Statue of Hercules

Statue of Hercules. Handmade of alabaster,and painted in museum patina.

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 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.