Hercules (Mythology)/Bio & Battles

The son of Zeus, King of the Gods, and the mortal woman Alcmene, Heracles, better known under his Roman name Hercules, born as Alcaeus or Alcides, is perhaps the most famous hero in the mythology of ancient Greece.

Being an illegitimate child from one of Zeus's many affairs, Hercules suffered the wrath of Zeus's wife, Hera, throughout his life. When Hera caused him to go into a fit of rage and murder his wife and children, Hercules sought redemption and was instructed by the Oracle of Delphi to pledge his service to the Mycenaean King Eurystheus.

Eurystheus ordered Hercules to complete ten, later twelve seemingly impossible labors. These tasks including the killing of monsters like the Hydra and the Nemean Lion, and quests for fabulous treasures, like the Girdle of the Amazon Queen Hippolyta and the golden Apples of the Hesperides.

Against all odds, Hercules completed all the challenges and had plenty of other adventures along the way, including sailing with Jason and the Argonauts, fighting the Gigantes alongside the Olympians, sacking the city of Troy, and even having a few battles against the gods themselves.

At the end of his life, Hercules's mortal half was separated from him by Zeus, and he rose to Olympus and became a god.