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Hercules. by: Josh Howsmon. Name origin. Hercules' Latin name is a modification of the Etruscan name Herceler. Heracles translates to "The Glory of Hera". .
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Hercules by: Josh Howsmon
Name origin Hercules' Latin name is a modification of the Etruscan name Herceler. Heracles translates to "The Glory of Hera". http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/pages-7/Danny-Glover-on-shortlist-to-play-SpiderMan-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html
Hercules Immortalization In Roman works of art Hercules can be identified by his symbols, the lion skin and the club (his favorite weapon). http://www.awesomestories.com/assets/hercules
The Birth of Hercules According to mythology, Hercules was the illegitimate son of Jupiter (Zeus) and Alcmene. Juno (Hera), an immortal, was enraged at Jupiter for his infidelity with Alcmene, and even more so that he placed the infant Hercules at her breast as she slept and allowed him to feed, which caused Hercules to be partially immortal, thus, allowing him to surpass all mortal men in strength, size and skill.
Labors of Hercules Juno held a spiteful grudge against Hercules and sent him into a blind frenzy, in which he killed all of his children and his wife. When Hercules regained his sanity, he sought out the Oracle at Delphi in the hope of making atonement. The Oracle ordered Hercules to serve Eurystheus, who sent him on a series of tasks known as the Labors of Hercules. These tasks are told in this order: • To kill the Nemean lion • To destroy the Lernaean Hydra • To capture Ceryneian Hind alive • To trap the Erymanthian boar • To clean the Augean stables • To get rid of the Stymphalian birds • To capture the Cretan bull • To round up the Mares of Diomedes • To fetch Hippolyte's girdle, or belt • To fetch the cattle of Geryon • To fetch the golden apples of the Hesperides • To bring Cerberus from Tartarus While he was a champion and a great warrior, he was not above cheating and using any unfair trick to his advantage. However, he was renowned as having "made the world safe for mankind" by destroying many dangerous monsters. Although he was a famous demigod, he still could not prevent his death.
Hercules' death One day, long after Hercules' marriage to Deianira, the centaurNessus offered to ferry them across a wide river that they had to cross. Nessus set off with Deianeira first, but tried to abduct her. When Hercules realized the centaur's real intention, Hercules chased after him and shot him with an arrow which was poisoned with Hydra's blood. Before he died, Nessus told Deianeira to take some of his blood and treasure it, since it was a very powerful medicine and: if she ever thought Hercules was being unfaithful the blood would restore his love. Deianeira kept the vial of blood. Many years after that incident she heard rumours that Hercules had fallen in love with another woman. She smeared some of the blood on a robe and sent it to Hercules by a servant. the servant spilled some blood on the floor and when the sun's rays fell on it the blood begun to burn. Because of this Deianeira began to suspect Nessus's advice and decided to send another servant to fetch back the blood soaked robe. She was too late. Hercules had already put on the robe and when he did so the blood still poisoned from the same arrow used by Hercules, burnt into his flesh. When he jumped into a nearby river in hope of extinguishing the fire, it only made it worse. When he tried to rip off the robe from his body his organs were also ripped off with it. Furiously, Hercules caught Lichas and tossed him into the sea. After that he told his friend Philoctetes to build him a pyre on the mountain Oata. He was burnt to death on the pyre. Before dying, Hercules offered his bow and arrows as a token of gratitude to Philoctetes. His father Zeus then turned him into a god. Deianeira, after hearing what she had caused, committed suicide.
Bibliography • The Choice of Hercules: Henry IV as Hero • Edmund H. Dickerman, Anita M. Walker • The Historical Journal, Vol. 39, No. 2 (Jun., 1996), pp. 315-337 • Hercules Unchained (Ercole e la regina di Lidia/ Hercules and the Queen of Lydia, 1959) starring Steve Reeves • The Jewelry of Hercules at Hatra • Susan Downey • American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Jul., 1968), pp. 211-217 • Hercules, Hippolyte and the Amazons • John D. Brewer • The British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 42, No. 2 (Jun., 1991), pp. 231-247 • Hercules in the Vale of Woe (Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai/Maciste Vs. Hercules in the Vale of Woe) 1961 • Ulysses Vs. The Son of Hercules (Ulisse contro Ercole/Ulysses Vs. Hercules) 1962 • The Fury of Hercules (La Furia di Ercole/The Fury of Hercules, a.k.a. The Fury of Samson) 1962