Hercules

Story

Hercules was half-man and half-god. His father was Zeus, king of the gods, and his mother was a mortal called Alcmene. After a horrible trick which results in the death of his wife and children, Hercules is set Twelve Labours by King Eurystheus in order to rid himself of his guilt. Will Hercules succeed in these difficult challenges?

Why we chose it

Hercules, famous for his strength and courage, is one of the best known of the Ancient Greek heroes.

Where it came from

One of the earliest sources of this myth is The Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus, which is an account of Greek myths and legends, which dates back to the first or secondary century AD.

Where it went next

The myth has been adapted by numerous ancient authors, including Ovid, Virgil and Euripides. In 1997, Walt Disney made a musical film called Hercules. The story of Hercules is also part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan.

Associated stories

Hercules appears in many other Greek legends. Most famously, he is one of the Argonauts in the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, in which he helps Jason retrieve the golden fleece. His other adventures include rescuing the princess of Troy from a sea-monster and helping Zeus defeat the Giants in a battle for the control of Olympus.