Heracles

By A.W.

Heracles, one of the most well known of all the Greek heroes, was very important to the Greeks and impacted their art and literature.  Although he was born to Zeus and Alcmene, Heracles was raised and considered a mortal. Hera, queen of the gods, and goddess of marriage and life was jealous of Alcmene because Zeus loved her. Therefore, she hated Heracles. When he was just a baby, she sent two snakes to hill him. Amazingly, he fought them off. During Heracles’ lifetime, he had two wives. His first wife was the princess of Thebes. Together, they had two children; but Hera had not forgotten about him. She made him temporarily insane, killing his wife and kids.  Heracles was so heartbroken and ashamed that he would do anything to make things right. His second wife was Deiareira. Just because Heracles was known all over Greece for his strength, didn’t mean that it was his only characteristic. Heracles was the hero of all mankind and he believed himself equal to the gods. He was more emotional than smart. But there was a hint of brightness when he cleaned King Augeas’ stables in one day by changing the course of two rivers. Heracles had a strong dislike for wrongdoing, which motivated him to do many things.  The most famous of Heracles’ adventures is the epic twelve labors that he completed, making him known throughout Greece. A motive for Heracles’s twelve labors was the grief over killing his wife and trying to make things right. His amazing labors included defeating he Nemian lion, whose fur was impenetrable, the slaying Hydra, with nine heads, and capturing the tree-headed dg Cerebus, who guarded the gates to the underworld.  This myth was an inspiration to the people of Greece and a contribution to many people’s thoughts on Hero’s. Heroes like Heracles were very important to the Greek culture because they inspired many people. Heracles was a human, yet he was accomplishing tasks that a god would do. Heracles was a legendary hero that inspired many pieces of art and literature, such as the Farnese Heracles.

"Heracles."  Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia.  2007. Encyclopædia Britannica  Online School Edition.  5 Nov. 2007