User:Mcnamaraer/sandbox

Myth History sources:

Information on gods/goddesses/muses/and monsters https://www.infoplease.com/arts-entertainment/mythology-gods-goddesses-muses-monsters

Ancient History about Myths https://www.ancient.eu/mythology/

History about Myths https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/greek-mythology https://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/

Heracles sources: (this is what I think I really want to do)

General Information https://www.britannica.com/topic/Heracles

More Information on "Herc": https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Heracles/heracles.html

http://www.mythweb.com/hercules/

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/bio.html

helpful sources - https://www.ancient.eu/hercules/

Wiki version of Birth and Childhood

A major factor in the well-known tragedies surrounding Heracles is the hatred that the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, had for him. A full account of Heracles must render it clear why Heracles was so tormented by Hera, when there were many illegitimate offspring sired by Zeus. Heracles was the son of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman Alcmene. Zeus made love to her after disguising himself as her husband, Amphitryon, home early from war (Amphitryon did return later the same night, and Alcmene became pregnant with his son at the same time, a case of heteropaternal superfecundation, where a woman carries twins sired by different fathers).[20] Thus, Heracles' very existence proved at least one of Zeus' many illicit affairs, and Hera often conspired against Zeus' mortal offspring as revenge for her husband's infidelities. His twin mortal brother, son of Amphitryon, was Iphicles, father of Heracles' charioteer Iolaus.

On the night the twins Heracles and Iphicles were to be born, Hera, knowing of her husband Zeus' adultery, persuaded Zeus to swear an oath that the child born that night to a member of the House of Perseus would become High King. Hera did this knowing that while Heracles was to be born a descendant of Perseus, so too was Eurystheus. Once the oath was sworn, Hera hurried to Alcmene's dwelling and slowed the birth of the twins Heracles and Iphicles by forcing Ilithyia, goddess of childbirth, to sit crosslegged with her clothing tied in knots, thereby causing the twins to be trapped in the womb. Meanwhile, Hera caused Eurystheus to be born prematurely, making him High King in place of Heracles. She would have permanently delayed Heracles' birth had she not been fooled by Galanthis, Alcmene's servant, who lied to Ilithyia, saying that Alcmene had already delivered the baby. Upon hearing this, she jumped in surprise, loosing the knots and inadvertently allowing Alcmene to give birth to Heracles and Iphicles.

Fear of Hera's revenge led Alcmene to expose the infant Heracles, but he was taken up and brought to Hera by his half-sister Athena, who played an important role as protectress of heroes. Hera did not recognize Heracles and nursed him out of pity. Heracles suckled so strongly that he caused Hera pain, and she pushed him away. Her milk sprayed across the heavens and there formed the Milky Way. But with divine milk, Heracles had acquired supernatural powers. Athena brought the infant back to his mother, and he was subsequently raised by his parents.

''[This part of the story made me laugh because it “explains” how the Milky Way was created. I have been saying this since a couple posts ago, one of my favorite parts about myths is they explain why things in life are the way they are, but in a story with a twist that makes you interested; and also they keep it believable.]''

The child was originally given the name Alcides by his parents; it was only later that he became known as Heracles.[3] He was renamed Heracles in an unsuccessful attempt to mollify Hera. He and his twin were just eight months old when Hera sent two giant snakes into the children's chamber. Iphicles cried from fear, but his brother grabbed a snake in each hand and strangled them. He was found by his nurse playing with them on his cot as if they were toys. Astonished, Amphitryon sent for the seer Tiresias, who prophesied an unusual future for the boy, saying he would vanquish numerous monsters.

''[This part to me is so funny because I remember from the Disney movie, whenhe is first found by the mortal parents, Pain and Panic transform into snacks and instead of crying in fear, Hercules grabs hold of them and plays with them just as it stands above. I know I shouldn’t be so impressed by this because the Disney movie SHOULD share traits from the actual myth, but after reading this and then seeing it in the movie, it caused a great connection of understanding for me.]''

Information to add to story - 12 labours

When Heraacles was born, Alcmene named him to taunt Hera. His name means "glorious gift of Hera" in Greek, this furiated Hera even more than she already was. This led her to attempting to murder Hercules as a young baby by putting snacks in his crib. With no fear Hercules strangled the snacks with his hands and began to play with them like toys.

Heracles grew up and became a great warrior with amazing strength and married Megara. They had two children and lived a very pleasant life. Hera, root of all evil in Heracles life, made sure that didnt last long. She put a spell on Heracles, posessing him to kill his wife, Megra and children. When he came back to his senses, and saw the horrible thing he had done, he would do anything to repent what he had done. he asked the god, Apollo, to rid him of this life. Apollo commanded the hero to do certain tasks as a punishment for his wrongs, so that the evil within him might be cleansed from his spirit.

Apollo was the god of healing, music and finally the god of prophecy. Greeks believed he could tell what was going to happen in the future, and he could help advise people how to act. Thus, Hercules hurried to him and asked for advice. Apollo said that if the hero wanted to clean his spirit of spikking his families blood, he would have to perform 10 heroic labors (later this number would increase to 12).

Hercules then recieved the worst news of all. He had to go to the city of Triryns and talk to the king, Eurystheus [You-RISS-theus]. He knew he would give him a tough time, and he was told he must serve Eurystheus for tweleve years on top of him performing the Labors. On the brighter side of it all, Apollo told Hercules, if he were to accomplish all the labors he would become immortal, avoiding any trip down to the Underworld of Hades. Thus, he would become a god.

Detail about labours

1. Slay the Nemean Lion.

He defeated a lion with his bare hands that was attacking the city (Nemea). After he succeeded he wore the fur as a cloak to show his power of strength in his opponent he defeated.

2. Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra.

A fire-breathing monster with a lion’s head and a body of many snakes which laid in a swamp near Lerna. Hera sent it in the hopes it would destory Heracles home city because she thought it was too unbeatable. With help from a friend, also his brohter, Iolaus, they defeated the beast and dipped his arrows in the poisoned blood of the monster.

3. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis.

Not to kill, but to catch, this monster. It took a toll on time but not on our hero. Her wore out the Hind and Heracles presented it alive to Eurystheus.

4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar.

A plagued boar on the loose and who else but Heracles, should be in charge of catching it, and bringing it to Mycenae. Again, a timely task, but tiresome the hero made the beast, captured it, and brought it to its final spot. Patience is ket in the last two labors.

5. Clean the Augean stables in a single day.

A herd with poisoned poop. Augeias was given to him by his gather Helios. Heracles was given the near impossible task of cleaning the stables of the diseased feces. He accomplished it with ease, by digging holes on either side of the stables, moved it into the holes, and then asking rivers Alpheios and Peneios to wash the ditches clean.

6. Slay the Stymphalian Birds.

These were aggressive man-eating birds were terrorizing a forest near Lake Stymphalia in northern Arcadia. Heracles scared the bird with clappers given to him by Athena, to fear them into flight away from the forest, allowing him to shoot them down with his bow and arrow.

7. Capture the Cretan Bull.

A harmful bull was troubling the occupants of Knossos on Crete. The Minotaur was birthed from multiple different origins according to text and websites. Heracles captured it.

8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes.

Stables that fed on human flesh was his next challenge. Heracles task was to capture them and hand the horses over to Eurystheus. He accomplished his task by feeding the animals and luring them into a trap.

9. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

Hippolyta was an Amazon queen and she had a girdle given to her by family. Heracles had to retrieve the girdle and return it to Eurystheus. They received a rough welcome because, ordered by Hera, the Amazons were supposed to attack the hero; however, against all odds, Heracles completed the task and secured the girdle for.

10. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.

His challenge was to capture the herd guarded by a fierce trio. They stood no chance against the hero Heracles. He defeated the trio with his trusty club and completed the task.

11. Steal the apples of the Hesperides (he had the help of Atlas to pick them after Hercules had slain Ladon).

These sacred fruits were protected by Hera who had set Ladon, a fearsome hundred-headed dragon as the guardian. Hercules had find where the garden was first, he asked Nereus for help. he came across Prometheus on his journey. Heracles shot down the eagle eating at his ribs, and in return he helped Heracles with knowledge that his brother would know where the garden was. His brother offered him help with the apples if he would help the heavens while he was gone. Atlas, his brother, tricked him and did not return (understandable). A lot of trickery was going on, and Heracles managed to get Atlas under the heavens once again, and returned the apples to Mycenae.

12. Capture and bring back Cerberus.

His last labour and undoubtedly the riskiest. Eurystheus was so frustrated he was completing everything she gave to him. He had to go down into the underworld of Hades and capture the ferocious three-headed dog Kerberos who guarded the gates. He used the souls to help convince Hades to hand over the dog. He agreed to give him the dog if he used no weapons to obtain him. Heracles succeeded and took the creature back to Mycenae, causing Eurystheus to be fearful of the power and strength of this hero.