Chapter 11: Hercules

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Chapter 11 Hercules
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Hercules

• son of Zeus and Alcmena (Zeus came in the shape
  of husband)
• greatest hero of Greece
• strongest man on earth
• not the smartest man

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Hercules

• Saved his brother Iphicles (son of Alcmena and
  Amphitryon) from 2 snakes that crawled into
  nursery
• Grabbed them by throats killed them while
  brother screamed

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Hercules

• Fought conquered the Minyans (were at war with
  Thebans)
• Thebans were grateful gave him Princess Megara
• Megara Hercules had 3 sons
• Hera made him go mad b/c was jealous that he was
  son of Zeus
• Killed his children wife
• Realized what hed done

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Hercules

• Wanted to kill himself for what hed done but
  Theseus convinced him not to
• Hercules consulted oracle who told him to go to
  his cousin Eurystheus do whatever he demanded
  of him to be purged
• Eurystheus designed 12 impossibly hard tasks for
  Hercules

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The Twelve Labors 1st

• Labor kill lion of Nemea
• no weapons could harm it
• Hercules choked life out of it

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The Twelve Labors 2nd

• Labor go to Lerna kill creature w/ 9 heads
  (Hydra) who lived in the swamps
• Hercules would cut off 1 head 2 would grow back
• He used burning brand so heads wouldnt grow back
  
• One head was immortal so he buried it securely
  under a great rock

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The Twelve Labors 3rd

• Labor bring back live stag w/ horns of gold
• He hunted it for year killed it

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The Twelve Labors 4th

• Labor capture a great boar
• Hercules chased it around until it was exhausted
• he drove it into the snow and trapped it

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The Twelve Labors 5th

• Labor clean the Augean stables in 1 day
  (thousands of cattle hadnt been cleaned in
  years)
• Hercules diverted course of 2 rivers made them
  flow through stables filth was washed away

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The Twelve Labors 6th

• Labor drive away Stymphalian birds who plagued
  the Stymphalian people
• Athena helped drive them out
• when they flew up he shot them

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The Twelve Labors 7th

• Labor go to Crete get beautiful savage bull
  Poseidon gave Minos
• Hercules mastered him put him in boat
• gave him to Eurystheus

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The Twelve Labors 8th

• Labor get man-eating mares of King Diomedes of
  Thrace
• Hercules killed Diomedes
• drove off the mares unopposed

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The Twelve Labors 9th

• Labor bring back girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of
  Amazons
• She kindly told him she would give it to him
• Hera made Amazons mad by making them think that
  Hercules was going to steal her
• They charged down on his ship
• Hercules killed Hippolyta w/out thinking fought
  off Amazons got away with girdle

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The Twelve Labors 10th

• Labor bring back cattle of Geryon, monster with
  3 bodies living on Western Island
• He reached land at end of Mediterranean set up
  2 great rocks as memorial of his journey
• They were called Pillars of Hercules
• He got oxen and brought them back

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The Twelve Labors 11th

• Labor bring back Golden apples of Hesperides
• Hercules went to Atlas, Hesperides father, who
  held up sky to find apples
• H said he would hold up sky for him if A would go
  get apples
• A, who was looking for chance to be relieved of
  his burden, agreed
• A came back with apples said he would take them
  to Eurystheus
• Hercules trick agreed to plan but got him to
  hold sky so H could put pad on shoulders
• Hercules picked up apples left

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The Twelve Labors 12th

• Labor bring back Cerberus, the 3-headed dog,
  from Hades.
• Could use only his hands
• Lifted it brought it to Eurystheus, who didnt
  want to keep it made Hercules carry him back

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Hercules Adventures

• Fought the river-god Achelous b/c he was in love
  w/ girl Hercules wanted to marry. He took the
  form of a bull and Hercules conquered him and
  broke off his horns, and the young princess,
  Deianira, became his wife
• At Troy rescued a maiden waiting on shore to be
  devoured by sea monster
• On his way to Atlas to ask him about the Golden
  Apples, he came to the Caucasus and freed
  Prometheus, killing the eagle that preyed on him

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Hercules Death

• Wife Deianira heard Hercules had fallen in love
  w/ beautiful maiden, Iole
• Wife had charm of centaurs blood to put on robe
  if Hercules ever loved another woman
• He put on robe caused him great pain
• Didnt die so decided to kill himself
• Ordered people to build funeral pyre on mount Oeta

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Hercules Death

• They gave him his bow and arrows then set him on
  fire and he was taken into heaven.
• In heaven he reconciled with Hera and married her
  daughter Hebe.

Hebe