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Heracles: Sons
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Heracles was a son of Zeus and Alcmene. A major factor in the tragedies surrounding Heracles stem from Hera's hatred of him; as the wife of Zeus she often hated his mortal offspring, especially so in Heracles' case. While Alcmene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera tried to prevent her from giving birth. She was foiled by Galanthis, her servant, who told Hera that she had already delivered the baby. Hera turned her into a weasel. Heracles was named in an unsuccessful attempt to mollify Hera.
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In Greek mythology, Heraklês or Heracles ("glory of Hera", Ἡρακλῆς) was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, the grand-daughter of Perseus and the wife of Amphitryon. His original name was Alcides from his grandfather Alceus, a name derived from Alke (strenght, glory). The name Heracles he obtained after an advice from Delphi after he killed his children with Megara..
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Megara and Heracles had three sons together. One night, in a fit of madness sent by Hera, Heracles threw his sons into their hearth fire. As punishment, Heracles imposed exile upon himself. Going to the Oracle at Delphi, he asked where he should now settle. The Pythia replied that he should go to Tiryns and serve the king Eurystheus for twelve years, accomplishing ten labors, which turned into the famous twelve labors. By doing this, she said that Heracles would become immortal.
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Heracles attacked Oechalia and carried off Iole. Deianeira, to win him back, followed the advice of Nessus and sent Heracles a robe smeared with the centaur's blood. But this blood had been poisoned by the blood of the Hydra, in which Heracles dipped his arrows (see HERACLES, LABOURS OF 2); the robe clung to Heracles' flesh and caused terrible suffering. To escape from it he had himself carried to the summit of Mount Oeta and placed on a pyre. He gave Iole to his son Hyllus (see HERACLEIDAE) and persuaded Poias, father of Philoctētēs, by the gift of his bow and arrows, to light the pyre. He was then carried up to Olympus, reconciled to Hera, and married to her daughter Hēbē.
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The Greek demigod Heracles (or Hercules, as the Romans called him) was the son of a mortal woman named Alcmene and the supreme god Zeus. Zeus' lawful wife hated the child born out of wedlock, and sent two snakes to kill the baby. However, the young boy killed the animals, as is shown on this second-century mosaic from Antioch (pictures). Heracles became a strong warrior, but Hera struck him with madness, and he killed his own children..
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![[Greek Myth]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/h/e/r/heracles/i/026.gif)
Heracles is best known as the strongest of all mortals. Stronger then many gods. So strong he was the deciding factor in allowing the Olympian Gods to win their battle with the giants. He was the last mortal son of Zeus. He is the only man born of mortal woman to become a god upon his death.
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