2. hercules
● who did the Greeks worship?
○ mythical and historical figures of the past
○ all defined Greek society in some way
● how were they worshipped?
○ at their tombs - chthonic
● who was Heracles?
○ universal hero, all Greeks (especially Spartans) worshipped him
○ big part of religion
early life
● who were Heracles' parents?
○ Alcmene + Amphitryon, from Thebes (descendants of Perseus)
● what happened when Amphitryon went on campaign?
○ Zeus impregnated Alcmene
○ ∴ Heracles has divine father → demigod
● source for Heracles' birth
○ Homeric Hymn to Heracles the Lion Hearted, l. 1-3
● what was Hera's condition and what happened after?
○ after Zeus bragged, Hera said first-born son of the house of Perseus would rule
Thebes
○ Hera prolonged Alcmene’s labour so Eurystheus became king of Mycenae
● where did Eurystheus rule?
○ Mycenae, Thebes
● what did Hera do when Heracles was born?
○ sent poisonous snakes to kill Heracles but he strangled them
● what happened after that?
○ Athena became his protector and went to Mount Olympus
● who did he marry first?
○ Creon's daughter, Megara
● what happened to Megara and their children?
○ killed by Heracles, infected by Madness sent by Hera
● what did Heracles do as a result?
○ exiled himself and went to the oracle
○ Hera was in charge of the oracle and told him to serve Eurystheus for 10 years
● source for this later part of his life
○ Euripides, Heracles
, labours summary
● labours in order + sources
a. the Nemean Lion
i. Hesiod, Theogony 326
b. the Lernean Hydra
i. Hesiod, Theogony 313
ii. had help of Iolaus, his cousin
c. the Ceryneian Hind
i. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History (myth)
ii. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca (history)
d. the Erymanthian Boar
e. the Augean Stables
i. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca
ii. payment / help from rivers Alpheius and Peneius
f. the Stymphalian Birds
i. Bibliotheca + Library of History
g. the Cretan Bull
h. the Mares of Diomedes
i. the Belt of Hippolyte
j. the Cattle of Geryon
k. the Apples of the Hesperides
l. Cerberus
■ Homer, Odyssey
● which of the labours used brute force?
○ 1, 7, 10, 12
● which of the labours used brains?
○ 5, 11
● which of the labours was most heroic?
○ 5 (brains and brawn)
labours
● what was Heracles' original punishment for murdering his family?
○ ten impossible labours
○ the Nemean Lion
■ depiction in art
■ younger
■ lion skin cloak
■ head as helmet
■ pelt as armour
■ club
■ who were the parents of the Nemean Lion?
■ Typhon (100 heads) + Echidna (snake woman)
■ what was special about the Nemean Lion?
■ skin unpenetrable
■ how was it defeated?
● who did the Greeks worship?
○ mythical and historical figures of the past
○ all defined Greek society in some way
● how were they worshipped?
○ at their tombs - chthonic
● who was Heracles?
○ universal hero, all Greeks (especially Spartans) worshipped him
○ big part of religion
early life
● who were Heracles' parents?
○ Alcmene + Amphitryon, from Thebes (descendants of Perseus)
● what happened when Amphitryon went on campaign?
○ Zeus impregnated Alcmene
○ ∴ Heracles has divine father → demigod
● source for Heracles' birth
○ Homeric Hymn to Heracles the Lion Hearted, l. 1-3
● what was Hera's condition and what happened after?
○ after Zeus bragged, Hera said first-born son of the house of Perseus would rule
Thebes
○ Hera prolonged Alcmene’s labour so Eurystheus became king of Mycenae
● where did Eurystheus rule?
○ Mycenae, Thebes
● what did Hera do when Heracles was born?
○ sent poisonous snakes to kill Heracles but he strangled them
● what happened after that?
○ Athena became his protector and went to Mount Olympus
● who did he marry first?
○ Creon's daughter, Megara
● what happened to Megara and their children?
○ killed by Heracles, infected by Madness sent by Hera
● what did Heracles do as a result?
○ exiled himself and went to the oracle
○ Hera was in charge of the oracle and told him to serve Eurystheus for 10 years
● source for this later part of his life
○ Euripides, Heracles
, labours summary
● labours in order + sources
a. the Nemean Lion
i. Hesiod, Theogony 326
b. the Lernean Hydra
i. Hesiod, Theogony 313
ii. had help of Iolaus, his cousin
c. the Ceryneian Hind
i. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History (myth)
ii. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca (history)
d. the Erymanthian Boar
e. the Augean Stables
i. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca
ii. payment / help from rivers Alpheius and Peneius
f. the Stymphalian Birds
i. Bibliotheca + Library of History
g. the Cretan Bull
h. the Mares of Diomedes
i. the Belt of Hippolyte
j. the Cattle of Geryon
k. the Apples of the Hesperides
l. Cerberus
■ Homer, Odyssey
● which of the labours used brute force?
○ 1, 7, 10, 12
● which of the labours used brains?
○ 5, 11
● which of the labours was most heroic?
○ 5 (brains and brawn)
labours
● what was Heracles' original punishment for murdering his family?
○ ten impossible labours
○ the Nemean Lion
■ depiction in art
■ younger
■ lion skin cloak
■ head as helmet
■ pelt as armour
■ club
■ who were the parents of the Nemean Lion?
■ Typhon (100 heads) + Echidna (snake woman)
■ what was special about the Nemean Lion?
■ skin unpenetrable
■ how was it defeated?
