STATUE OF HERCULES-HERACLES
Hercules-Heracles statue handmade and metal-coated. Made of cast copper resin, which allows greater detail and a nice weight. All Veronese figurines are beautifully packaged, have great detail and are great collectible gifts.
The pan-Hellenic mythological hero Hercules (or Herakles) was famed for his great strength and endurance. HE WAS celebrated as an extraordinary mortal who, through success in seemingly impossible labours, won his immortal place amongst the Olympian gods. Being the greatest of Greek mythological heroes, he has been ascribed a multitude of adventures and heroic exploits . Over the centuries which were probably originally connected to lesser, more local figures.
Early Life
Hercules’ mortal father was Amphitryon and his mother was Alkmene. 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 Alkmene and so fathered Hercules. Explaining the origin of Hercules’ great strength.
Hera, the wife of Zeus, was (understandably) always jealous of Hercules-Heracles and made life difficult for him from an early age. The goddess delayed his birth so that his cousin Eurystheus would be born first and so become the ruler of Greece according to Zeus’ decree. Hera also sent two snakes to kill the new-born Hercules, but the baby easily strangled them. On the other hand, Hercules generally enjoyed divine favour from the Olympian gods . He did, after all, help them in their battle against the Giants – and he was particularly favoured by Athena.
Hercules-Heracles 12 Labours
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, the king of Mycenae, Tiryns, and Argos. Hera once more influenced events by persuading Eurystheus to set the hero difficult and dangerous tasks . The famous twelve labours of Hercules:
Hercules’ Other Adventures
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. Following Laomedon’s failure to pay homage to the deeds done by Poseidon and Apollo for the city, the gods respectively sent a sea-monster and a plague to wreak havoc with the city.