LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Heracles: Hero
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After the Quest (Diodorus' version), Heracles was said to established the Olympian Games in honour of Zeus, for their homecoming. Heracles had ... suggested that any hero should not among themselves and to come to the aid of a former Argonaut, who needed help. This contradicts most myths, where Heracles had killed Calais and Zetes, who had abandoned him in Mysia.
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Heracles was the only hero to become a full-fledged god upon his demise, but even in his case there was his mortal aspect to be dealt with. He received special consideration because he had aided the Olympians in their epic battle against the Giants. These titanic sons of Earth had stormed the godly citadel in a hail of flaming oaks and rocks. And the deities of Olympus would never have prevailed without Heracles and his bow. By virtue of his spectacular achievements, even by heroic standards, Heracles was given a Home on Mount Olympus and a goddess for a wife. But part of him had come not from his father Zeus but from his mortal mother Alcmene, and that part was sent to the Underworld.
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The twelfth and last labour of Heracles was the most difficult. It was to bring Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of Hades, from his home in the lower regions to the upper world. Conducted by Hermes and Athene, whose friendship for him served somewhat to counteract the deadly opposition of Hera, Heracles made the trip down without any mishap. Hades, the prince of darkness, allowed him to take the dog on the condition that he did so with his bare hands, without using any weapons of war. The hero grabbed the growling dog in his powerful arms, tied him up, took him to Eurystheus for a good look, and then brought him back to the lower world. As in his other adventures, Heracles accomplished extra tasks while carrying out one duty.
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Heracles’ double-sidedness starts from his own semi-divine self as the son of Zeus. He is both mortal and immortal, and he is ... worshipped both as a hero and as a god. The ambivalence of his status in cult is well summarized in Pindar’s reference to him as ἥρωϚ θ∊όϚ (Nem. 3.22). There is the same contradiction in representations of his heroic valour. On the one hand he is the civilizer of mankind, the epitome of excellence.
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After completing these tasks, Heracles joined the Argonauts in the search of the Golden Fleece. They rescued heroines, conquered Troy, and helped the gods fight against the Gigantes. He ... fell in love with Princess Iole of Oechalia. King Eurytus of Oechalia promised his daughter, Iole, to whoever could beat his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won but Eurytus abandoned his promise. Heracles' advances were spurned by the king and his sons, except for one - Iole's brother Iphitus.
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Once freed from slavery to Omphale, Heracles gathered an army to capture Troy and was joined by the hero, Telamon, son of Aeacus. At this time, Telamon was expecting a baby from his wife, Eeriboea. Heracles prayed to his father that Telamon's son would be brave. Zeus sent an eagle, as a sign of accepting his prayer. Telamon named his son, Aias (Ajax), after the eagle (aietos). Aias became one of the leading warriors who fought at the Trojan War.
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