Classics Notes

Hercules

Hercules was born in Thebes, and is the son of Zeus by Alcmene, who was the last mortal woman Zeus seduce. Right from the time of his birth, Hercules suffered from Hera's hatred. Zeus thought Hercules would be a great king but Hera delayed Hercules birth and one of Zeus grandson became the king of the city of Tiryns instead of Hercules. Hercules also displayed his colossal strength from an early age. A short time after he was born, Hera sent two snakes to kill him, but the infant leapt from his cradle, grasped each snake by the neck and strangled them. Hera became even more angry when she was tricked either by Zeus or Athene into suckling the infant. The pressure of his jaws was so strong that, in pain, she wrenched him away, and the milk spurting from her breast splashed across the heavens to form the Milky Way. For some reason this drinking of divine breast milk ensured that Hercules would one day become divine. Hercules was taught the skills of warfare, chariot driving, archery, boxing and wrestling. He was also taught music and literature but it appears that he was not a very appreciative pupil, since his teacher Linus was the first human victim of his bad temper and colossal strength. Hercules killed him by hitting him over the head with his lyre after a minor disagreement. Hercules also appeared to have the sexual stamina of his father. In his eighteen year he went hunting a lion which was attacking the herds and flocked of King Thespius. He was entertained by forty nine to fifty daughters of the king in one night and managed to leave them all pregnant. King Creon of Thebes gave Hercules his eldest daughter, Megara for his wife and she bore him several children. But Hera was not pleased that Hercules seemed to be enjoying domestic happiness and increasing renown for his deeds. So she inflicted a temporary fit of madness on his, during which Hercules murdered his wife and children. When he regained his sanity he asked the priestess of Apollo at Delphi how he might atone for his crime and was told to go Tiryns and serve Eurystheus for twelve years, performing all tasks the king imposed on him.