The Guide to Ancient Greece
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Hercules’ parents were the god Zeus and a mortal woman whom I don’t know the name of. Hera, Zeus’ “Queen” was very jealous and sent two serpents to kill Hercules when he was just an infant. Hercules, in his crib strangled both the snakes to death. When Hercules became of age he had proven his super human strength, skill with a bow, and his wrestling abilities. Hera had driven him so mad he killed his own children. For his crime he was sentenced to a list of labors. The 12 labors were more commonly known as Labor One: The Nemean Lion, Labor Two: The Hydria, Labor Three: the Cerynitian Hind, Labor Four: the Erymanthian Boar, Labor Five: the Augean Stables, Labor Six: The Stymphalian Birds, Labor Seven: The Cretan Bull, Labor Eight: The Mares of Diomedes, Labor Nine: Hippolyte’s Belt, Labor Ten: the Cattle of Geryon, Labor Eleven: The Apples of Hesperides, Labor Twelve: the Capture of Cerberus. Yeah, long list. Heracles had a great many other adventures, in after years as well as in between his Labors. It was poisonous Hydra venom that eventually brought about his demise. He had allowed a centaur to ferry his wife Deianara across a river, and the centaur had attacked her on the other side. Heracles killed him with an arrow, but before he died he told Deinara to keep some of his blood for a love potion. Deinara used some on Heracles' tunic to keep him faithful, little realizing that it had been poisoned with Hydra venom from the arrow. Heracles donned the tunic and died in agony.