Hercules, the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles, is one of the most popular and noted mythological characters in the Greco-Roman mythologies. The story of Jupiter or Zeus’s son has been displayed in different ways in numerous movies and TV series. The demigod with immense strength and power has intrigued us in numerous ways.
Hercules was believed to have extraordinary capabilities from a very early age that helped him overcome extremely difficult situations and ups and downs. From Greece to Rome and to the lengths and breadths of different parts of the world, different storytellers have different versions of stories related to Hercules’ life.
The mention of his stepmother and the ‘Queen of Gods’ Hera is also found, who adds to Hercules’ life’s troubles. Despite all these roadblocks, Hercules emerged as the protector of the weak and the uplifter of the deprived and depressed. This is the reason that Hercules emerged as a superhero character.
The stories of Hercules’ courage, bravery, and whole-heartedness are there to be heard and seen in several movies and stories. Hercules became a synonym of strength and courage. Like the story of any other superhero, numerous myths are related to the demigod’s story.
Thanks to the popularity of Hercules, we went on to believe most of these myths. We’ve brought you a list of 6 such myths that you probably believed in.
Love and Fate:
Hercules was not only strong and brave but was also kind and helpful. When he got to know that Minyans were taking over neighboring Theban king Creon’s territory, he rushed to help Creon save the territory from being captured. Impressed by this, the king offered Hercules to marry his daughter Megara. The two lived happily until a usurper named Lycus killed Creon and tried to marry Megara. Hercules returned in time from an adventure and killed Lycus. However, he was given a fit of madness by his stepmother Hera, and he killed his wife and son in madness, believing them to be the wife and sons of Lycus.
Skinning the Nemean Lion:
Hercules’ kindness and bravery were once again on a show when he got to know about the dangerous lion Nemean who was terrorizing people and had a golden hide that was impenetrable to any weapon. As expected, Hercules fought the lion with his bare hands and killed it. He then skinned the lion with its own claws and used its pelt as armor in future wars.
Serving Arch Rival Eurystheus:
Hercules was devastated when he came to know how wrong he was in killing his own family. He wanted to commit suicide, but his cousin Theseus obstructed him from doing so. He then traveled to Delphi. The Oracle of Delphi Pythia advised him to serve his rival and cousin King Eurystheus to seek atonement for his past deeds. Hercules followed the advice even though Eurysthesus was sitting on a throne that could be his.
Hera’s Serpents:
To give Hercules an entry into the real world, his mother, Goddess Athena, returned him to his mortal mother Alcmene and stepfather Amphitryon. While the couple did everything possible to raise the child, Hera found it hard to digest that Hercules was a goddess’s son. Hera was not aware which of the twins was a demigod, and hence she sent 2 serpents to finish them. However, Alcides (Hercules) strangled both the serpents, and Hera’s plan failed.
Tricked Birth:
Everyone knows that Hercules is the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and mortal queen Alcmene. But how Alcmene conceived the child of a Greek god is a story in itself. Zeus was attracted by Alcmene and approached her, but Alcmene rejected his advances. Zeus, known for his sexual escapades, tricked Alcmene by changing his appearance and taking the form of Amphitryon, and impregnated her. Hera being a goddess, got to know about this, and she did everything in her capacity to stop Hercules from being born. This is how the enmity between them started.
The Milky Way Formation:
Alcmene was carrying the children of Zeus as well as Amphitryon in her womb, and she was aware of the trouble that she was inviting with Hera, always plotting to kill Hercules. She decided to abandon Hercules and left him on a field where he was picked by goddess Minerva, his half-sister. Minerva was fully aware of Hercules’s abilities. Hence, she handed him over to Hera, who was completely unaware that it was the same child that she tried preventing from taking birth.
When Hera was breastfeeding Hercules, he sucked too hard, and Hera removed the baby Hercules from her breast while screaming in pain. The milk from the goddess’ breast was sprayed into the heavens, and that’s how the Milky was created.
