Mythography | The Greek Hero Herakles in Myth and Art

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Herakles at a Glance

name | Herakles (Greek: ‘HraklhV Latin: Hercules)

role | hero notorious for his strength and 12 labors

symbols | lion-skin, club

Herakles in Greek Mythology

Valiant Herakles - or Hercules, if you prefer his Roman name - is the embodiment of a Greek hero. This son of Zeus and Alcmene faced a dizzying array of monsters and mortals, fighting his way through countless encounters with enemies. These tales of adventure and courage are what intrigue us most about Herakles. For this reason, let us begin our study of Herakles with a look at perhaps his most memorable exploits - the series of tasks referred to at the "Labors of Herakles".

The 12 Labors of Herakles:

1 | The Nemean Lion

2 | The Hydra of Lerna

3 | The Cerynitian Hind

4 | The Erymanthian Boar

5 | The Cleaning of the Stables of Augeas

6 | The Stymphalian Birds

7 | The Cretan Bull

8 | The Mares of Diomedes

9 | The Amazon's (Hippolyta's) Girdle

10 | The Cattle of Geryon

11 | The Golden Apples of the Hesperides

12 | The Descent to the Underworld

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I shall sing of Zeus' son, Herakles, noblest of mortals, born at Thebes of the union of Alcmene with Zeus

- Homeric Hymn to Herakles

Who's Who in Classical Mythology

This book is a great source for information about Greek and Roman mythology! Organized alphabetically, this who's who features information about over 1200 of the most intriguing characters from Classical myth and legend.

The Bibliography

If you want more recommended resources for information about Greek myths, visit the books section - it lists books about mythology, art, literature, and more.

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