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Nov 8, 2021 · Whatever the reason for his presence, Hercules volunteered to fight the monster in exchange for the horses. The texts don’t provide many details as regards the battle, but some vase-paintings of the sixth century BC, like the one heading this article, suggest that Hercules used either stones, blades, or indeed a bow and arrows to defeat it.
Antique fresco from Pompeii. Heracles ( / ˈhɛrəkliːz / HERR-ə-kleez; Greek: Ἡρακλῆς, lit. "glory/fame of Hera "), born Alcaeus [2] ( Ἀλκαῖος, Alkaios) or Alcides [3] ( Ἀλκείδης, Alkeidēs ), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon. [4]
- Early Life
- Hercules' 12 Labours
- Hercules' Other Adventures
- Deianeira
- A Horrible Death & Divinity
- Representation in Art
Hercules' mortal father was Amphitryon (nephew of Elektryon, ruler of Mycenae) and his mother was Alkmene; both were from Argos. However, following a violent quarrel between Amphitryon and his uncle, resulting in the accidental death of the latter, the family fled to Thebes where Hercules was born. In mythology, though, it was Zeus who lay with Alk...
Hercules married Megara, the daughter of Kreo, King of Thebes, and together they had five children. Hera once more interfered and drove Hercules insane so that he killed his wife and children. In desperate remorse, he sought the advice of Apollo via his oracle at Delphi. The advice was for Hercules to offer his services to his cousin Eurystheus, th...
Whilst performing his labours, Hercules is involved in many more secondary exploits such as fighting Hades to rescue Alcestis from the Underworld, killing Kyknos who waylaid pilgrims to Delphi, and joining the search for the Golden Fleece with Jason and the Argonauts. Hercules also went to Troy to save Hesione, daughter of the king, Laomedon. Follo...
On the successful completion of his twelve labours, Hercules started a new life. During his exploits in Hades he had met Meleagerwho told him he should marry his sister Deianeira, daughter of Oineus, King of Kalydon. On arrival in Kalydon, though, Hercules found that Deianeira was betrothed against her will to Acheloos, the river god. Winning the a...
Hercules then fled to Trachis from where he went to serve Omphale, Queen of Lydia, at the orders of Zeus. He also destroyed Oichalia and took Iole as his servant. Suspecting amorous motives and seeking to win back the affections of her husband, Deianeira decided to use the blood of Nessos, covered a cloak in it and gave it to a messenger to take to...
In ancient Greek Archaic and Classical pottery art Hercules is often depicted carrying a knotted club, a quiver full of arrows, and wearing a lion's pelt with sometimes also a lion's head helmet. He is usually bearded (until the late 5th and 4th centuries BCE when he is more often depicted beardless) and has very large eyes. The earliest complete d...
- Mark Cartwright
Hercules found Troy in a state of crisis, as King Laomedon had cheated Poseidon and Apollo by failing to pay them for building the walls. For punishment Poseidon had sent a large sea monster, who would only be appeased by devouring the princess, Hesione.
Heracles, Hesione and the Sea-Monster, Corinthian black-figure krater C6th B.C., Museum of Fine Arts Boston. THE KETOS TROIAS (Trojan Cetus) was a giant sea-monster sent by Poseidon to plague the land of Troy as punishment for King Laomedon's refusal to pay him for the building of the city's walls. An oracle declared that the only way to be rid ...
The details of the fight vary between ancient sources, but the common theme of the fight between the monster and Heracles, sees the Greek hero making use of his bow and poisoned tipped arrows to inflict damage upon the monster, before the skull of the sea monster is crushed beneath Heracles’ mighty club.
The Lernean Hydra. Next, Eurystheus sent Heracles to kill the Hydra. The Hydra was a sea monster (its name comes from hydōr [ὕδωρ], which means “water” in Greek), that had many snake-like heads. The Hydra lived in a swampy area near Lerna, and Heracles came to its den.
