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Heracles (Hercules)

Origin: Greek (and Roman) myth

Heroic Values: Achievement, Courage, Perseverance

Background

Heracles was born from the immortal Zeus and the mortal woman Alcemne. Zeus’ wife Hera was very jealous and a few months after he was born, she sent two serpents to kill Heracles while he was sleeping. Fortunately for Heracles, his strength beat and killed the serpents.

Heracles grew up into a very strong and courageous man. He had many adventures, the most famous being the Twelve Labors of Heracles. King Eurystheus gave Heracles twelve (ten originally but he added two) labors to be completed in twelve years.

His labors were extremely difficult and involved using all of his strength, courage, and wits. Some of them involved killing the ferocious Nemean Lion, cleaning the Augean Stables, fetching the apples of Hesperides, and even capturing Cerberus, the guard dog of the Underworld.

After he completed them all, he went on other adventures and saved other people from giants and beasts of all sorts.

Under the impression that it would be a good gift for Heracles, Deianeira (Heracles’ wife at the time) gave him a shirt that she didn’t know was soaked in poison. Heracles died after putting it on and his immortal spirit was lifted up to Mount Olympus with all of the Gods.

Submitted By: Steve Kessel

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Sacred Texts
The story of Hercules

Mythweb
Hercules' profile