Heracles: The Hero Who Suffered, Fought, and Became a God

He was a mortal who became a god. But before that — he committed the unthinkable. You’ll find out at the end.

Heracles (known in Roman tradition as Hercules) is one of the most renowned heroes of Greek mythology — the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. He is famed for completing the Twelve Labors, imposed by King Eurystheus, and became a symbol of strength, endurance, and the eternal struggle against chaos. His story is one of sin, suffering, and ultimate redemption.

Birth and Childhood

Heracles was born in Thebes. His mother, Alcmene, was descended from the line of Perseus. According to Pseudo-Apollodorus, Zeus came to her disguised as her husband Amphitryon, and from that union, Heracles was conceived. The next day, her real husband fathered Iphicles.

Hera, Zeus’s wife, was enraged. From the moment of his birth, she despised Heracles. As a baby, he strangled two serpents she had sent to kill him in his cradle. Even then, it was clear — this child was destined for greatness.

Training and First Crime

Heracles grew up strong, but impulsive. He was taught by masters: Autolycus in thievery, Castor in swordsmanship, Eurytus in archery, and Linus in music. In a fit of rage, he killed Linus with a blow from a lyre. As punishment, he was exiled to the countryside.

There, he matured, slayed lions, defeated bandits, and hardened himself to a harsh life. He was already seen as a hero — but what came next would test not his strength, but his soul.

Madness and the Murder of His Family

Heracles married Megara, daughter of Creon, king of Thebes, and they had several children. But Hera drove him mad. In a frenzy, he killed all his children — and in some versions, Megara as well.

When he regained his senses, he was shattered by guilt and grief. Seeking atonement, he went to the Oracle of Delphi, which commanded him to serve King Eurystheus for twelve years, performing whatever tasks were demanded. Thus began the Twelve Labors of Heracles.

The Twelve Labors

1. The Nemean Lion

   He strangled the beast with impenetrable skin and wore its hide as armor.

2. The Lernaean Hydra

   Two heads grew for every one severed — his nephew Iolaus helped cauterize the wounds.

3. The Ceryneian Hind

   A sacred deer of Artemis, captured alive after a year-long pursuit.

4. The Erymanthian Boar

   He subdued the wild boar and carried it on his shoulders.

5. The Augean Stables

   He cleansed thousands of filthy stalls in one day by redirecting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus.

6. The Stymphalian Birds

   Metallic birds slain using bronze castanets given by Athena.

7. The Cretan Bull

   He subdued the bull sent by Poseidon and brought it to Mycenae.

8. The Mares of Diomedes

   Man-eating horses — he fed them their master.

9. The Girdle of Hippolyta

   The Amazon queen gave it willingly, but Hera stirred conflict, leading to Hippolyta’s death.

10. The Cattle of Geryon

    He slew the three-bodied giant and brought the herd back across the Strait of Gibraltar.

11. The Apples of the Hesperides

    With the help of Atlas, he retrieved the golden apples from the divine garden.

12. Cerberus

    He descended into Hades and brought back the three-headed hound — unarmed and with permission from Persephone and Hades.

Later Adventures

Heracles’ story didn’t end there. He continued:

• Fighting for justice,
• Joining heroic expeditions (including the Argonauts),
• Freeing Prometheus,
• Battling tyrants and monsters.

Yet his life was also marked by personal loss. His second wife, Deianira, unwittingly caused his death. Fearing he loved another, she smeared a tunic with the blood of the centaur Nessus, thinking it a love potion. It was poison. The garment clung to his flesh, burning him alive.

Death and Apotheosis

Unable to remove the tunic, Heracles built his own funeral pyre atop Mount Oeta. But as the flames rose, a miracle occurred: Zeus lifted his son to Olympus. There, he became immortal — and married Hebe, goddess of youth.

This is a rare myth: a mortal who, through suffering and heroic deeds, ascended to godhood. As Hesiod writes, this was the culmination of his path to immortality.

A Mortal Who Became a God

Heracles was human — he was both destroyer and savior. Ironically, his name means “Glory of Hera,” though she tried to destroy him at every turn. But her trials forged him.

His iconic attributes: the wooden club, bow, and the Nemean lion’s hide. He represents not just brute strength, but redemption through struggle.

From classical art to modern pop culture, he remains one of the most vivid and enduring figures of Greek mythology.