
''For the son of Alexander the Great, see Heracles (Macedon).'' In Greek Mythology, Heracles, or Heraklês ("glory of Hera", Ἡρακλῆς) was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, the grand-daughter of Perseus (mythology) and the wife of Amphitryon. In Roman Mythology he was called Hercules. He was, arguably, the greatest of the mythical Greek heroes, best known for his superhuman strength and many stories are told of his life. The most famous group of stories tell of The Twelve Labours. His Etrucan mythology equivalent was Hercle, a son of Tinia and Uni. He was also identified with Heryshaf (Egyptian mythology). Curiously, in temples that were set up to praise Herakles, the priests wore female clothing, possibly connected to the myth of Omphale. == Birth and childhood == Heracles was a son of Zeus and Alcmene. A major factor in the tragedies surrounding Heracles stem from Hera's hatred of him; as the wife of Zeus she often hated his mortal offspring because they were living proof of Zeus' constant affairs, and she especially hated Heracles. While Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera, who was already informed of Zeus' adultery, persuaded Zeus to swear an oath on the night Heracles was to be born that the child born that night to a member of the House of Perseus would be High King. Once the oath was sworn, Hera hurried to Alcmene's dwelling and slowed the birth by sitting crosslegged with her clothing tied in knots. She would have permanently delayed the birth had she not been foiled by Galanthis, her servant, who told Hera that she had already delivered the baby. Hera turned her into a weasel and forced her to give birth by laying eggs through her mouth. Heracles was named in an unsuccessful attempt to mollify Hera. A few months after he was born, Hera sent two serpents to kill him as a he lay in his cot. Heracles throttled a single snake in each hand and was found by his nurse playing with their limp bodies as if they were child's toys. One account of the origin of the Milky Way is that Zeus had tricked Hera into nursing the infant Heracles: discovering who he was, she had pulled him from her breast, and a spurt of her milk formed the smear across the sky that can be seen to this day. According to Greek tradition, probably based on Libanius, "Oration" XII, 99, or on the Epitome of the Library of Apollodorus, Heracles was conceived in the womb when Zeus, extended the night into three during his parents' nuptial. That miraculous event may have been a solar eclipse near daybreak, which took place on September 7, 1250s BCE . It lasted from 6:51 to 9:41 in the morning at Sparta, with 75.9% magnitude. The Legend has it that Heracles was born in Thebes, Greece, where Alcmene and Amphitryon lived. The eclipse could well be visible there also. Alternatively it is more likely to have been the solar eclipse which occurred at around about midday on February 10, 1280s BCE thereby making one night into three. Totality occured at 10:52 UTC according to [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEcat/SE-1299--1200.html NASA] projections. This would place Heracles birth on November 4 of the same year. It was on the 4th of every month that the ancient Greeks celebrated Heracles birth. (see discussion) == Adulthood == He continued to perform feats such as slaying a lion that was preying on the local flocks and defending Thebes against a neighbouring army. For the latter he was awarded the King of Thebes' (Creon) daughter, Megara. === The Twelve Labours === ''Main Article'': The Twelve Labours In a fit of madness, induced by Hera, Herakles slew his wife, children, and brother's children and as penance as told to him by the Delphic Sibyl, he was required to carry out ten tasks set by his arch-enemy, Eurystheus (who had become King in his stead). Herakles successfully carried them all out, but Eurystheus was told by Hera to deem that two of the tasks had been failed due to Herakles being helped, and allocated two more, which Herakles also completed, making 12. According to Saint Jerome's Chronicon Herakles completed his 12 labours in 1246 BC. === Omphale === Omphale was a queen or princess of Lydia. As penalty for a murder, Heracles was her slave. He was forced to do women's work and wear women's clothes, while she wore the skin of the Nemean Lion and carried his olive-wood club. After some time, Omphale freed Heracles and married him. Some sources mention a son fathered on Omphale who is variously named. For further details see Omphale. It was at that time that the cercopes, mischievous wood spirits, stole Heracles' weapons. He punished them by tying them to a stick with their faces pointing downward. === Hylas === While walking through the wilderness, Heracles was set upon by the Dryopians. He killed their king, Theiodamas, and the others gave up and offered him Prince Hylas. He took the youth on as his weapons bearer and beloved. Years later, Heracles and Hylas joined the crew of the Argo. As Argonauts they only participated in part of the journey. In Mysia, Hylas was kidnapped by a nymph. Heracles, heartbroken, searched for a long time but Hylas had fallen in love with the nymphs and never showed up again. The ship set sail without them. [http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/Hercules/Hylas/Hylas.htm Story of Heracles and Hylas] === Iole === King Eurytus of Oechalia promised his daughter, Iole, to whoever could beat his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won but Eurytus abandoned his promise. Heracles killed him and his sons and abducted Iole. === Killing various giants === Heracles killed the giants Cycnus, Porphyrion and Mimas. === Laomedon/Tros === Before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy. Laomedon planned on sacrificing his daughter Hesione to Poseidon in the hope of appeasing him. Heracles happened to arrive (along with Telamon and Oicles) and agreed to kill the monster if Laomedon would give him the horses received from Zeus as compensation for Zeus' kidnapping Ganymede (mythology). Laomedon agreed. Heracles killed both the monster but Laomedon went back on his word. Accordingly in a later expedition Heracles and his followers attacked Troy and sacked it and slew all Laomedon's sons present there save Podarces, who saved his own life by giving Heracles a golden veil Hesione had made. Telamon took Hesione as a war prize; they were married and had a son, Teucer. === Other adventures === * Heracles defeated the Bebryces (ruled by King Mygdon) and gave their land to Prince Lycus of Mysia, son of Dascylus. * He killed the robber Termerus. * Heracles visited Evander with Antor, who then stayed in Italy. * Heracles killed King Amyntor of the Dolopes for not allowing him into his kingdom. He also killed King Emathion of Arabia. * Heracles killed Lityerses after beating him in a contest of harvesting. * Heracles killed Poriclymenus at Pylos. * Heracles founded the city Tarentum (modern: Taranto) in Italy. * Heracles learned music from Linus (and Eumolpus), but killed him after Linus corrected his mistakes. He learned how to wrestle from Autolycus. He killed the famous boxer Eryx of Sicily in a match. * Heracles later participated in many other adventures. He was an Argonauts. He killed Alastor and his brothers. * When Hippocoon overthrew his brother, Tyndareus and killed Tyndareus' son, Lycon, as King of Sparta, Heracles reinstated the rightful ruler and killed Hippocoon. == Marriage, sex and death == Heracles had countless affairs with women. He naturally had a great many children from various women, collectively referred to as the Heracleidae (most notable: Macaria). One event that stands out was his stay at the palace of King Thespios, who liked his build and encouraged Heracles to make love to his daughters, all fifty of them, in one night. They all got pregnant and all bore sons. Many of the kings of ancient Greece traced their lines to one or another of these, notably the kings of Sparta and Macedon. During the course of his life, Heracles married three times. His first marriage was to Megara, whose three children he murdered in a fit of madness and whom he later gave in marriage to his companion Iolaus, because the sight of her was too painful. His second wife was Omphale, the Lydia queen or princess to whom he was sold as a slave. His last marriage was to Deianira, for whom he had to fight the river god Achelous. (Upon Achelous' death, Heracles removed one of his horns and gave it to some nymphs who turned it into the cornucopia.) Soon after they wed, Heracles and Deianira had to cross a river, and a centaur named Nessus offered to help Deianeira across but then attempted to rape her. Enraged, Heracles shot the centaur from the opposite shore with a poisoned arrow (from the Lernean Hydra) and killed him. As he lay dying, Nessus told Deianira that if she ever wanted to make sure of Heracles' love, she should gather up his blood and spilled semen and save them. Later, when Deianira suspected that Heracles was preferring the company of Iole, she soaked a shirt of his in the mixture. Heracles' servant, Lichas, brought him the shirt and he put it on. Instantly he was in agony, as the shirt burned into his flesh and ripped it from his bones. Heracles died a voluntary death, asking that a pyre be built for him to end his suffering. After his death on the pyre the gods transformed Heracles into an immortal. He then married Hebe (mythology). No one but Heracles' friend Philoctetes (in some versions: Iolaus or Poeas) would light his funeral pyre. For this action, Philoctetes (or Poeas) received Heracles' bow and arrows, which were later necessary for the Greeks to defeat Troy in the Trojan War. According to Eusebius in book 10(XII) of his "Preperation of the Gospel", Saint Clement states that "from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the deification of Hercules himself and of Asclepius there are comprised thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus of Athens the chronicler: and from that point to the deification of Castor and Pollux fifty-three years: and somewhere about this time was the capture of Troy." Since Herakles ruled over Tiryns in Argos at the same time as Eurystheus ruled over Mycenae and at about this time Linus was Herakles teacher then based on the date for Linus notoriety in teaching Herakles in 1260s BCE given by Jerome in his Chronicon Herakels death and deification occurred 38 years later in approximately 1220s BCE. October 12 was the day of the year when the ancient Greeks celebrated the festival of the Herakleia which commemorated the death of Herakles. === Acca Larentia === In Roman mythology, Acca Larentia was Hercules' mistress. She was married to Tarutius, a wealthy merchant. When he died, she gave his money to charity. In another version, she was the wife of Faustulus. === Heracles' male lovers === Plutarch, in his ''Eroticos,'' maintains that Heracles' male lovers were so numerous they were beyond counting. Here is a partial list: *Abderus (entrusted with – and slain by – the carnivorous mares of Thracian Mares of Diomedes. Hercules founded the city of Abderus in Thrace in his memory, where he was honored with games.) *Admetus (assisted in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar; also a beloved of Apollo, as per Plutarch and Callimachus) *Adonis *Corythus *Elacatas (Sparta eromenos, honored there with a sanctuary and yearly games, according to Sosibius) *Euphemus *Hylas[http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/Hercules/Hylas/Hylas.htm] *Iolaus (Theban, Heracles' nephew, helped him in many labors. Plutarch reports that down to his own time lovers and their beloveds would go down to his tomb in Thebes to swear an oath of loyalty to him.) *Iphitus *Jason (late mention, may be literary conceit) *Nestor (mythology) (Loved him for his wisdom) *Nireus *Philoctetes (according to Martial. He is also heir to the hero's bow and is the one who lights his pyre. Later he is the initiator of Neoptolemus, son of Achilles.) *Phrix (Collected by Bernard Sergent in ''Homosexuality in Greek Myth,'' Beacon Press, 1986.) == Modern and ancient intepretations == Via the Greco-Buddhist culture, Herculean symbolism was transmitted to the far east. An example remains to this day in the Nio guardian deities in front of Japanese Buddhist temples.
Later interpretations of Heracles' legend cast him as a wise leader and a good friend (many of the movie and TV adaptations cast him in this light, especially the recent syndicated TV series ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', and the movie Hercules (movie)). While he was a champion and a great warrior, he was not above cheating and using any unfair trick to his advantage. However, he was renowned as having made the world safe for man by destroying many dangerous monsters, and he was also held up as an example for never having attacked first, but for having conquered all merely by defending himself when attacked, and protecting the helpless and distraught. His self-sacrifice obtained Him the ascent to the Olympian realms and He was welcomed by the Gods. The legend of Heracles endures, though often co-opted to suit the political fashion of the day. As a public domain character Hercules or Heracles have appeared in several comic book adaptations; see: ''Hercules (comics)'' See also: sword and sandal (list of cinematic genres); Maciste; ''The Sons of Hercules''; ''The Mighty Hercules'' == Spoken-word myths – audio files == {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" |- ! style="background:#ffdead;" | Heracles myths as told by story tellers |- |Media:Hercules and Hylas wiki.ogg |- |Bibliography of reconstruction: Homer, ''Odyssey,'' 12.072 (7th c. BCE); Theocritus, ''Idylls,'' 13 (350–310 BCE); Callimachus, ''Aetia (Causes)'', 24. Thiodamas the Dryopian, Fragments, 160. Hymn to Artemis (310–250? BCE); Apollonios Rhodios, ''Argonautika,'' I. 1175 - 1280 (c. 250 BCE); Apollodorus, ''Library and Epitome'' 1.9.19, 2.7.7 (140 BCE); Sextus Propertius, ''Elegies,'' i.20.17ff (50–15 BCE); Ovid, ''Ibis,'' 488 (8 CE–18 CE); Gaius Valerius Flaccus, ''Argonautica,'' I.110, III.535, 560, IV.1-57 (1st c. C.E.); Hyginus, ''Fables,'' 14. Argonauts Assembled (1st c. CE); Philostratus the Elder, ''Images,'' ii.24 Thiodamas (170–245 CE); First Vatican Mythographer, 49. Hercules et Hylas |- |} ==External links== *[http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/heracles.html Timeless Myths – Heracles] The life and adventure of Heracles, including his twelve labours. *[http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Heracles1.html Heracles, Greek Mythology Link] *[http://www.insecula.com/contact/A004087.html/ Heracles (in French)] Greek gods Argonauts la:Hercules
Some information I have here says that The Apples of Hesperides is the final labor, and cerberus is the eleventh. Someone please look into this... what accounts for the difference in order? :Try doing a search on google -- Cerberus is the twelfth on all the sites I found. There may be alternate versions, though. A lot of mythological stories have multiple variations. Maybe something should be added to the article about other versions... User:TUF-KAT == why did hera hate Heracles so much? == why did hera hate Heracles so much? User:Kingturtle 03:32, 20 Jan 2004 (UTC) :Because she hated all of her husband's children by women other than her. I don't know why she seemed to hate him so much more than the others. User:TUF-KAT 19:14, Jan 20, 2004 (UTC) I'm pretty sure it's because it was the first child with a mother other then her that she learned about.-User:Flyingcheese 01:18, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC) == On Heracles' male lovers == Far be it from me to start a dispute, but if you would remove the list of his male lovers from the section on his sex life, please give your reasons.--User:Haiduc 02:30, 2 Jul 2004 (UTC) I didn't remove the list before (nor am I now), but it comes across as awkward (for lack of a better word) and somewhat POV; that is, it seems like its simply there to be scandalous. I'm not saying that it should be entirely removed; in fact, I think it should largely stay. I think that it could probably be shortened, though. I would recommend keeping the introduction to the list, and then (having already mentioned that they are numerous, the list itself becomes somewhat superfluous) limiting the list to the most important men, preferably with a short description of their importance in the Heracles myth(s).--MS == hercules == Is "Heracles" is another name for Hercules? User:83.130.3.195 19:12, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC) == Eclipse Date == The September 7, 1251 BCE eclipse date for Herakels birth is contradicted by all the major sources including Jerome (Chronicon), Eusebius (Preparation of the Gospel) and Apollodorus. February 10 1286 BC is the most likely date for the eclipse when one night was turned into three. Jerome places the end of Herakles 12 Labours in 1246 BC (see translation of Jeromes Chonicon by Roger Pearse et al.) Eusebius along with Clement and Apollodorus place Herakles reign over Argos about 91 years before the end of the Trojan War (1183 BC). If Herakles was born in 1250 then he would be younger than Theseus who was 50 when he abducted Helen (according to Plutarch's Lives), which according to Jerome occurred in 1222 BC. The September 7, 1251 BCE date should be removed and replaced with February 10 1286 BC. Calculating back from when Herakles ruled over Tyrines in Argos at the same time as Eurestheus ruled over Mycenae in 1264 BC (Jerome, Eusebius, Clement and Apollodorus), Herakles would have been born at least 18 years earlier in 1282 BC. This shows that the February 10 1286 BC eclipse date is corroborated by these ancient historians and the only date that fits the historical facts.--User:Argyrosargyrou 16:42, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC) (Eusebius in his Preperation of the Gospel quotes Clement saying that "from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the deification of Hercules himself and of Asclepius there are comprised thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus the chronicler: and from that point to the deification of Castor and Pollux fifty-three years: and somewhere about this time was the capture of Troy.") User:Argyrosargyrou|Argyrosargyrou]] 16:42, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC) I'm not sure if all of the speculation regarding the dates of Heracles' life should be included in the article, as it is just that, speculation. The application of modern astronomy to mythological figures is somewhat absurd. Moreover, trying to pin down a precise date for any event in Greek Myth is going to have serious problems due to the numerous, conflicting tellings and timelines that obscure any simple formulation of a mythological Greek "history." Going with that logic one might as well add that Heracles was believed to have paced out the Olympic stadium in 756 (a myth that someone should add to the article), which would have made him several hundred years old. It would be more helpful if it were simply stated that the Ancient Greeks believed he lived sometime in the 13th or 14th century B.C. rather than giving precise dates that would give the impression that he was a real person and that those events really happened at those specific times.--MS
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''For the son of Alexander the Great, see Heracles (Macedon).'' In Greek Mythology, Heracles, or Heraklês ("glory of Hera", Ἡρακλῆς) was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, the grand-daughter of Perseus (mythology) and the wife of Amphitryon. In Roman Mythology he was called Hercules. He was, arguably, the greatest of the mythical Greek heroes, best known for his superhuman strength and many stories are told of his life. The most famous group of stories tell of The Twelve Labours. His Etrucan mythology equivalent was Hercle, a son of Tinia and Uni. He was also identified with Heryshaf (Egyptian mythology). Curiously, in temples that were set up to praise Herakles, the priests wore female clothing, possibly connected to the myth of Omphale. == Birth and childhood == Heracles was a son of Zeus and Alcmene. A major factor in the tragedies surrounding Heracles stem from Hera's hatred of him; as the wife of Zeus she often hated his mortal offspring because they were living proof of Zeus' constant affairs, and she especially hated Heracles. While Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera, who was already informed of Zeus' adultery, persuaded Zeus to swear an oath on the night Heracles was to be born that the child born that night to a member of the House of Perseus would be High King. Once the oath was sworn, Hera hurried to Alcmene's dwelling and slowed the birth by sitting crosslegged with her clothing tied in knots. She would have permanently delayed the birth had she not been foiled by Galanthis, her servant, who told Hera that she had already delivered the baby. Hera turned her into a weasel and forced her to give birth by laying eggs through her mouth. Heracles was named in an unsuccessful attempt to mollify Hera. A few months after he was born, Hera sent two serpents to kill him as a he lay in his cot. Heracles throttled a single snake in each hand and was found by his nurse playing with their limp bodies as if they were child's toys. One account of the origin of the Milky Way is that Zeus had tricked Hera into nursing the infant Heracles: discovering who he was, she had pulled him from her breast, and a spurt of her milk formed the smear across the sky that can be seen to this day. According to Greek tradition, probably based on Libanius, "Oration" XII, 99, or on the Epitome of the Library of Apollodorus, Heracles was conceived in the womb when Zeus, extended the night into three during his parents' nuptial. That miraculous event may have been a solar eclipse near daybreak, which took place on September 7, 1250s BCE . It lasted from 6:51 to 9:41 in the morning at Sparta, with 75.9% magnitude. The Legend has it that Heracles was born in Thebes, Greece, where Alcmene and Amphitryon lived. The eclipse could well be visible there also. Alternatively it is more likely to have been the solar eclipse which occurred at around about midday on February 10, 1280s BCE thereby making one night into three. Totality occured at 10:52 UTC according to [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEcat/SE-1299--1200.html NASA] projections. This would place Heracles birth on November 4 of the same year. It was on the 4th of every month that the ancient Greeks celebrated Heracles birth. (see discussion) == Adulthood == He continued to perform feats such as slaying a lion that was preying on the local flocks and defending Thebes against a neighbouring army. For the latter he was awarded the King of Thebes' (Creon) daughter, Megara. === The Twelve Labours === ''Main Article'': The Twelve Labours In a fit of madness, induced by Hera, Herakles slew his wife, children, and brother's children and as penance as told to him by the Delphic Sibyl, he was required to carry out ten tasks set by his arch-enemy, Eurystheus (who had become King in his stead). Herakles successfully carried them all out, but Eurystheus was told by Hera to deem that two of the tasks had been failed due to Herakles being helped, and allocated two more, which Herakles also completed, making 12. According to Saint Jerome's Chronicon Herakles completed his 12 labours in 1246 BC. === Omphale === Omphale was a queen or princess of Lydia. As penalty for a murder, Heracles was her slave. He was forced to do women's work and wear women's clothes, while she wore the skin of the Nemean Lion and carried his olive-wood club. After some time, Omphale freed Heracles and married him. Some sources mention a son fathered on Omphale who is variously named. For further details see Omphale. It was at that time that the cercopes, mischievous wood spirits, stole Heracles' weapons. He punished them by tying them to a stick with their faces pointing downward. === Hylas === While walking through the wilderness, Heracles was set upon by the Dryopians. He killed their king, Theiodamas, and the others gave up and offered him Prince Hylas. He took the youth on as his weapons bearer and beloved. Years later, Heracles and Hylas joined the crew of the Argo. As Argonauts they only participated in part of the journey. In Mysia, Hylas was kidnapped by a nymph. Heracles, heartbroken, searched for a long time but Hylas had fallen in love with the nymphs and never showed up again. The ship set sail without them. [http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/Hercules/Hylas/Hylas.htm Story of Heracles and Hylas] === Iole === King Eurytus of Oechalia promised his daughter, Iole, to whoever could beat his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won but Eurytus abandoned his promise. Heracles killed him and his sons and abducted Iole. === Killing various giants === Heracles killed the giants Cycnus, Porphyrion and Mimas. === Laomedon/Tros === Before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy. Laomedon planned on sacrificing his daughter Hesione to Poseidon in the hope of appeasing him. Heracles happened to arrive (along with Telamon and Oicles) and agreed to kill the monster if Laomedon would give him the horses received from Zeus as compensation for Zeus' kidnapping Ganymede (mythology). Laomedon agreed. Heracles killed both the monster but Laomedon went back on his word. Accordingly in a later expedition Heracles and his followers attacked Troy and sacked it and slew all Laomedon's sons present there save Podarces, who saved his own life by giving Heracles a golden veil Hesione had made. Telamon took Hesione as a war prize; they were married and had a son, Teucer. === Other adventures === * Heracles defeated the Bebryces (ruled by King Mygdon) and gave their land to Prince Lycus of Mysia, son of Dascylus. * He killed the robber Termerus. * Heracles visited Evander with Antor, who then stayed in Italy. * Heracles killed King Amyntor of the Dolopes for not allowing him into his kingdom. He also killed King Emathion of Arabia. * Heracles killed Lityerses after beating him in a contest of harvesting. * Heracles killed Poriclymenus at Pylos. * Heracles founded the city Tarentum (modern: Taranto) in Italy. * Heracles learned music from Linus (and Eumolpus), but killed him after Linus corrected his mistakes. He learned how to wrestle from Autolycus. He killed the famous boxer Eryx of Sicily in a match. * Heracles later participated in many other adventures. He was an Argonauts. He killed Alastor and his brothers. * When Hippocoon overthrew his brother, Tyndareus and killed Tyndareus' son, Lycon, as King of Sparta, Heracles reinstated the rightful ruler and killed Hippocoon. == Marriage, sex and death == Heracles had countless affairs with women. He naturally had a great many children from various women, collectively referred to as the Heracleidae (most notable: Macaria). One event that stands out was his stay at the palace of King Thespios, who liked his build and encouraged Heracles to make love to his daughters, all fifty of them, in one night. They all got pregnant and all bore sons. Many of the kings of ancient Greece traced their lines to one or another of these, notably the kings of Sparta and Macedon. During the course of his life, Heracles married three times. His first marriage was to Megara, whose three children he murdered in a fit of madness and whom he later gave in marriage to his companion Iolaus, because the sight of her was too painful. His second wife was Omphale, the Lydia queen or princess to whom he was sold as a slave. His last marriage was to Deianira, for whom he had to fight the river god Achelous. (Upon Achelous' death, Heracles removed one of his horns and gave it to some nymphs who turned it into the cornucopia.) Soon after they wed, Heracles and Deianira had to cross a river, and a centaur named Nessus offered to help Deianeira across but then attempted to rape her. Enraged, Heracles shot the centaur from the opposite shore with a poisoned arrow (from the Lernean Hydra) and killed him. As he lay dying, Nessus told Deianira that if she ever wanted to make sure of Heracles' love, she should gather up his blood and spilled semen and save them. Later, when Deianira suspected that Heracles was preferring the company of Iole, she soaked a shirt of his in the mixture. Heracles' servant, Lichas, brought him the shirt and he put it on. Instantly he was in agony, as the shirt burned into his flesh and ripped it from his bones. Heracles died a voluntary death, asking that a pyre be built for him to end his suffering. After his death on the pyre the gods transformed Heracles into an immortal. He then married Hebe (mythology). No one but Heracles' friend Philoctetes (in some versions: Iolaus or Poeas) would light his funeral pyre. For this action, Philoctetes (or Poeas) received Heracles' bow and arrows, which were later necessary for the Greeks to defeat Troy in the Trojan War. According to Eusebius in book 10(XII) of his "Preperation of the Gospel", Saint Clement states that "from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the deification of Hercules himself and of Asclepius there are comprised thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus of Athens the chronicler: and from that point to the deification of Castor and Pollux fifty-three years: and somewhere about this time was the capture of Troy." Since Herakles ruled over Tiryns in Argos at the same time as Eurystheus ruled over Mycenae and at about this time Linus was Herakles teacher then based on the date for Linus notoriety in teaching Herakles in 1260s BCE given by Jerome in his Chronicon Herakels death and deification occurred 38 years later in approximately 1220s BCE. October 12 was the day of the year when the ancient Greeks celebrated the festival of the Herakleia which commemorated the death of Herakles. === Acca Larentia === In Roman mythology, Acca Larentia was Hercules' mistress. She was married to Tarutius, a wealthy merchant. When he died, she gave his money to charity. In another version, she was the wife of Faustulus. === Heracles' male lovers === Plutarch, in his ''Eroticos,'' maintains that Heracles' male lovers were so numerous they were beyond counting. Here is a partial list: *Abderus (entrusted with – and slain by – the carnivorous mares of Thracian Mares of Diomedes. Hercules founded the city of Abderus in Thrace in his memory, where he was honored with games.) *Admetus (assisted in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar; also a beloved of Apollo, as per Plutarch and Callimachus) *Adonis *Corythus *Elacatas (Sparta eromenos, honored there with a sanctuary and yearly games, according to Sosibius) *Euphemus *Hylas[http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/Hercules/Hylas/Hylas.htm] *Iolaus (Theban, Heracles' nephew, helped him in many labors. Plutarch reports that down to his own time lovers and their beloveds would go down to his tomb in Thebes to swear an oath of loyalty to him.) *Iphitus *Jason (late mention, may be literary conceit) *Nestor (mythology) (Loved him for his wisdom) *Nireus *Philoctetes (according to Martial. He is also heir to the hero's bow and is the one who lights his pyre. Later he is the initiator of Neoptolemus, son of Achilles.) *Phrix (Collected by Bernard Sergent in ''Homosexuality in Greek Myth,'' Beacon Press, 1986.) == Modern and ancient intepretations == Via the Greco-Buddhist culture, Herculean symbolism was transmitted to the far east. An example remains to this day in the Nio guardian deities in front of Japanese Buddhist temples.
Later interpretations of Heracles' legend cast him as a wise leader and a good friend (many of the movie and TV adaptations cast him in this light, especially the recent syndicated TV series ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', and the movie Hercules (movie)). While he was a champion and a great warrior, he was not above cheating and using any unfair trick to his advantage. However, he was renowned as having made the world safe for man by destroying many dangerous monsters, and he was also held up as an example for never having attacked first, but for having conquered all merely by defending himself when attacked, and protecting the helpless and distraught. His self-sacrifice obtained Him the ascent to the Olympian realms and He was welcomed by the Gods. The legend of Heracles endures, though often co-opted to suit the political fashion of the day. As a public domain character Hercules or Heracles have appeared in several comic book adaptations; see: ''Hercules (comics)'' See also: sword and sandal (list of cinematic genres); Maciste; ''The Sons of Hercules''; ''The Mighty Hercules'' == Spoken-word myths – audio files == {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" |- ! style="background:#ffdead;" | Heracles myths as told by story tellers |- |Media:Hercules and Hylas wiki.ogg |- |Bibliography of reconstruction: Homer, ''Odyssey,'' 12.072 (7th c. BCE); Theocritus, ''Idylls,'' 13 (350–310 BCE); Callimachus, ''Aetia (Causes)'', 24. Thiodamas the Dryopian, Fragments, 160. Hymn to Artemis (310–250? BCE); Apollonios Rhodios, ''Argonautika,'' I. 1175 - 1280 (c. 250 BCE); Apollodorus, ''Library and Epitome'' 1.9.19, 2.7.7 (140 BCE); Sextus Propertius, ''Elegies,'' i.20.17ff (50–15 BCE); Ovid, ''Ibis,'' 488 (8 CE–18 CE); Gaius Valerius Flaccus, ''Argonautica,'' I.110, III.535, 560, IV.1-57 (1st c. C.E.); Hyginus, ''Fables,'' 14. Argonauts Assembled (1st c. CE); Philostratus the Elder, ''Images,'' ii.24 Thiodamas (170–245 CE); First Vatican Mythographer, 49. Hercules et Hylas |- |} ==External links== *[http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/heracles.html Timeless Myths – Heracles] The life and adventure of Heracles, including his twelve labours. *[http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Heracles1.html Heracles, Greek Mythology Link] *[http://www.insecula.com/contact/A004087.html/ Heracles (in French)] Greek gods Argonauts la:Hercules
Heracles
Some information I have here says that The Apples of Hesperides is the final labor, and cerberus is the eleventh. Someone please look into this... what accounts for the difference in order? :Try doing a search on google -- Cerberus is the twelfth on all the sites I found. There may be alternate versions, though. A lot of mythological stories have multiple variations. Maybe something should be added to the article about other versions... User:TUF-KAT == why did hera hate Heracles so much? == why did hera hate Heracles so much? User:Kingturtle 03:32, 20 Jan 2004 (UTC) :Because she hated all of her husband's children by women other than her. I don't know why she seemed to hate him so much more than the others. User:TUF-KAT 19:14, Jan 20, 2004 (UTC) I'm pretty sure it's because it was the first child with a mother other then her that she learned about.-User:Flyingcheese 01:18, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC) == On Heracles' male lovers == Far be it from me to start a dispute, but if you would remove the list of his male lovers from the section on his sex life, please give your reasons.--User:Haiduc 02:30, 2 Jul 2004 (UTC) I didn't remove the list before (nor am I now), but it comes across as awkward (for lack of a better word) and somewhat POV; that is, it seems like its simply there to be scandalous. I'm not saying that it should be entirely removed; in fact, I think it should largely stay. I think that it could probably be shortened, though. I would recommend keeping the introduction to the list, and then (having already mentioned that they are numerous, the list itself becomes somewhat superfluous) limiting the list to the most important men, preferably with a short description of their importance in the Heracles myth(s).--MS == hercules == Is "Heracles" is another name for Hercules? User:83.130.3.195 19:12, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC) == Eclipse Date == The September 7, 1251 BCE eclipse date for Herakels birth is contradicted by all the major sources including Jerome (Chronicon), Eusebius (Preparation of the Gospel) and Apollodorus. February 10 1286 BC is the most likely date for the eclipse when one night was turned into three. Jerome places the end of Herakles 12 Labours in 1246 BC (see translation of Jeromes Chonicon by Roger Pearse et al.) Eusebius along with Clement and Apollodorus place Herakles reign over Argos about 91 years before the end of the Trojan War (1183 BC). If Herakles was born in 1250 then he would be younger than Theseus who was 50 when he abducted Helen (according to Plutarch's Lives), which according to Jerome occurred in 1222 BC. The September 7, 1251 BCE date should be removed and replaced with February 10 1286 BC. Calculating back from when Herakles ruled over Tyrines in Argos at the same time as Eurestheus ruled over Mycenae in 1264 BC (Jerome, Eusebius, Clement and Apollodorus), Herakles would have been born at least 18 years earlier in 1282 BC. This shows that the February 10 1286 BC eclipse date is corroborated by these ancient historians and the only date that fits the historical facts.--User:Argyrosargyrou 16:42, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC) (Eusebius in his Preperation of the Gospel quotes Clement saying that "from the reign of Hercules in Argos to the deification of Hercules himself and of Asclepius there are comprised thirty-eight years, according to Apollodorus the chronicler: and from that point to the deification of Castor and Pollux fifty-three years: and somewhere about this time was the capture of Troy.") User:Argyrosargyrou|Argyrosargyrou]] 16:42, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC) I'm not sure if all of the speculation regarding the dates of Heracles' life should be included in the article, as it is just that, speculation. The application of modern astronomy to mythological figures is somewhat absurd. Moreover, trying to pin down a precise date for any event in Greek Myth is going to have serious problems due to the numerous, conflicting tellings and timelines that obscure any simple formulation of a mythological Greek "history." Going with that logic one might as well add that Heracles was believed to have paced out the Olympic stadium in 756 (a myth that someone should add to the article), which would have made him several hundred years old. It would be more helpful if it were simply stated that the Ancient Greeks believed he lived sometime in the 13th or 14th century B.C. rather than giving precise dates that would give the impression that he was a real person and that those events really happened at those specific times.--MS
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