportant sanctuaries to Heracles were located at Cynosarges and Marathonboth sites where the Heracleia was celebrated. Numerous temples and sanctuaries of Heracles could also be found in Boeotiaincluding at ThebesThespiaeThisbeTiphaand Orchomenus,^[11] as well as at Argos and Nemea.^[12] In Spartawe are told that there was a temple of Heracles close to the city walls.^[13]

Heracles’ sanctuary in Thebes seems to have been particularly elaborateboasting templesa gymnasiumand a race course. Also in Thebes were the tombs of the children of Heracles and Megarawhom Heracles had killed in a fit of madness; nearbya kind of religious relicwas a stone called the “Chastiser,” which Athena was thought to have thrown at Heracles to end his killing spree (and to prevent him from killing his foster father Amphitryon too).^[14]

There were also more remote temples of Heracles. In northern Greecethere are traces of a temple dedicated to Heracles and his motherAlcmene. On Mount Oetathe site of Heracles’ deatha temple from the third century BCE has been excavated. There is also a Doric temple of Heraclesprobably built in the beginning of the fifth century BCEat Acragas in Sicily.

The Romanswho worshiped Heracles as Herculesdedicated various temples and altars to him in the city of Rome as well as throughout Italy and the Roman Empire.