Ӝ Herakles was the most popular of Greek heroes and has been celebrated in stories, sculptures, paintings and even in the geography of the ancient world.

Ӝ A beloved child has many names...
He was the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman Alkmene. Being a demigod did however not make his life any easier, quite the opposite.
He was in fact the focus of considerable wrath, as well as love, of the Immortals.

Ӝ Herakles story was finally committed to paper around the year 480 BCE.
The story was defined into Labours, Incidentals and Deeds.
After he finished his Twelve Labours Herakles took to travelling the world in search of a life that was not dominated by vengeful kings, Immortals and vindictive relatives.

Ӝ Herakles was presumed to have murdered his first wife, Megara. To take on a second wife, Iole daughter of Eurytos, he killed her father but instead of marrying her he took her as his mistress causing great insult to her and her brothers.
His third attempt at marriage took place when he met Deianeira, daughter of Oineus of Kalydon.
Herakles did however have to fight the bull-like Akheloos for her hand.
By breaking off the bulls horns Herakles thus ended the fight and so he got his wife and family, fathering a son with Deianeira, Hyllus.

Ӝ Herakles met his death after being poisoned by the blood of the centaur Nessos. As he lay on his funeral pyre, he begged for his life to be ended and to be released from his torment.
Philoktetes was the one to set the pyre alight and also the one to take Herakles’ bow and use it when fighting the Greeks during the siege of Troy, putting Herakles’ death at around 1250 BCE.

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