Greek Mythology · hero

Heracles

Ἡράκλεια
also: Hercules (Roman)
herostrengthheroismthe twelve labors

The greatest of the Greek heroes, son of Zeus; he performed the twelve labors and was raised to Olympus.

Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera, archaic sculpture, Athens — Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera
Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera · Zde · undated · National Archaeological Museum, Athens · CC BY-SA 4.0
The account

Who they are

Heracles (Hercules) is the greatest of the Greek heroes, the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena [S2]S2 · Homer, Iliadc. 750 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. Driven to madness by Hera (who resented Zeus's affair with Alcmena) he killed his own children, and was later set to perform the twelve labors by King Eurystheus as penance — including capturing Cerberus, slaying the Nemean lion, and capturing the Cretan bull [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. After his death (he was burned on a pyre, set up by his wife or by fate), he was raised to Olympus and married the goddess Hebe [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text. He is the model of the strength-hero, and his cult was widespread; he was a patron of athletes and of the city of Thebes (his birthplace) [S6]S6 · Pausanias, Description of Greecec. 150–180 CEtext.
Worth knowing
  • Son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena [S2]S2 · Homer, Iliadc. 750 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Performed the twelve labors for Eurystheus [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Captured Cerberus as his final labor [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
  • Raised to Olympus after his death; married Hebe [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.
Relationships (7)

Connections

6 rows · 7 recorded edges — identical notes are grouped

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFZeus — Zeus is the parent of Heracles (with Alcmena).[S2] [S5]
PARENT_OFAlcmena — Alcmena is the (mortal) mother of Heracles.[S2] [S5]

Partners

PARTNER_OFHebe — Heracles married Hebe after his deification.[S5]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDCerberus — Heracles captured Cerberus (his final labor).[S5]
ENEMY_OFHera — Hera's enmity drove Heracles to madness and set his labors.[S5]

Alliances & rule

ALLY_OFTyphon — Heracles (in some accounts) helped bind Typhon.[S5]
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Their corner of the divine world

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FocusHeraclesGreek
GREEK · 41variantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥AegisHelmet of HadesCaduceus of Her…Trident of Pose…Thunderbolt of …Alcmenamortalthe mortal mother of Heracles1 relationsAndromedamortalthe rescued princess2 relationsAphroditedeitylove7 relationsAtlasdeitythe sky (bore)1 relationsChaosprimordialorigin2 relationsDanaemortalthe mortal mother of Perseus1 relationsDemeterdeityharvest6 relationsEchidnamonsterthe monster-mother2 relationsGaiadeityearth6 relationsHadesdeitythe dead7 relationsHeradeitymarriage8 relationsHestiadeityhearth1 relationsLetodeitymotherhood (as mother of Apollo/Artemis)2 relationsMedusamonsterthe Gorgon3 relationsMetisdeitycounsel2 relationsOceanusdeitythe great world-river1 relationsOdysseusherocunning2 relationsPenelopemortalthe faithful wife of Odysseus2 relationsPoseidondeitythe sea6 relationsRheadeitymotherhood2 relationsSemelemortalthe mortal mother of Dionysus1 relationsTethysdeitythe primordial sea1 relationsTyphonmonsterthe great monster7 relationsCerberusmonsterthe guardian of the underworld3 relationsErosdeitylove2 relationsHebedeityyouth2 relationsHephaestusdeityfire6 relationsMaiadeitythe nymph2 relationsUranusprimordialsky6 relationsPersephonedeitythe underworld2 relationsTelemachusmortalthe son of Odysseus2 relationsCronusdeitytime (later association)9 relationsZeusdeitysky29 relationsApollodeitysun (later)4 relationsAresdeitywar (violence, bloodshed)3 relationsArtemisdeitythe hunt3 relationsAthenadeitywisdom4 relationsDionysusdeitywine3 relationsHeraclesherostrength7 relationsHermesdeitymessengers5 relationsPerseusheroheroism8 relations
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Myths featuring Heracles

1 story

The Twelve Labors of Heracles

Driven to madness by Hera, Heracles killed his children and was set to perform the twelve labors for Eurystheus as penance — including the Nemean lion, the Lernaean Hydra, and the capture of Cerberus. After his death he was raised to Olympus [S5]S5 · Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library (Bibliotheca)c. 1st–2nd c. CE (transmits earlier)text.

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Artworks

Depictions

Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera, archaic sculpture, Athens — Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera
Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera · Zde · undated · National Archaeological Museum, Athens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Heracles approaching seated Zeus and Hera · undated
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