The 12 Labors of Hercules

The tale of Hercules is an example of how cunning and cleverness are better than the strength of a god.

Main Gods/Goddesses Involved:
Hera

Main Humans Involved:
Hercules
Eurystheus

Other Important Characters:

Most Famous Scenes:
Hercules kills the Snakes
The 12 Labors of Hercules

Setting:
This story takes place all around the world.

Story:
Hercules is most likely the most famous and well known of the Classical Greek Heroes. Hercules was born of Zeus and also of a mortal woman, Alcmena. Hera was jealous of Alcmena and she wanted to kill Hercules. She sent two snakes to kill Hercules, but he killed the snakes instead. When Hercules married the princess Megara, Hera struck him into delirium. He thought his wife and sons were enemies, and he killed them. When he came out of his trance and saw what he had done, he wanted to run away, but the gods would not let him. Instead, he was forced to perform 12 tasks for his cowardly cousin, Eurystheus. These 12 tasks were:

1. To kill the Nemean lion who was invincible against all weapons.
2. To kill the Lernean Hydra who had seven heads.
3. To catch the Erymanthian boar.
4. To catch the Stymphalian birds.
5. To catch Eone, the stag of Artemis.
6. To clean the Augeian stables which herded 3,000 cattle. These stables had never been cleaned.
7. To capture the wild bull of Crete.
8. To capture the man-eating horses of Diomedes.
9. To get the girdle of the Queen, Hippolyta
10. To kill the three headed giant, Geryon.
11. To steal three golden apples from a heavily guarded tree To rescue Cerberus and Thesus from Hades
12. Capture Cerberus from the Underworld.

After performing these tasks, Hercules was pardoned of his crime. Hercules then aided Zeus in a battle against the Giants. Hercules was the only mortal who could finish the giants. After the battle, he was awarded a place in Olympus as the god of strength.

Variations:
Hercules is often known as Heracles. His mother, Alcmena is also known as Alcmene.

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