Greek mythology abounds in variouslegends. Each of them is a fascinating legend about the courage and resourcefulness of the characters. One of these legends is the myth of Hercules. Greek mythology describes the entire life of the hero, without neglecting a single detail.
The birth of a hero
Отвага, мужественность и сострадание – вот, о чем narrates the myth. The birth of Hercules, the son of a mere mortal Alcmene and the great Zeus, was not included in the plans of Hera. She delayed the birth of the queen and accelerated the birth of Eurystheus, who was the great-grandson of Zeus. And, according to this great god's promise, Eurystheus gets power over the Peloponnesus. Hera sent two snakes to the kids of Alcmene. But the unbelievable power of Hercules was revealed. The baby strangled them.
The myth of Hercules says that the education of the young hero engagedAutolycus, Hebrew, Castor and the wise centaur Chiron. They taught the young man to fight, to play kithar and archery. But after the incident with Lin, who decided to punish him for disobedience, Hercules was expelled to Mount Kiferon.
The Twelve Feats of Hercules
Myths and legends of Hercules give different versions of hero exploits.According to one of them, he went to serve Eurystheus after killing his children in a mad fit. Other versions say that Hera has fallen insane upon Hercules after he accomplished 12 feats. After that, the hero went into slavery to the Lydian queen Omphale. The latest version is more common in the literature.
After the liberation of the neighborhood of Kiferon fromthe terrible lion who devastated everything around, Hercules on the advice of the oracle goes to serve Eurystheus. During the twelve-year ministry to the king, he had to perform ten feats. The cunning ruler of some deeds of the hero did not count.
The first feat of Hercules is considered the extraction of the skin of the Nemean lion, which was invulnerable. The hero strangled the beast, and from his "fur coat" made a cape for himself.
In the next feat, the hero was helped by his nephewIolaus, because of what he was not counted. Hercules and Iolaus destroyed the Lerna hydra with nine heads, one of which was immortal. Killing her was prevented by the huge cancer of Karkin. He clung to the hero's leg. Iolaus burned the wounds of the hydra with fire, which was an obstacle to the emergence of new heads.
- catching a magic doe with golden horns;
- getting the Erymanthian boar;
- the destruction of Stimfalian birds that feed on people;
- cleaning out the Augean stables;
- capture of the Cretan bull.
The last feat was the way to the kingdom of the dead for Cerberus, which then had to be returned.
The last days of the hero's life
After going through many trials, Hercules marriedDiyarire. She was jealous of the prisoner who was brought by her husband, soaked his clothes with the poisonous blood of the centaur. When he put it on, she immediately joined the body and slowly began to kill the hero. According to legend, Hercules gained immortality and joined the gods on Mount Eta. After ascension to Olympus, he married the daughter of Gera and Zeus.
The myth of Hercules and the trials that fell to his fate is still popular and is reflected in films and theatrical productions.
