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Constellation 101: Hercules: A Heroic Warrior

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Constellation 101: Hercules

Hercules is probably the most famous hero of ancient, mythological times. I think it’s safe to say we all know a version of Hercules’s life. The cinema always depicts him as this heroic warrior, and even Disney made us love him more as he swooned over Meg and saved her from Hades. As wonderful as the tales we’ve come to know and love are, they aren’t exactly as I remember the story. This is the story I was told growing up.

The Mythology
Hercules was a demigod. He was the son of Zeus and he was so brave that he lived among the gods on Mount Olympus. The name Hercules means “glorious gift of Hera” and when she found out that her husband had fathered a child with another woman, Hera was furious. The name of the child …show more content…

Her attempts were futile as Hercules was just too strong. He choked the snakes with his bare hands. Hera was determined to get revenge on Hercules, however, instead of physically harming him, she devised a plan that would last a lifetime. It would not only affect Hercules but Zeus as well, as he would have to watch his son suffer for many years. Hera did everything in her power to make Hercules’s life miserable. She waited until just the right moment, and instilled a rage in him causing him to murder his beloved family. Once the rage had subsided, he realized what he had done and sought out repentance. He asked Apollo for help in cleansing his soul, so the god of the Sun gave Hercules 12 tasks to complete. Only then would he be forgiven. He was promised that when these 12 tasks were complete, he would become immortal. He completed the tasks and went on to have many more adventures. He remarried and upon his return home from another adventure, his new wife surprised him with a new cloak. Unbeknownst to him, the cloak was covered in a thin balm that his wife was told would make Hercules love her forever. The centaur who sold it to her was a liar, and the substance was actually a poison. His

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