Search results
Hercules is the Roman name for Heracles, the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, who performed many feats of strength and courage in classical mythology. Learn about his birth, adventures, death, worship, and cultural influence in different eras and regions.
Jul 30, 2024 · Heracles, one of the most famous Greco-Roman legendary heroes. Traditionally, Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene ( see Amphitryon ), granddaughter of Perseus. Zeus swore that the next son born of the Perseid house should become ruler of Greece, but—by a trick of Zeus’s jealous wife, Hera —another child, the sickly Eurystheus, was ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- The Nemean Lion. First, Apollo sent Hercules to the hills of Nemea to kill a lion that was terrorizing the people of the region. (Some storytellers say that Zeus had fathered this magical beast as well.)
- The Lernaean Hydra. Second, Hercules traveled to the city of Lerna to slay the nine-headed Hydra—a poisonous, snake-like creature who lived underwater, guarding the entrance to the Underworld.
- The Golden Hind. Next, Hercules set off to capture the sacred pet of the goddess Diana: a red deer, or hind, with golden antlers and bronze hooves. Eurystheus had chosen this task for his rival because he believed that Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal her pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the goddess, she allowed him to go on his way without punishment.
- The Erymanthean Boar. Fourth, Hercules used a giant net to snare the terrifying, man-eating wild boar of Mount Erymanthus.
Learn about Heracles, the greatest of all Greek heroes, who was a half-god son of Zeus and Alcmene. Discover his birth, childhood, adventures, labors, and legacy in this comprehensive article.
Heracles, also known as Hercules in Rome, was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene. He performed the Twelve Labours and became a god after his death, with a cult and festivals in his honor.
Jul 25, 2014 · Hercules: Directed by Brett Ratner. With Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell. Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.
Jul 9, 2012 · Hercules (Herakles) was a hero of Greek mythology famous for his great strength and endurance. Celebrated as an extraordinary mortal, his success in seemingly impossible labours won him an immortal place amongst the gods. As the greatest of heroes, he has been ascribed a multitude of adventures over the centuries which were probably originally ...