Perseus = Andromeda Alcaeus Sthenelus Electryon = Anaxo Eurystheus Zeus = Alcmene = Amphitryon Heracles Iphicles Iolaus Heracles at Thebes Young Heracles • Hera: • Sent a sea serpent to kill the baby Heracles • Heracles strangled the serpent • Young Heracles: • One of his tutors, Linus, brother of Orpheus • Heracles killed Linus (self defense) • Sent to the cattle farm at Thebes The Minyan War • Clymentus, king of the Minyans • Wounded by Menoeceus of Thebes • His son, Erginus attacked Thebes • Thebes lost the war, paid tribute to Erginus • Heracles led attack on the Minyans • Heracles gets Megara, daughter of Creon Hera’s Wrath • Jealous of his fame, Hera drove Heracles mad • Heracles killed all of his children • To be purified of the crime, Heracles must perform ten labours for Eurystheus. • Eurystheus • Son of Sthenelus, son of Perseus. • Now king of Mycenae Ten (Twelve) Labours 1. The Nemean Lion • Heracles choked the Lion • Brought it to Mycenae • Eurystheus refused him entry 2. Lernean Hydra • Snake with nine heads, one immortal • Cut off the heads, buried the immortal one • Needed the help of Iolaus • So this labour didn’t count amongst the ten. • 1. Nemia 1 • 2. Lerna 2 Heracles slays the Nemean Lion Lion’s Gate Mycenae Lernean Hydra Gordian III, (AD 238 – 244) Bronze plate ca. 1490 Gibraltar, 1998 Labours 3. Cerynitian Hind - Alive • A deer sacred to Artemis • Heracles hunted it for a year • Had to wound it to catch it. 4. Erymanthian Boar – Alive • Accidentally killed Cheiron on the way • Apollodorus ii.5.4, but the story seems out of place. • Trapped the Boar in the snow Erymanthian Boar 3 4 1 • 1. Nemia 2 • 2. Lerna • 3. Ceryneia • 4. Mt. Lampeia (?) 5. Clean the Stables of Augeas • Augeas, king of Elis • Heracles tricked Augeas into shares • Heracles diverted a river through the stables • Didn’t count because Heracles made a profit 6. Chase the Stymphalian Birds • Heracles used castanets, or a cymbal. 7. Catch the Cretan Bull • Bull of Europa or Bull of Poseidon • Heracles brought it to Mycenae but set it free. • 1. Nemia • 2. Lerna 3 5 • 3. Ceryneia 4 6 1 • 4. Mt. Lampeia 2 • 5. Elis • 6. Lake Stymphalia • 1. Nemia • 2. Lerna • 3. Ceryneia • 4. Mt. Lampeia • 5. Elis • 6. Lake Stymphalia • 7. Crete 7 The Cretan Bull 8. Capture the Mares of Diomedes • Invasion of Thrace • Killed the king and took the horses • Founded Abdera 9. Steal the Belt of Hippolyte • Queen of the Amazons • Heracles first conquered Paros • Aided Lycia in a war • Killed Hippolyte and took the belt of Ares Abdera Thermedon R. Paros Lycia Heracles fighting the Amazons Heracles at Troy • Laomadon, King of Troy • Beset by a sea monster • Hesione, daughter of Laomedon, to be sacrificed • Heracles • Killed the monster for the horses of Tros • Laomedon reneged • Heracles vowed to return Labour 10 The Kine (cattle) of Geryon • Red cows from Cadiz • Guarded by Orthus – two headed dog • Heracles erected the Pillars on his way • Heracles killed Geryon and took the cattle • The cattle eventually dispersed The Pillars of Hercules Cadiz Final Labours 11. Golden Apples of the Hesperides • Guarded on Mt. Atlas • On his way, Heracles freed Prometheus • Eurystheus gave the apples back to Heracles, he gave them to Athena 12. Bring Cerberus from Hades • Rescued Theseus on the way • Wrestled the dog and brought him up • Returned the dog afterwards Mt Atlas Mt Atlas Hercules rescuing Prometheus Christian Griepenkerl Mt. Caucasus Taenarum Heracles presents Cerberus Mt. Atlas Heracles and the Olympic Games • Diodorus (iv.14): • Heracles founded the Olympics after Labour 7, the Cretan Bull. • Apollodorus (ii.7.2): • Founded the Games after his conquest of Troy and the war between the gods and the Giants. • Pausanias Guilt of Heracles • Heracles gave Megara to Iolaus • Heracles had won Iole, daughter of Eurytus in a contest: • Her father forbade the marriage • Iphitus defended Heracles • Heracles later killed Iphitus • Sought purification Guilt of Heracles • Purification: • Delphi • Didn’t get an answer so he attacked Delphi • Apollo attacked Heracles – Zeus intervened • Heracles ordered to be sold as a slave and serve for three years • Bought by Omphale, princess of Lydia Heracles and Omphale Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (1650s) Heracles at Troy ii • Sailed with 18 ships • Besieged and captured Troy • Laomedon killed • Hesione given to Telamon • Hesione ransomed her brother, Podarces • Podarces became known an Priam (the one who was ‘bought’) Heracles and Deianira • Married Deinaria, daughter of Oeneus • Jealousy: • Heracles returned to capture Iole • Deinaria was jealous of Iole • She poisoned Heracles and killed herself Apotheosis of Heracles • Heracles, ill from the poison, went to Mt. Oeta in Trachis • Built his own pyre • Before the body burned, a cloud took Heracles to heaven Apotheosis of Heracles with Athena taking him to heaven Athena presenting Heracles to Zeus Apotheosis of Heracles Francois Lemoyne (?) The Heraclidae • Heracles left 66 sons • After he died they fled Mycenae • Eurystheus wanted them killed • The Heraclidae fled to Athens • Defeated Eurystheus in the war • Were defeated attempting to conquer the Peloponnese • It would be three generations before they return.