the hero's journey for hercules

The Twelve Labors of Hercules: A Hero's Journey

Ever wondered about the ins and outs of Hercules' epic journey? Well, let's chat about it. We're going to break down his legendary Twelve Labors and see how they match up with the famous hero's journey concept – you know, the one outlined by scholar Joseph Campbell.

We're talking about the daring start, the tough challenges, and finally, the victorious return. We'll see how our hero Hercules, a real old-school hero, handles his unique transformation journey. And believe me, it's not a walk in the park – we're talking about battling monsters, dealing with tricks, and yes, even some meddling from the gods.

As we dig into this side-by-side analysis, you'll start to see the timeless wisdom tucked away in these old Greek myths. And who knows? You might even find yourself more intrigued by Hercules' extraordinary story.

Understanding Hercules' Ordinary World

Let's dive in and better understand Hercules' everyday life. You see, Hercules was highly respected in his hometown of Thebes. He led a privileged life, widely admired by all. Yet, his life wasn't all sunshine and roses, as he faced the immense challenge of confronting King Erginus, the Minyans' ruler. Here, Hercules' bravery truly shines as he steps up against the tyrant king, earning the Thebans' love even more.

Let's not forget, Hercules was married to Megara, Erginus' daughter, which only increased his standing in society. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. His life was filled with turmoil, largely thanks to Hera's constant interference. Hercules, despite his heroic image, had his fair share of trials and tribulations. It goes to show, even heroes aren't exempt from life's struggles.

In his search for peace, Hercules turns to the Oracle of Delphi, leading him down a path of redemption. This point is a game-changer, signaling the start of his transformative journey. When we look at Hercules' everyday world, we see a mix of privilege and hardship. It's an enlightening lesson for us, as Hercules' Heroes, showing us that our struggles are part and parcel of our journeys, much like they were for Hercules.

The Call and Refusal: Hercules' Inner Battle

Imagine Hercules, our legendary hero, trying to navigate his regular, chaotic day-to-day life, when suddenly he's faced with a tough decision. He's tasked with completing the twelve labors – a monumental challenge that scares him to his core. This stage of his journey, known as 'The Call and Refusal', really shows us his human side, showcasing his fears and vulnerabilities.

Think about it like this – Hercules' internal struggle is something every hero goes through. The adventure calling out to them is daunting enough, but it's saying "no" that really puts their courage to the test. As for Hercules, the twelve labors are more than just tasks, they symbolize a chance to transcend his normal life. He's scared, so his first reaction is to deny the call. But in a weird twist, it's this rejection that nudges him to take that first step.

Hercules' Allies, Enemies, and Tests

Hercules, the famed hero of ancient lore, sets out on an extraordinary adventure filled with allies and foes, each providing unique challenges that shape him into the hero he is destined to be. His friends, including divine entities like Athena and ordinary humans like Iolaus, offer him priceless advice, aid, and moral encouragement. They embody the positive traits of Hercules' persona: his bravery, determination, and ability to form lasting friendships.

On the other hand, Hercules also has to confront formidable foes, such as the spiteful Hera and the terrifying Nemean lion. These foes symbolize the darker sides of his personality, like his unmanageable anger and impulsive behavior. They act as trials forcing Hercules to confront and conquer his inner weaknesses.

The trials Hercules goes through are more than just physical confrontations. They're also mental and moral dilemmas. He must tackle tasks that require more than just raw power. They demand wisdom, resilience, and a rock-solid moral compass. These trials serve to shape him into a more well-rounded individual, propelling him along his heroic journey. Through Hercules' friends, foes, and trials, we see his transition from a volatile hero into a paragon of power and virtue.

The Ordeal and Reward: Hercules' Transformation

Let's dive deep into the life-changing journey of Hercules, where he faced ordeals that pushed him to his limits and rewards that reshaped his entire existence. The hero's journey is often a rollercoaster ride, and Hercules' was no exception. His mission? To make up for his past by completing twelve challenging tasks.

• He had to get his hands on the golden apples of the Hesperides. This wasn't a simple task – it demanded both physical strength and sharp wit.
• Capturing Cerberus from Hades was also on his list, which meant a risky trip into the underworld itself.
• These trials were part of Hercules' attempt to make amends for the devastating mistake of killing his own children.
• His transformation and rebirth into an immortal symbolize a deep, spiritual healing.
• At last, Hercules ascended to Mount Olympus, marking his growth into a true hero and gaining spiritual liberation.

These tasks are a testament to Hercules' transformation. He evolved from a tormented soul, burdened by his past, to a heroic figure akin to a god, emphasizing the transformative power of such a journey. His tale teaches us a valuable lesson – it's not just the destination that matters, but the journey and the change that comes with it.

Hercules' Resurrection and Return

So, let's talk about the last chapter in Hercules' incredible tale. What we observe here is Hercules' transformation from mortal to divine, a powerful symbol of his heroic journey's completion and the ultimate proof of his redemption and rebirth. After finishing his twelve labors, Hercules makes amends for his past mistakes and gains the ability to live forever, essentially getting a second chance at life as an eternal hero.

This rebirth and return are meaningful in so many ways. They mark his spiritual liberation, his healing, and the wrap-up of his heroic journey. This journey changes him in many ways, not just physically but also spiritually. When Zeus gives him the gift of immortality, it's like a fresh start and a massive change in his journey.

Now, here's a cool twist in the story when we look at the Disney version versus the original Greek mythology . In Disney's take, Hercules decides to go back to his normal, mortal life with Megara. But in the original Greek story, instead of settling down, he chooses to keep wandering the Earth like a hero, which presents an interesting contradiction. He's a hero, but he's also forever tied to his human origins. This conflict reminds us of how complex the hero's journey can be, full of challenges, victories, and ultimately, a rise to a higher level.

Frequently Asked Questions How Is Hercules a Hero's Journey?

So, you're curious about Hercules and his legendary journey? It's a fascinating story that truly embodies the essence of a hero's quest. Here's the scoop: Hercules begins his tale as a well-regarded citizen of Thebes. But then, he's faced with a series of daunting challenges, the most memorable of which are his notorious twelve labors. After overcoming these hardships, his story reaches an inspiring conclusion – Hercules attains not just salvation, but also ascends to a divine stature. It's a quintessential tale of a rise from humble beginnings to the heights of Olympus.

What Are the 12 Steps in a Hero's Journey?

Let's chat about the 12 steps that typically define a hero's journey. It all starts in an ordinary world, where our hero lives a normal life. Suddenly, an adventure beckons, but initially, the hero is hesitant to accept the challenge. That's when a mentor steps in, offering guidance and support. With newfound courage, the hero crosses the threshold into a world of trials and challenges.

These tests prepare the hero for the impending ordeal, a major conflict that pushes them to their limits. After overcoming this difficult situation, the hero receives a reward. However, they must then embark on the road back home, often facing additional trials.

In a moment of resurrection, the hero experiences a significant transformation, leading to the final step – returning home, but now with a newfound wisdom or power, often symbolized by an elixir. This narrative arc is prevalent in many of the stories we love and relate to. It's a timeless formula that continues to resonate with audiences across the globe.

What Is the Point of the 12 Labors of Hercules?

You know, when I think about Hercules and his famous 12 labors, it strikes me as a classic story of bouncing back and personal development. It's like a journey, right? Each task he tackles is a hurdle he has to overcome, showing his inner strength and grit. And in the end, it's all about the victory of goodness over the wrong. Pretty cool, huh?

What Are the 12 Steps to Being a Hero?

From my perspective, if you want to step into the shoes of a hero, there's a 12-step process you need to go through. Start by setting out on an exhilarating journey. You're bound to come across obstacles along the way. Tackle them head-on, learn from them, and use that knowledge to your advantage. The aim is to come back from your expedition a stronger person. It's all about embracing change and growing as an individual.

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By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 17, 2024 | Original: February 7, 2011

Hercules (known in Greek mythology as Heracles or Herakles) is one of the best-known heroes in ancient mythology. His life was not easy—he endured many trials and completed many daunting tasks—but the reward for his suffering was a promise that he would live forever among the gods at Mount Olympus.

Was Hercules a God?

Hercules was not a god but was born a mortal, although, like many mythic heroes, he had a complicated family tree. According to legend, his father was Zeus, ruler of all the Greek gods on Mount Olympus and all the mortals on earth, and his mother was Alcmene, the granddaughter of the hero Perseus. (Perseus, who was also said to be one of Zeus’ sons, famously beheaded the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa .)

Did you know? The constellation Hercules is the fifth-largest one in the sky.

Then, after Hercules was born, Hera sent two snakes to kill him in his crib. The infant Hercules was unusually strong and fearless, however, and he strangled the snakes before they could strangle him.

But Hera kept up her dirty tricks. When her stepson was a young adult, she cast a kind of spell on him that drove him temporarily insane and caused him to murder his beloved wife and their two children.

Guilty and heartbroken, Hercules tracked down Apollo, the god of truth and healing (and another of Zeus’ sons), and begged to be punished for what he had done.

The 12 Labors of Hercules

Apollo understood that Hercules’ crime had not been his fault—Hera’s vengeful actions were no secret—but still he insisted that the young man make amends. He ordered Hercules to perform 12 labors for the Mycenaen king Eurystheus. Once Hercules completed every one of the labors, Apollo declared, he would be absolved of his guilt and achieve immortality.

The Nemean Lion

First, Apollo sent Hercules to the hills of Nemea to kill a lion that was terrorizing the people of the region. (Some storytellers say that Zeus had fathered this magical beast as well.) Hercules trapped the lion in its cave and strangled it. For the rest of his life, he wore the animal’s pelt as a cloak.

The Lernaean Hydra

Second, Hercules traveled to the city of Lerna to slay the nine-headed Hydra—a poisonous, snake-like creature who lived underwater, guarding the entrance to the Underworld. For this task, Hercules had the help of his nephew Iolaus. He cut off each of the monster’s heads while Iolaus burned each wound with a torch. This way, the pair kept the heads from growing back.

The Golden Hind

Next, Hercules set off to capture the sacred pet of the goddess Diana: a red deer, or hind, with golden antlers and bronze hooves. Eurystheus had chosen this task for his rival because he believed that Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal her pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the goddess, she allowed him to go on his way without punishment

The Erymanthean Boar

Fourth, Hercules used a giant net to snare the terrifying, man-eating wild boar of Mount Erymanthus.

The Augean Stables

Hercules’ fifth task was supposed to be humiliating as well as impossible: cleaning all the manure out of King Augeas’ enormous stables in a single day. However, Hercules completed the job easily, flooding the barn by diverting two nearby rivers.

The Stymphlaian Birds

Hercules’ sixth task was straightforward: Travel to the town of Stymphalos and drive away the huge flock of carnivorous birds that had taken up residence in its trees. This time, it was the goddess Athena who came to the hero’s aid: She gave him a pair of magical bronze krotala, or noisemakers, forged by the god Hephaistos. Hercules used these tools to frighten the birds away.

The Cretan Bull

Next, Hercules went to Crete to capture a rampaging bull that had impregnated the wife of the island’s king. (She later gave birth to the Minotaur, a creature with a man’s body and a bull’s head.) Hercules drove the bull back to Eurystheus, who released it into the streets of Marathon.

The Horses of Diomedes

Hercules’ eighth challenge was to capture the four man-eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes. He brought them to Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Hera and set them free.

Hippolyte’s Belt

The ninth labor was complicated: stealing an armored belt that belonged to the Amazon queen Hippolyte. At first, the queen welcomed Hercules and agreed to give him the belt without a fight. However, the troublemaking Hera disguised herself as an Amazon warrior and spread a rumor that Hercules intended to kidnap the queen. To protect their leader, the women attacked the hero’s fleet; then, fearing for his safety, Hercules killed Hippolyte and ripped the belt from her body.

The Cattle of Geryon

For his 10th labor, Hercules was dispatched nearly to Africa to steal the cattle of the three-headed, six-legged monster Geryon. Once again, Hera did all she could to prevent the hero from succeeding, but eventually, he returned to Mycenae with the cows.

The Apples of Hesperides

Next, Eurystheus sent Hercules to steal Hera’s wedding gift to Zeus: a set of golden apples guarded by a group of nymphs known as the Hesperides. This task was difficult—Hercules needed the help of the titans Prometheus and Atlas to pull it off—but the hero eventually managed to run away with the apples. After he showed them to the king, he returned them to the gods’ garden where they belonged.

For his final challenge, Hercules traveled to Hades to kidnap Cerberus, the vicious three-headed dog that guarded its gates. Hercules managed to capture Cerberus by using his superhuman strength to wrestle the monster to the ground. Afterward, the dog returned unharmed to his post at the entrance to the Underworld.

How Did Hercules Die?

After completing his 12 Labors, Hercules had a number of other adventures—rescuing the princess of Troy and battling for control of Mount Olympus—but none were as taxing, or as significant, as the labors had been.

Later in his life, Hercules married his second wife, Deianira. When a centaur (a half-man, half-horse) attempts to steal her away, Hercules shot him with an arrow that he had soaked in the poison of the Hydra. As he lay dying, the centaur, realizing that his own blood is now also poisonous, gave his blood-stained tunic to Deianira, lying to her that it will forever bind Hercules to her.

Years later, when Deianira hears a rumor that Hercules is having an affair, she gave him the blood-stained tunic to wear, hoping it will bring him back to her. However, the poisoned blood on the tunic burns Hercules’ flesh, causing intense pain. Realizing that he has been poisoned, Hercules builds his own funeral pyre and burns himself to death on it.

After he died, Athena carried him to Olympus on her chariot. According to legend, he will spend the rest of eternity with the gods.

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Heracles (Hercules): The Twelve Labors Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is a framework that scholar Joseph Campbell came up with that many myths and stories follow. Many storytellers and story-readers find it a useful way to look at tale. (That's actually putting it lightly. Some people are straight-up obsessed .) Chris Vogler adapted Campbell's 17 stages of a hero's journey, which many screenwriters use while making movies. Vogler condensed Campbell's 17 stages down to 12, which is what we're using. To read a general explanation of the 12 stages, click here .

The story of Heracles' Twelve Labors fits almost perfectly into this structure. Here's how we've diced up the story:

Stage 1: Ordinary World

We begin in Heracles' hometown of Thebes. He's a total stud, a global hero, and the most popular mortal known to man.

Stage 2: Call to Adventure

For some reason, Heracles' hometown of Thebes has to pay homage every year to Erginus, the king of the Minyans. This really frosts Heracles' cookie. One day, he comes across some Minyans in the road, and he cuts off their ears, noses, and hands. Hearing of this, the King of the Minyans is enraged and declares war on Heracles and the people of Thebes. Heracles obliterates them. The King of Thebes is so happy that he lets Heracles marry his daughter, Megara. Everything is coming up roses for Heracles, the man of the hour.

Stage 3: Refusal

Zeus' wife, Hera, hates Heracles with the passion of a thousand fires. She wants to ruin his life, because he is Zeus' illegitimate son (who he had with Alcmene). Hera decides to drive Heracles to insanity. This causes Heracles to behave in some seriously un-hero-like ways. He kills his own children. You could argue that he kind of refuses his role of "hero" by behaving in such a heinous way.

Stage 4: Meeting with the Mentor

Heracles goes to the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle tells him he can atone or make up for his horrible crimes by serving King Eurystheus of Argos.

Stage 5: Crossing the Threshold

Heracles offers to serve King Eurystheus of Argos in order to atone for the crimes he has committed. King Eurystheus tells him he must successfully complete ten labors. Heracles agrees.

Stage 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies

Heracles tackles the ten labors perfectly. He does so with the help of certain gods and allies, and he encounters several enemies and foes along the way.

Stage 7: Approach to Inmost Cave

For his tenth and last labor, Heracles must go to Erytheia, literally the edge of the world. He must sail across the Atlantic Ocean to do this. The Greeks believed that there really was an edge of the world, and Heracles was totally not scared to travel there.

Stage 8: Ordeal

King Eurystheus tells Heracles that two of the labors weren't completed in a satisfactory way, because Heracles had help with them. So, King Eurystheus commands Heracles to complete two additional labors. Heracles says, "bring it." After successfully capturing the Golden Apples of Hesperides, Heracles' final task is the most difficult and terrifying one. He must venture to the underworld and bring Cerberus, the vicious three-headed guard dog, to the surface for King Eurystheus to see. Basically, Heracles has to go to the land of the dead and return alive. Oh, and he must bring a little souvenir back with him. He successfully does this, and this time, he really and truly proves himself a hero.

Stage 9: Reward (Seizing the Sword)

After completing these twelve labors, Heracles is finally able to atone for the murder of his children. His guilty conscience is wiped clean.

Stage 10: The Road Back

Heracles gives his wife to his friend/nephew Iolaus and goes on his merry way. Whaaa?

Stage 11: Resurrection

Some say that Heracles is made immortal after completing these twelve labors. Others say he is granted immortality a little later on.

Stage 12: Return with Elixir

Regardless of when he was made immortal, one thing is certain: Heracles eventually becomes a real god.

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W hy's T his F unny?

• Spirituality
• Unexplained

From Slaying the Nemean Lion to Cleaning the Augean Stables: A Fascinating Tale of the 12 Labors of Hercules

Author: Ancient Theory

Published: March 19, 2023 / Updated: March 19, 2023

This page may contain links to products/services. Ancient Theory may earn a commission on sales made through these links.

• Slaying the Nemean Lion
• Killing the Hydra of Lerna
• Capturing the Golden Hind of Artemis
• Capturing the Erymanthian Boar
• Cleaning the Augean Stables
• Slaying the Stymphalian Birds
• Capturing the Cretan Bull
• Stealing the Mares of Diomedes
• Acquiring the Girdle of Hippolyta
• Getting the Cows of Geryon
• Stealing the Apples of the Hesperides
• Capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades

After Hercules killed his wife and children in a fit of madness, he sought guidance from the oracle at Delphi on how to atone for his sins. 

The oracle told him to serve King Eurystheus for 12 years and perform whatever tasks the king assigned him, which would become known as the 12 labors of Hercules.

These trials of Hercules were assigned by King Eurystheus and were considered nearly impossible feats. 

Some of the tasks included slaying the Nemean lion, capturing the Erymanthian boar, cleaning the Augean stables, and retrieving the golden apples of the Hesperides.

The First Labor of Hercules: Slaying the Nemean Lion

The first of the 12 labors of Hercules was to slay the Nemean Lion.

Eurystheus, the King of Mycenae, commanded the mighty Hercules to defeat the Nemean lion, a ferocious beast born of the monstrous Typhon and the viper Echidna, as soon as he learned that the son of Zeus had come to his palace. 

Despite the king’s belief that the lion would destroy the hero, Hercules set out for Nemea, where the lion lived in a cave deep inside a mountain.

According to legend, Hercules found the lion’s lair, but it was empty. He hid behind a boulder and waited until the lion returned, satiated after devouring an entire herd and a shepherd. 

The lion was colossal, with red, bloodshot eyes, sharp fangs glinted in the sunlight, and a menacing roar that could terrify even the most courageous heroes.

Hercules took his bow and fired an arrow, followed by several more, but the arrows bounced off the lion’s impenetrable hide. 

The lion’s skin was invulnerable; not even the sharpest sword or the hardest lance could penetrate it. According to legends, with Gaia’s consent, Typhon had charmed its hide. 

The lion roared loudly and attacked Hercules, who fought for all the people terrified of the savage beast that had wreaked havoc in Nemea.

Zeus, the ruler of Olympus, watched the battle from his golden throne, unwilling to intervene because Hera, his wife, was by his side. 

But Hercules fought for the people, not for the gods. When the lion charged at Hercules, the hero struck it with his club, but the enchanted skin of the beast absorbed the blow, causing the club to snap in half.

However, the force of Hercules’ strike terrified the lion, which ran towards its lair. The hero followed the beast, tearing a rock from the mountain and blocking one of the cave entrances before entering the other. 

Inside he found heaps of human and animal bones in the darkness, but he pressed on, undeterred.

The son of Zeus found the lion, whose blazing eyes and roaring shook the cave’s rocks. They fought fiercely, and the battle may have lasted for days. However, Hercules eventually overpowered the lion, grabbed it by the neck, and squeezed it until the beast died.

With the sharp claws of the beast, he skinned the lion’s hide, which he used to make an impenetrable armor. 

And so the first of the 12 labors of Hercules was completed.

The Second Labor of Hercules: Killing the Hydra of Lerna

The second of the 12 labors of Hercules was to kill the Hydra of Lerna.

Upon hearing of Hercules’ latest victory, Euristeus was filled with even greater dread. The king feared that the hero might again appear at the city’s gates, especially since the people were already chanting his name in the streets. 

Thus, Euristeus ordered Hercules to go and slay the Hydra, which dwelled in the marshes of Lerna. Like the lion, the Hydra was a spawn of Typhon and the viper Echidna. 

Euristeus demanded that Hercules kill the creature as it ravaged flocks, herds, fields of grain, and innocent people. 

None of the brave men who had dared to venture into the marshes of Lerna had ever returned alive, and the king did not believe that the son of Zeus and the beautiful Alcmena would fare any better.

This time, Hercules was accompanied by the young Iolaos, the son of Ificles, who begged the hero to allow him to follow him on his adventures, at least once.

Legend has it that the Hydra was slumbering when the two arrived. 

The beast was surrounded by countless piles of human corpses that it had killed and dragged to its lair. The beast could not consume all of them, and the remains were rotting in the marshes, producing a noxious stench that permeated the air.

Hercules and Iolaos gathered wood and straws, slowly approached the creature, and lit a huge fire. Hercules then lit his arrows in the fire and shot them at the Hydra, while it was still asleep.

The arrows struck the beast, and it rose from the marshes with its nine long necks and nine heads. 

One of the heads was thicker and more vicious than the rest – the immortal head. It spewed green flames from its nine mouths and nostrils, and its poisoned tongues hissed ghastly.

Upon seeing the monstrous Hydra, Hercules charged at it with a club in hand. He struck it with all his might, and one of the creature’s heads was severed. However, two more heads immediately grew in its place.

Undaunted, the courageous hero continued his assault, but every time he struck the Hydra’s heads, two more would sprout up in their place, until there were fifty heads in total. The hideous, slimy, hissing heads had snouts snorting and fangs like daggers.

Realizing that he could not defeat the Hydra by fighting fairly, Hercules commanded Iolaus to take burning wood and burn each of the creature’s necks, one by one. Iolaus promptly carried out the order, and no new heads could grow.

Despite this, the battle was far from over. 

The Hydra had wrapped its dragon tail around Hercules’ legs, and a monstrous crab, as large as a calf, had emerged from the marshes and attempted to sever one of Hercules’ legs with its sharp claws.

Witnessing the crab tear into the hero’s flesh, Iolaus hurled a boulder at the creature, causing it to plunge into the murky depths of the marsh.

Hercules continued to fight the Hydra, and the battle raged from sunrise to sunset. 

Eventually, the hero managed to crush the creature’s immortal head, the last remaining one that stood taller than all the others. Despite being crushed, the head continued to spew deadly miasmas and flames from its nostrils.

To end the creature’s reign of terror, Hercules lifted a heavy rock from the middle of the marsh, near the creature’s lair, and toppled it over the immortal head, finally defeating the Hydra.

Hercules then dipped all his arrows in its poisonous blood before embarking on his chariot alongside Iolaus and set off back to Tiryns.

And so the second of the 12 labors of Hercules was completed.

The Third Labor of Hercules: Capturing the Golden Hind of Artemis

The third of the 12 labors of Hercules was to catch the Golden Hind of Artemis.

In short order, news of Hercules’ triumph reached the ears of the King of Mycenae, igniting a seething fury within him. Wasting no time, the malignant ruler immediately hatched another scheme. 

With nary a moment’s respite, he ordered the hero to venture forthwith to the Arcadian Mountains to ensnare and return with a swift hind of unparalleled beauty, a sister of Apollo and the huntress-goddess Artemis.

But this was no ordinary creature. 

It possessed gilded antlers and silver hooves, racing like an arrow and designated by the maiden goddess to inflict great devastation upon the orchards and fields, meting out punishment to mortal men for their refusal to offer sacrifices at her temple. 

Thus, wherever it spied produce-laden gardens, verdant pastures, or fertile fields, the doe, at the command of Artemis, would trample, horn, and plunder with abandon.

Despite the desperate pleas of the local populace, the huntress refused to yield. 

After an arduous journey through the Arcadian forests, Hercules stumbled upon the abode of the golden-horned hind, which vanished from sight at the first glimpse of the hero. 

It appeared to move without running or touching the ground, like a whirlwind gliding, roaring across the plain, turning back and standing still for a moment before disappearing again.

Yet our hero was not one to be outdone. 

The poets tell of Hercules and the hind of Artemis, running and chasing one another incessantly, without rest, food, water, or sleep, without interruption from midnight until they reached the Hyperborean lands, the ends of the earth where the Ister River sprang forth.

They chased each other in this manner for an entire year, their lightning-fast movements noticed by many who wished to assist the valiant Hercules. 

But alas, no living being on the earth could match the fleetness of the doe, with the son of Zeus relentlessly pursuing it. 

Finally, after an exhausting and seemingly interminable chase, the doe arrived at the bank of a deep blue river, Ladon, where the temple of the goddess Artemis stood. 

The golden-horned doe would be safe from Hercules’ grasp if it could enter the temple.

Until this point, the hero had eschewed the use of his bow. 

But as the wounded animal approached the temple’s entrance, Hercules took aim at its left foot and let fly an arrow, which struck its mark. The injured doe came to a sudden halt, and in two quick steps, Hercules pounced upon it, seizing it by the antlers. 

After extracting the arrow from its foot, the hero securely bound the hind’s three remaining feet and hefted it onto his sturdy shoulders, commencing the journey back to Mycenae with his captive in tow.

And so the third of the 12 labors of Hercules was completed.

The Fourth Labor of Hercules: Capturing the Erymanthian Boar

The fourth of the 12 labors of Hercules was to capture the Erymanthian Boar.

The nefarious king, hopeful despite his prior defeats, conceived yet another scheme to challenge the valorous Hercules. 

He dispatched the hero to the mountains of Erimanthus, tasking him to capture the feral boar that wreaked havoc upon the region of Psofide, decimating settlements and murdering the innocent.

Thus, the hero embarked on his arduous journey, even though he had barely just arrived in Arcadia. 

Along the way, he encountered Folos the centaur, a congenial creature and close friend of Hercules, who extended a gracious invitation to a repast and moment of respite following his travails.

In addition to providing hospitality, Folos presented a cask of ambrosial wine gifted by Dionysus, the deity of viniculture. 

Reserved solely for the gods’ consumption, the heady aroma of this elixir wafted through the fields and valleys, intoxicating all creatures, be they mortal, monstrous, or beastly.

The scent caught the attention of Folos’ kin, who, in a thunderous gallop, descended upon the cave where Hercules and Folos feasted. 

Incensed that the thrall of King Eurystheus dared to partake in their coveted wine, the irate centaurs besieged the den with rocks and tree trunks, intent on slaying the son of Thebes’ queen. 

One hurled a massive boulder at his forehead, while another assaulted him viciously with an oak limb.

Confronted with the wrathful centaurs, the fearless Hercules leaped into action, bursting like a spark from a raging inferno that engulfed a hearth. 

Lithe as a swallow but fierce as a lion wounded by death, Zeus’ offspring charged the initial centaur, striking him with his fist and ending his life instantly. 

Next, wielding his formidable club, he dealt fatal blows, pulverizing the centaurs’ heads, chests, and shoulders and toppling them to the ground. Terrified for their lives, the centaurs fled Folos’ abode.

Nonetheless, Hercules was not satisfied with their retreat, and he pursued them, launching arrows and vanquishing them one by one.

Reeling from the chaotic event, he journeyed onward to Erymanth to hunt the boar. Eventually locating the animal, the hero faced a tremendous challenge as the creature’s long, white tusks, sharp as spears, were a formidable weapon.

The beast, forewarned by Artemis of Hercules’ approach, leaned against a tall, thick oak trunk and bellowed loudly. 

It uprooted the trunk from the ground and hurled it at the hero. 

Quick on his feet, Hercules evaded the assault, yearning to retrieve the felled timber and use it to dispatch the boar. However, he remembered his task: to capture the creature alive and unscathed for cowardly Eurystheus.

Realizing it could not overpower the hero, the boar attempted to flee toward the valley. But Hercules, bellowing and throwing enormous stones, impelled the creature to climb Erymanth’s peak.

The mountain was draped in a new layer of fluffy, freshly fallen snow, and the boar faltered and became ensnared in the drifts. Its breathing labored, and it was weakened and unable to advance.

Undeterred, our brave champion deftly skirted the snow-covered area and ascended some exposed rocks. From this vantage point, he vaulted directly over the beast, striking it in the neck and severing its breath, effectively subduing it. 

He then hoisted it on his back and began his journey back to Mycenae.

Capturing the Erymanthian Boar was the fourth of the 12 labors of Hercules.

The Fifth Labor of Hercules: Cleaning the Augean Stables

The fifth of the 12 labors of Hercules was to clean the Augean Stables.

Upon seeing that Hercules had emerged victorious once again, the king issued a demand in a threatening tone:

Travel to Elis, to King Augias, son of the mighty sun god Helios. The King of Elis possesses three thousand oxen, some of which have snow-like feet, others are entirely white like swans, and others are purple, akin to Sidonian cloth.  Among them all, a bull named Faeton resembles a shining star of gold. In his stables, the refuse of the oxen has accumulated into mountains, untouched for centuries.  These oxen, entrusted to the care of the sun god himself, have no more space in their stables. Your task is to go to Augias and cleanse the filth.

Knowing how many poor slaves had lost their lives because they could not clean the filth, our valiant hero also accepted this challenge.

Upon arriving in Elis, the hero was met by Augias, who scoffed:

The King of Euristeus has dispatched you to serve me for a year. Not even in ten years, perhaps not even in a lifetime, will you be able to cleanse my stables. And if you fail, know that you will meet your demise right here, in Elis.

However, the wise son of Alcmene knew precisely what to do, and he pledged to clean the stables not in a year, not in ten years, nor even in a lifetime, but in a single day.

Thus, the courageous hero led the oxen out and took them to a nearby field. He then seized his sturdy hoe and struck the tall wall behind the stables with tremendous force, creating two breaches.

At each breach in the wall, he dug two channels that led to the two adjacent rivers, Peneus and Alpheus. The waters of the rivers flowed through the channels that the hero had dug, through the breaches, and into Augias’ stables.

Beforehand, Hercules had made a large breach in the front wall. The water entered through the back of the massive stable and was discharged through the front, taking all the filth with it.

Before nightfall, the stables of Augias had been cleansed, and the breaches in the walls were sealed up. 

The Alpheus and Peneus were flowing once more, and the channels dug by Hercules were already filled with dirt and unnoticeable.

Cleaning the Augean Stables was the fifth of the 12 labors of Hercules.

The Sixth Labor of Hercules: Slaying the Stymphalian Birds

The sixth of the 12 labors of Hercules was to slay the Stymphalian Birds.

After arriving in Tiryns, Hercules received yet another order to embark on another mission. 

This time, for his sixth labor, he was tasked with destroying a breed of colossal birds that had taken residence in black swamps near Stymphalos – a city that lies on the shores of the sea. 

These birds were unlike any other. 

They were much larger than humans and had beaks made of brass and wings made of bronze. When they flapped their wings, they hurled feathers with the force of spears, which killed men and animals alike. 

They would then snatch their prey in their razor-sharp claws, take to the air, and devour it during flight. 

So much blood had been shed around Stymphalos that almost all the locals had fled, terrified of death.

No one dared to fight those birds, for they were said to serve the cruel god of war, Ares. 

He delighted in hearing their victims’ groans or seeing their blood dripping on the streets of Stymphalos.

This is precisely why the cowardly king had decided to send Hercules on that mission. He hoped the birds or Ares’ revenge would kill the brave warrior.

Undeterred by the danger, Hercules set out for the Argolic Gulf, where the nests were found. Along the way, people warned him of the dangers ahead, urging him to turn back. 

However, Hercules was determined to complete his task. 

He carried two large brass drums and wore the Nemean Lion’s skin as armor and a helmet on his head. 

When he reached the dark nests, he climbed a hill near the shore and began to beat the drums fiercely. The infernal noise raised flocks of thousands of Ares’ birds.

The sky darkened as the birds rose into the air, and their deafening screams filled the entire area, reaching the ears of Euristeus and his counselors, who laughed and rejoiced at the thought that Alcmene’s son would be slain. 

Nevertheless, Hercules remained undaunted.

The hero threw his lance, shot arrows that pierced a hundred birds at once, and even struck with his terrible club, if it was within reach.

Hercules fought relentlessly until the nests were covered with the black wings, outstretched, lifeless, of the thousands of slain monsters.

Mounds and mounds of dead birds littered the entire place, shrouding it like a black shroud. The few who managed to escape did so out of fear of death, flying towards the Euxine port and seeking refuge on a small island raised from the waters by Thetis at the request of the cruel god Ares.

According to legend, upon seeing Hercules’ deed, Ares appeared with a sword in his hand, eager for revenge. But the hero raised his mace, ready to strike, and the god of war was filled with fear and took off. 

He made himself invisible but swore to help Hera to kill Alcmene’s son.

And thus, the sixth of the 12 labors of Hercules was completed. 

The hero took with him the body of a bird, pierced by an arrow, as proof, and he left for Tirint.

On his way back, he encountered many groups of people returning to the city of Stymphalos. With tears in their eyes, they all thanked him, happy they could regain their abandoned home without danger for their children.

The Seventh Labor of Hercules: Capturing the Cretan Bull

The seventh of the 12 labors of Hercules was to capture the Cretan Bull (also known as Poseidon’s Bull).

Even after finishing six difficult trials, Heracles was not granted any respite. 

News of a white bull sent by Poseidon, god of seas and oceans, had reached the ears of the tyrant ruling over Mycenae. 

So the king commanded the son of Zeus to embark on a new journey to the kingdom of Minos on Crete, the mystical island where, according to legends, Gaia raised Zeus in secret.

As the story goes, this bull was as fierce as a thunderstorm. Its eyes blazed with fire, foam dripped from its mouth, and it bellowed a terrifying roar. 

Cretan Bull trampled over everything in its path, biting people, cattle, and other wild creatures. With its powerful horns, it demolished homes, stables, orchards, gardens, and barns. 

Even the king of Crete, Minos, son of Zeus and beautiful Europe, was trapped within his palace, terrified of the beast. None of his advisors nor soldiers dared to face the raging creature of Poseidon.

Enter Hercules, arriving on a boat, as commanded by Eurystheus to capture the bull from Argos unharmed. 

To do so, Hercules fashioned a net out of steel wire, much like those used to catch fish. 

The hero provoked the bull with shouts and stones, leading the beast into the trap. Then, he seized the animal’s jaw with his iron fists, bent its thick neck, and successfully subdued the creature.

Poseidon’s Bull was now obedient to the valiant Hercules, bowing its head and kneeling before him, mooing softly as if seeking forgiveness. 

After bidding farewell to King Minos and the people of Crete, who blessed him for freeing them from the bull’s curse, Hercules mounted the beast as if it were a horse. Holding its horns tightly, he directed the animal towards the sea.

The bull waded into the waters and swam toward the Peloponnese Peninsula. There, Hercules took the animal to the land of Argos and placed it in the stables of King Eurystheus. 

And thus concluded the seventh of the 12 labors of Hercules. 

Upon hearing of the creature’s arrival, fear gripped Eurystheus, and he hid inside a bronze barrel and instructed his servants to open the gate of the stables and allow the bull to escape.

The beast, upon gaining its freedom, vanished like a ghost. It fled as far as Attica to the field of Marathon, where it was ultimately slain by another legendary hero, Theseus.

The Eighth Labor of Hercules: Stealing the Mares of Diomedes

The eighth of the 12 labors of Hercules was to steal the Mares of Diomedes. 

After his return from Crete, Eurystheus sought out his mistress Hera to inquire about new and more challenging tasks for Hercules. 

Hera recounted to him the story of Diomedes, the son of Ares and lord of the bistones in Thrace. 

Diomedes had an extraordinary set of horses that were unlike any other in existence. These stallions had black coats resembling charcoal and moved with the speed and grace of vultures soaring through the skies. 

However, their ferocious appetite for human flesh meant that they were secured by heavy chains in their bronze stables.

Any unfortunate stranger who entered Diomedes’ lands would be swiftly captured and thrown to the beasts, who would tear them apart with the ravenous hunger of wolves. 

And so, the hero embarked on a new journey to finish the eighth out of the 12 labors of Hercules.

Upon arriving at the beautiful port of Argos, he was greeted by a large ship that awaited him, as requested by Zeus himself, to transport the horses if he could succeed in acquiring them. 

While en route, a fierce storm arose, forcing Hercules to land on the shore of Thessaly for a brief respite. In the city of Phara, it was here that King Admet reigned.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions, Hercules decided to visit Admet and spin tales with his good friend. 

However, upon arriving at the palace, he discovered that misfortune had already befallen Admet. Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, had sent his servant to take Admet to his subterranean realm, a fate that horrified the king. 

Admet desperately sought anyone willing to go in his place, but all declined except for his beloved wife, the young and beautiful Alcesta.

Thanatos, the god of death, agreed to take Alcesta instead of Admet. With a quick swipe of his sharp scythe, he severed a lock of her hair, and Alcesta passed away with only a sigh. 

Grief descended upon the palace, and Admet was torn apart with anguish as he witnessed the loss of his faithful wife.

As Hercules arrived at the palace, Admet concealed his pain from his friend and offered him the best hospitality available: delicacies, fine drinks, and fresh fruits from the gardens. 

During the feast, Hercules noticed that everyone around him was weeping and sought an explanation from the servants. Finally, he learned of Alcesta’s sacrifice.

That night, Hercules quietly rose from his bed, knowing that the god Thanatos would come to take the soul from the sleeping body on the first night after death.

Undetected by any witnesses, Hercules stealthily approached the private chamber where the beautiful Alcesta lay, as per the tradition which prohibited anyone from being present when Thanatos arrived to ferry away the soul of the departed.

However, the brave hero waited, biding his time until he heard the sound of wings fluttering. He then emerged from his hiding place and confronted the god of death. 

The two fought fiercely throughout the night until Hercules ultimately prevailed by overpowering Thanatos, pinning him to the ground with his chest and binding him with thick ropes. 

Death had been vanquished.

In light of his defeat, Thanatos agreed to revive the young queen and promised to leave Admet alone. 

As Hercules and Alcesta entered the palace at dawn, Admet was in the midst of ending his life with an iron dagger to join his beloved in the underworld. However, seeing Alcesta alive, smiling, and radiantly beautiful, he was at a loss for words.

Yet, the son of Alcmene had departed, leaving happiness behind in the palace of Phyrgia to embark on his next mission. 

He soon arrived in the lands of the cruel king Diomedes, the Bistonian, who had already been warned by Ares of the hero’s impending arrival.

Upon disembarking, Hercules was surrounded by hundreds of warriors, but he emerged victorious after a grueling battle lasting three days and three nights. 

He took the horses from the stables and bound their muzzles with steel chains before heading to the shore to board the boat. However, the king of Bistonia, with a new army of cavalry armed with swords, spears, and bows, launched another attack.

After an intense battle, the Bistonian army was defeated, and the few survivors were forced to flee. King Diomedes was captured and placed on board among the ravenous horses, who instantly devoured him.

Upon returning to Argos, Hercules brought the horses to Mycenae, where King Eurystheus hid again, in the same barrel, in terror, upon hearing of Diomedes’ gruesome fate. 

Hercules locked the horses in a secure stable, but Eurystheus commanded his servants to release them.

In their frenzied escape, the horses ran into the forest encircling Mount Olympus, where Zeus sent wolves to devour them all in his wrath.

Stealing the Mares of Diomedes was the eighth of the 12 labors of Hercules.

The Ninth Labor of Hercules: Acquiring the Girdle of Hippolyta

The ninth of the 12 labors of Hercules was to acquire the Girdle of Hippolyta.

Hercules had already managed to escape from his previous labors eight times, but Eurystheus, taking advice from Hera, had devised yet another plan to test the hero’s strength and endurance.

This time, Hercules was tasked with retrieving a precious and enchanted belt of immense power, even greater than those of the Olympian gods. The belt was worn by Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons.

Hippolyta, a valiant warrior, along with her sister Antiope, were the daughters of Ares, the god of war. They ruled over a community of fighting women who resided in the Euxine Pontus.

Upon hearing of Hercules’s adventures in his previous labors, renowned heroes such as Peleus from Telamon and Theseus from Athens gathered in the port of Argos. They offered to accompany him to the land of the Amazons. Hercules agreed, and they set sail for the Euxine Pontus.

After a long journey, the heroes disembarked on the broad, sandy shore guarded by the Amazons, fierce warriors who rode swift horses and carried bows and sharp spears.

Hippolyta was amazed at the sight of the handsome youths descending upon the shore, and she welcomed them. 

Hercules explained that he had come from Mycenae, sent by Eurystheus, to request her belt as a sign of her queenship.

Moved by Hercules’ story, the queen agreed to give him the belt without a fight. 

However, Hera, watching from the heavens, was not pleased with this outcome. Disguised as an Amazon, she rode in on a black horse and incited the other Amazons to battle against the heroes.

The Amazons were inflamed and prepared for battle despite Hippolyta’s attempts to appease them. The spears glistened, and a rain of arrows flew from the bows. 

Hercules and the other heroes fought back with arrows and spears, and the battle was intense.

When Hercules entered the fray, it was as if a storm had been unleashed. The renowned Amazons fell like hail, knocked to the ground with their horses.

The beautiful Antiope and a chieftain named Menalippa were taken captive in the chaos. 

Hippolyta, who held the maiden dear, exchanged her for the belt so that she could be taken to Admete, the daughter of Eurystheus and priestess of Hera. However, Antiope remained a captive of the hero Theseus.

After finishing the ninth of the 12 labors of Hercules, the heroes embarked on their journey back to Mycenae.

The Tenth Labor of Hercules: Getting the Cows of Geryon

The tenth labor of Hercules was to obtain the cattle of Geryon. 

Hercules accomplished nine feats of heroism with great honor. For his tenth task, he was commanded by Eurystheus to travel to the ends of the world, where the shining sun, Helios, descends each evening to rest. 

There, he was to capture the red-as-fire cattle owned by the giant Gerion, a nephew of Medusa. The cattle were given by the gods, and Hercules was to bring them all to Mycenae. 

Eurystheus warned him that failure to do so would result in his head being cut off.

With great determination, Hercules set off, sailing toward Africa on a raft built from a giant tree. He traversed all of Libya and the desolate deserts, all the way to the end of the world where there was a strait where the endless ocean, Africa, and Europe met. 

Exhausted from his journey, Hercules wanted to leave a reminder of his suffering for eternity, so he tore two big, blue stones from the rocky coasts of the shore and carefully placed them on each side of the strait that connected Africa and Europe. 

These rocks were henceforth known as “The Pillars of Hercules.”

However, the island of Erythia, where Gerion’s cattle were located, was out in the open sea, with no way to reach it. 

The evening had come, and the god Helios was descending with his blazing chariot in glory. The merciless heat spread from the rays burning on the forehead of the god was so much that Hercules could no longer endure it. 

Bitterly angered, he put his hand on his bow, ready to shoot at the Sun god, believing he wanted to purposely harm him. 

But Helios, moved by the hero’s valor, urged him to put his weapons aside and offered him his round boat made by Hephaestus of gold and silver.

The battle with Gerion was not an easy one. 

He had three bodies joined together in the middle, three heads, six enormous hands, and six legs, and could strike Hercules with three arrows and three spears at once. 

Despite Helios warning Hercules of the difficulty of fighting Gerion, Hercules did not let his courage falter. He fought valiantly and won.

With the cattle in tow, the hero set out for home. 

He traveled through Europe, over the Pyrenees, through Gaul, and finally through Italy. However, the vengeful Hera let one cow escape, which swam back to Sicily. 

Hercules had to search for it, and when he found it, he had to fight for it with a progeny of Poseidon who had hidden it in his own herd. He recovered the lost cow and drove the herd to the Ionian Sea, where Hera stirred up turmoil among all the cows. 

They scattered all over the world, in all four directions, and Hercules had to look for them. He had to fight all kinds of monsters, climb high mountains, swim across seas, traverse dense forests, and run over endless plains. 

With great difficulty, he gathered them all and brought them to King Eurystheus.

By doing so, Alcmene’s son successfully completed the tenth labor of Hercules.

But the cowardly king commanded that all the cattle be slaughtered and their meat offered as a sacrifice to his guardian goddess, Hera.

The Eleventh Labor of Hercules: Stealing the Apples of the Hesperides

The eleventh out of the 12 labors of Hercules was to steal the Golden Apples of the Hesperides.

Eurystheus, urged by Hera, had tasked Hercules with bringing back the Golden Apples from the Garden of the Hesperides nymphs, but no one knew where this enchanted Garden was located.

Hercules embarked on his servitude journey once again, wandering the world as requested by Eurystheus. 

Some say that Athena, witnessing Alcmene’s son’s struggle, revealed to him that only Nereus, an ancient sea god, knew the way to the Garden of the Hesperides. However, Nereus would only reveal the location if defeated in battle.

The hero waited on the shoreline’s fine sands until the old god emerged from the deep waters to bask in the sun. Then, Hercules leaped onto Nereus’s back without hesitation, and the two engaged in a fierce battle. 

Despite Nereus’s age, he was skilled and had muscles of steel. 

They fought intensely on the seabed, tumbled into the water, and finally emerged on the shore, where Hercules finally overpowered him by clenching his hands around Nereus’s waist and binding him in place. 

Though the sea god tried to escape by transforming into various animals, including a bull, a horse, a ram, and a dog, it was all in vain.

With no other options, Nereus revealed that the Garden of the Hesperides nymphs was located at the end of the world, where Atlas carried the sky on his shoulders. 

However, the Garden was heavily guarded by nymphs and a monster named Ladon, who had an ever-awake eye. Hercules would need to defeat the beast, navigate the nymphs’ enchantment, and reach the golden fruit. 

Unfortunately, he didn’t know the way to the Garden, even though he was a god.

Still, Nereus divulged that Prometheus was the only one who knew how to reach the Garden, who was chained to a jagged stone on Elbrus in the Caucasus at Zeus’s command. 

Hercules set out, crossing seas and countries to find the Garden.

On the way, he encountered Antaeus, a giant son of Gaia who possessed a secret that made him invincible – as long as he was in contact with the soil that had given birth to him. 

He lured many travelers into battle, killing them with ease. 

However, Hercules, known for his wisdom, noticed that Antaeus grew weaker each time he lifted him off the ground. By throwing him to the ground, the giant would only become stronger. 

Hercules then grabbed Antaeus’s thighs, lifting him high and squeezing him until his bones were crushed. Deprived of the strength he drew from the earth, Antaeus fell defeated and exhausted.

Upon arriving at Mount Elbrus, situated in the Caucasus region, the hero found Prometheus, the son of Iapetus, a Titan condemned by Zeus to an eternity of suffering for the crime of bestowing stolen fire to the people of Earth. 

Bound with his hands behind his back and impaled with an iron bar in his chest, the Titan endured the agony of the hungry eagle of Zeus, who relentlessly pecked at his liver with its bloodstained beak. 

The Titan refused to submit to Zeus and beg for forgiveness despite this torture.

Moved by the gruesome torment of this protector of mankind, Hercules fashioned an arrow and coated it with the venom of the Hydra. 

He then directed it towards the giant eagle, which had been clinging to Prometheus’ chest. The eagle released a deafening screech and plummeted into the tempestuous sea below.

It is said that a powerful wind was unleashed at that moment, and Hercules, planting his foot firmly on a rock, broke the chains forged by the great blacksmith of the gods, Hephaestus, with ease. 

He then removed the large iron pin from the Titan’s exhausted body, thus freeing him from his eternal agony. 

The sky split open as the storm raged on, and countless lightning bolts shot across the heavens. Hailstones, as large as eggs, rained down on the heroes, and the entire mountain shook as if it would collapse into the roiling ocean waves.

Some legends suggest that Zeus was so enraged at Hercules for freeing one of his most formidable enemies that, for a moment, he even contemplated killing his son. 

However, Athena, the wise goddess, intervened and reminded him that the sons of Gaia, the Titans, could potentially rise again to wage a cruel war against the gods of Olympus. 

In such a scenario, Zeus would require the power of his son to triumph. Upon hearing this, Zeus relented.

Prometheus expressed his gratitude to Hercules and taught him how to reach the Hesperian land. 

After arriving at the world’s edge, Hercules encountered Atlas, the Titan who bore the weight of the vast celestial dome on his shoulders. Beyond him lay a magical garden, where the golden leaves shimmered and enchanted apples emitted a sweet fragrance.

Atlas beseeched Hercules to hold the heavy dome for a brief period so that he could rest his weary back. In exchange for this favor, Atlas offered to retrieve the golden apples.

Without hesitation, the valiant Hercules agreed to hold the weighty celestial dome on behalf of the Titan Atlas. The sky was so heavy that the hero’s muscles swelled like towering peaks, and sweat cascaded down his face in torrents. 

Despite the immense strain, he did not utter a single groan.

Amazed by Hercules’ unwavering determination, Atlas returned with a handful of apples, seated himself beside the hero, and let out a boisterous laugh as he declared:

You have been deceived, Hercules. I shall leave you here in my stead, forever. I am exhausted from bearing the burden that Zeus himself laid upon me. You are free to remain here in good health while I make my way to Mycenae with the coveted golden apples.

For a moment, Hercules was uncertain of what to do, but he quickly devised an escape plan and spoke to Atlas:

Indeed, you have borne much suffering. However, I am not like you, a descendant of the Titans, and my shoulder aches. It would alleviate my pain if I could only lay this lion’s skin upon my shoulder. Therefore, please briefly take back the celestial dome while I place this skin on my shoulder.

The Titan was cunning but not wise enough to see through Hercules’ plan. 

As soon as Atlas took the sky back on his shoulders, Hercules seized the golden apples collected from the Hesperides’ Garden and ran towards Mycenae.

And so Alcmene’s son finished the eleventh out of the 12 labors of Hercules.

The Twelfth Labor of Hercules: Capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades

The twelfth and final of the 12 labors of Hercules was to capture Cerberus, the fierce guard dog of the Underworld.

Upon realizing he could not triumph over Hercules, Eurystheus once again sought the aid of Hera. 

This time, the goddess advised him to dispatch Hercules to the underworld kingdom of Hades to capture the guard dog at the gates of the Underworld, Cerberus.

Without protest, Hercules set out again on his arduous journey. He searched for a deep cavern that descended into the depths of the earth, leading to Hades’ realm. 

Confronting geniuses and monsters that obstructed his path, he eventually arrived at the gates of Hades’ palace.

There, he encountered the hero Theseus, who had followed him to the Euxine Sea and the land of the Amazons, where he had attempted to steal Hades’ wife, Persephone, for his comrade, King Pirithous. 

Theseus was chained to a rock, bound in heavy chains as punishment for his folly.

Without delay, Hercules broke the chains and liberated Theseus. He then guided him out of the Underworld and back to the realm of the living.

Witnessing the events that had transpired, Hades realized, as did Ares, that contending with Hercules would not be a simple task. 

Though he dared not obstruct the hero’s mission, he issued a wager: he would relinquish the guard dog to Hercules if he could overcome him without weapons.

The hero accepted the challenge. 

He firmly grasped Cerberus by his three thick necks and exerted immense pressure, effectively strangling him. Despite the dog’s hissing and attempts to bite Hercules with his serpentine fangs and thrashing of his tail, it proved futile. 

Eventually, Cerberus succumbed to Hercules’ might and fell motionless, appearing dead.

With the faithful dog now in possession, Hercules slung him over his shoulder and began his journey back to Mycenae. As they traveled, venomous droplets dripped from Cerberus’ mouth, and foam oozed from his body.

Wherever the foam or green venom fell, it caused the growth of poisonous plants such as henbane and hemlock. Thus, according to legend, the existence of poisonous flora is attributed to this episode.

And so concluded the twelfth and last of the 12 labors of Hercules.

At Ancient Theory we only use trusted sources to document our articles. Such relevant sources include authentic documents, newspaper and magazine articles, established authors, or reputable websites.

• Edith Hamilton - Mythology. Little, Brown and Company, 1942.
• Apollodorus - The Library of Greek Mythology. Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Robert Graves - The Greek Myths. Penguin Books, 1992.
• Heracles. wikipedia.org. [ Source ]
• Karl Kerenyi - The Heroes of the Greeks. Thames & Hudson, 1959.
• Labours of Hercules. wikipedia.org. [ Source ]
• Barry B. Powell - Classical Myth. Prentice Hall, 1998.
• Lewis Richard Farnell - The Cults of the Greek States. Clarendon Press, 1896.
• Bernard Evslin - Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths. Scholastic Inc., 1966.
• Moses Hadas - Greek Mythology. Mentor, 1957.
• Hercules. history.com. [ Source ]
• Charles Segal - Myth and the Polis. Cornell University Press, 1996.
• Euripides - The Heracleidae. Cambridge University Press, 1989.

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Unit 3: Adventure and The Hero’s Journey

The Adventures of Hercules

adapted from The Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes by Thomas Bulfinch, $\ccpd$

Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmena. As Hera was always hostile to the offspring of her husband by mortal mothers, she declared war against Hercules from his birth. Knowing that Hera would forever hate her child, Alcmena left the poor child on a hill to die, fearing that life for him would be a more horrible fate. However, from the sky Athena saw a bright light and went down to Earth to see what it was. It was Alcmena’s infant. Athena felt that this baby was special, and as the patron of heroes, brought the baby up to Mount Olympus to raise. One day, Athena handed off the child to Hera to feed, but he bit so hard that Hera pulled away, and the milk went flying across the sky, and this is created what we call the “Milky Way.” After drinking divine milk, the baby became stronger and more god-like. A few months later, Athena found his mother Alcmena and returned the baby to her. Alcmena named the child “Heracles”, meaning “pride of Hera” in Greek, at another attempt to calm Hera. But he is more well-known by his Roman name, Hercules.

But this was not enough to keep Hera calm. She sent two serpents to destroy Hercules as he lay in his cradle, but the talented little infant strangled them with his own hands. Hera left little Hercules alone for a while after this. When he grew up, Hercules married the king of Thebes, King Creon’s daughter named Megara. After some years, Hera noticed that Hercules was having too successful of a life, and thus made Hercules go insane – insane enough to kill his own children. After he came back to his senses, he begged for a way to be forgiven. The gods decided he could only be redeemed by completing twelve impossible tasks.

The first was the fight with the Nemean lion. The valley of Nemea was attacked by a terrible lion. Eurystheus, the king of the land, supervisor of the twelve tasks, and Hercules’ worst enemy, ordered Hercules to bring him the skin of this monster. After using in vain his club and arrows against the lion, Hercules strangled the animal with his hands. He returned carrying the dead lion on his shoulders; but Eurystheus was so frightened at the sight of it and at this proof of the extraordinary strength of the hero, that he ordered him to deliver the proof of his tasks completed in the future outside the town.

His next labor was to kill the Hydra. This monster devastated the country of Argos and lived in a swamp. The Hydra had nine heads, of which the middle one was immortal. Hercules struck off its heads with his club, but in the place of the head knocked off, two new ones grew forth each time. Eventually, he burned away the heads of the Hydra and buried the ninth immortal one under a huge rock.

Another labor was the cleaning of the Augean stables. Augeas, king of Elis, had a herd of three thousand oxen whose barns had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules pulled two nearby rivers and ran the waters through the barns and cleaned them thoroughly in one day.

His next labor was of a more delicate kind. Admeta, the daughter of Eurystheus, had always wanted the jeweled belt of the queen of the Amazons, and so Eurystheus ordered Hercules to go and get it. The Amazons were a nation of women. They were very warlike and held several prosperous cities. It was their custom to bring up only the female children; the boys were either sent away to the neighboring nations or put to death. Hercules was accompanied by a number of volunteers, and after various adventures at last reached the country of the Amazons. Hippolyta, the queen, received him kindly, and agreed to give him her belt, but Hera did not like how easy this task had become, and taking the form of an Amazon, went and persuaded the rest that the strangers were carrying off their queen. They instantly armed and came in great numbers down to the ship. Hercules, thinking that Hippolyta had betrayed him, killed her and took the belt.

Another task was to bring to Eurystheus the oxen of Geryon, a monster with three bodies, who lived on the island Erytheia, near Spain, of which Geryon was king. After crossing various countries, Hercules reached the frontiers of Libya and Europe, where he raised the two mountains of Calpe and Abyla, as monuments of his progress, forming the straits of Gibraltar, the two mountains being called the Pillars of Hercules. The oxen were guarded by the giant Eurytion and his two-headed dog, but Hercules killed the giant and his dog and brought the oxen to Eurystheus.

The most difficult labor of all was getting the golden apples of the Hesperides, for Hercules did not know where to find them. These were the apples which Hera had received at her wedding from the goddess of the Earth, and which she had entrusted to the keeping of the daughters of Hesperus, assisted by a watchful dragon. After various adventures, Hercules arrived at Mount Atlas in Africa. Atlas was one of the Titans who had fought against the gods, and thus as his punishment, Atlas’ punishment was to bear on his shoulders the weight of the heavens. He was the father of the Hesperides, and Hercules wondered if anyone could find the apples and bring them to him. But how could he send Atlas away from his post, or who would hold up the heavens while he was gone? Hercules took the burden on his own shoulders and sent Atlas to seek the apples. Atlas returned with the apples but enjoyed his freedom. He did not want to trade places with Hercules and once again hold up the universe. But Hercules had more tasks to complete! Finally, he thought of a plan. Hercules told Atlas, “The buckle on my cape is hurting my neck. Could you hold this for a second while I adjust my cape?” Atlas reluctantly took back the universe, and Hercules cleverly ran away with the apples Atlas brought for him.

A celebrated accomplishment of Hercules was his victory over Antaeus. Antaeus, the son of Terra, the Earth, was a mighty giant and wrestler, whose strength was invincible as long as he remained in contact with his mother Earth. He forced all strangers who came to his country to wrestle with him, on condition that if defeated (as they all were), they should be put to death. Hercules challenged him, and finding that it was not possible to throw him, for he always rose with renewed strength from every fall, he lifted him up from the earth and strangled him in the air.

The last task we shall record was bringing Cerberus from the lower world. Hercules descended into Hades, accompanied by Hermes and Athena. He obtained permission from Hades to carry Cerberus to the upper air, provided he could do it without the use of weapons; and in spite of the monster’s struggling, he captured him, held him fast, and carried him to Eurystheus, and afterward brought him back again.

But Hera was furious that Hercules survived all twelve tasks and was not ready to forgive him, so once again she made Hercules go insane, and he killed his friend Iphitus and was sentenced for this offense to become the slave of Queen Omphale for three years. While in this service, the hero’s nature seemed changed. He lived effeminately, wearing at times the dress of a woman, and spinning wool with the female servants of Omphale, while the queen wore his lion’s skin. When this punishment ended, he married Dejanira and lived in peace with her three years.

On one occasion as he was traveling with his wife, they came to a river, across which the Centaur Nessus carried travelers for a fee. Hercules himself crossed the river but gave Dejanira to Nessus to be carried across. Nessus attempted to run away with her, but Hercules heard her cries and shot an arrow into the heart of Nessus. The dying Centaur gave Dejanira a small bottle and told her to take some of his blood and keep it, as it might be used as a charm to preserve the love of her husband.

Dejanira did so and before long had a reason to use it. Hercules in one of his conquests had taken a pretty woman as prisoner, named Iole, of whom he seemed more interested in than Dejanira approved. When Hercules was about to offer sacrifices to the gods in honor of his victory, he asked his wife for a white robe to wear for this special occasion. Dejanira, thinking it was a good opportunity to try her love spell, soaked the robe in the blood of Nessus. She gave him the robe, and as soon as he put it on, the garment became warm on the body of Hercules, and a poison penetrated into all his limbs, causing him the most intense agony. He tried to remove the robe, but it stuck to his skin, and with it he tore away whole pieces of his body. Dejanira, on seeing what she had done, hung herself. Hercules, prepared to die, climbed Mount Oeta, where he built a funeral pyre of trees, gave away his prized bow and arrows, and laid himself down on the pyre, his head resting on his club, and his lion’s skin spread over him. With his expression as peaceful as if he were about to take a nap, he commanded one of his followers to apply the torch. The flames spread and soon overwhelmed the whole pyre.

The gods themselves felt troubled at seeing the champion of the earth brought to an end like this. But Zeus with a smile addressed them: ” I say to you, fear not. He who conquered all else is not to be conquered by those flames which you see blazing on Mount Oeta. Only his mother’s share in him can die; what he got from me is immortal. I will take him, dead to earth, to the heavenly shores, and I require of you all to receive him kindly. No one can deny that he has deserved it.” The gods all gave their approval. So when the flames had consumed the mother’s share of Hercules, the diviner part, instead of being injured, seemed to start forth with new life. Zeus enveloped him in a cloud and took him up in a four-horse chariot to live among the stars. As he took his place in heaven, Atlas felt the added weight.

Hera finally felt sorry for all the pain she caused him and gave him her daughter Hebe in marriage.

Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions according to the story.

• What did Hera do to try to kill baby Hercules and why?
• Why did Hercules have to do difficult tasks?
• Why was killing the Hydra difficult?
• How did Hercules complete the task of cleaning the Augean stables?
• Who is Hippolyta?
• How did Hera interfere with the task of getting Hippolyta’s belt? What was the consequence?
• How did Hercules get the Spanish oxen back to the king of Argos?
• How did Hercules get the golden apples?
• How did Hercules defeat Antaeus?
• What happened to Hercules when he completed all his tasks?
• What was his punishment?
• What happened to his wife after he completed his last task? What did the centaur tell her to do?
• What did Hercules’ wife do with his robe and why?
• What happened to Hercules and his wife after this?

Vocabulary from the Story

As usual, we get some interesting words and phrases from this story.

We get the adjective “herculean” from the story of Hercules. What do you think this word means? Use a dictionary if you need to. How is this word related to Hercules?

• (a) a herculean task
• (b) a herculean effort
• The word “galaxy” comes from Greek, and in Greek “gala” means “milk.” What part of the story is this word referencing?
• According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hydra can mean “a multifarious evil not to be overcome by a single effort”. How is this related to the Hydra in this story?
• We can also say a problem is “hydra-headed”. What do you think that means?
• What is an “atlas”, and how is it related to Atlas from this story?
• We also get the idiom “carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders” from Atlas. What do you think this idiom means? Use a dictionary if you need to.

Read this entry for Augean stables from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

What is a situation you can describe using this phrase?

We also get the phrase “Shirt of Nessus”, which means “a source of misfortune from which there is no escape; a fatal present; or a “destructive force or influence.” How does this relate to the story of Hercules? Give an example of how it could be used.

• The Greek play author Euripides wrote a play about Eurystheus’ fear that Hercules’ children will seek revenge and kill him after the death of their father. Thus, Eurystheus plans to kill Hercules’ children. They run away to Athens and Eurystheus declares war on the city and demands the soldiers “leave no stone unturned” to find and kill his children. From this version of Hercules’ story we get the idiom “leave no stone unturned” in English.  Use a dictionary to find the meaning of this phrase and use it in a sentence.

CEFR Level: CEF Level B2

• A and B: Illustration by Willy Pogany for the book Exercise image credits: A and B: The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles", by Padraic Colum, 1921, $\ccpd$. C: by Diego López el Mudo, 17th Century, $\ccpd$. D: by Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634, $\ccpd$. E: by Guercino, 1646, $\ccpd$. F: by John Singer Sargent, 1921, $\ccpd$. ↵

It’s All Greek to Me! Copyright © 2018 by Charity Davenport is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Zero to Hero: Hercules and his Hero’s Journey

As stated in my last blog, this week I will be showing an example of the Hero’s Journey or Joseph Campbell’s monomyth in a classic tale: Hercules. Recall that the hero’s journey is an archetype or pattern of that acts as a blueprint to tell a specific type of story. It is broken down into three main steps: the departure, the initiation, and the return. Now, unless you have taken greek mythology (or read Percy Jackson), you probably do not know the real story of Hercules and his 10/12 trials. What you do know is the Disney animated Hercules — the hero gets the girl and its a classic love story in the end. Since Campbell’s monomyth is applicable in some way to every hero story and for the sake of universal recognition, we will be looking at Disney’s Hercules to chart our tale. Secretly I just wanted a reason to watch Hercules again.

The  Departure

Hercules leaves home because he is called to find his true self. Previously he had made a mess of things for his “father” in the marketplace because he was too strong to play frisbee with the other kids. Realizing that he might not belong he asks his parents “why.” Hercules finds out that he is adopted and looks to his only clue — the necklace of Zeus’ lightening bolt– to the past. Hercules sets out on the quest to find his identity and fulfills the monomyth’s departure sequence.

The Initiation

In this phase of the hero’s journey change occurs to the hero; in other words they become the hero — physically and mentally. The individual faces challenges and trials to build themselves anew and create the hero image.

Hercules meets Phil who at first denies Hercules training. However, since Hercules found out his dad was Zeus, Phil decides to give him a shot. In the beginning of the trials, Hercules was scrawny and didn’t have the hero physique that comes with super strength.

Before the initiation . . .

After the initiation . . .

Hercules becomes the hero he always knew he could be. He still has his kind heart and the makings of a hero on the inside too. The completion of this face signifies that the hero is ready to rejoin the world and conquer the task.

Normally the return comes from a quest accomplished to be reborn. In this case, Hercules is reborn as a god in his return from the underworld. He conquers death and is reborn to return a new person.

Also in the return Hercules is allowed to journey home. The journey home is a crucial point of the hero’s journey because it signifies full transformation.

In the end, the hero does not find home satisfying and ends up a wanderer; however, in Disney’s rendition Hercules leaves his home to live a mortal life with meg.

Realizing the Hero’s journey in stories and films is important to recognizing the journeys in our own lives that shape ourselves. Hercules teaches us all different lessons about ourselves. That is the idea of self-actualization through stories with moral lessons.

One thought on “ Zero to Hero: Hercules and his Hero’s Journey ”

I remember learning about mythology and heroes in 8th grade and I loved it! As you mentioned at the end I frequently think about “modern heroes” and applying these qualities to people I know.

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The Hero’s Journey: Exploring the Mythology of Hercules

Hercules: An Epic Tale of Heroism and Adventure

In the realm of Greek mythology, the name Hercules resonates with strength, courage, and legendary feats. This iconic hero has captured the imagination of countless generations, and his story continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day. From ancient myths to modern adaptations, the theme of Hercules has stood the test of time, weaving a tale of heroism, adventure, and the triumph of the human spirit.

The tale of Hercules begins with his birth, born as the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman. Endowed with incredible physical strength and god-like abilities, Hercules was destined for greatness. However, his journey was not an easy one, as he faced numerous trials and challenges that tested his character and resolve.

One of the most famous stories associated with Hercules is his Twelve Labors. These were a series of tasks assigned to him by King Eurystheus as a form of punishment for a crime committed in his youth. From slaying the fearsome Nemean Lion to capturing the Golden Hind of Artemis, Hercules demonstrated his immense strength and courage in overcoming these seemingly impossible tasks.

But Hercules’ journey was not just about physical prowess. It was also a tale of personal growth and redemption. In his quest for atonement, Hercules faced inner demons and struggled with his own mortality. Through his trials, he learned important lessons about humility, selflessness, and the power of love.

The theme of Hercules has been explored in various forms of media, including literature, art, and film. One notable adaptation is Disney’s animated film “Hercules,” which brought the legendary hero to a new generation of audiences. The film beautifully captures the essence of Hercules’ journey, showcasing his transformation from an awkward outsider to a true hero.

The music in “Hercules” is particularly noteworthy, with songs like “Go the Distance” and “Zero to Hero” becoming instant classics. These songs evoke a sense of determination, resilience, and the belief that anyone can overcome their obstacles and achieve greatness.

Beyond its entertainment value, the theme of Hercules also holds valuable life lessons. It teaches us the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, the power of self-belief, and the significance of using our strengths for the greater good. Hercules reminds us that heroes can come from unlikely places, and that true heroism lies not just in physical strength but in acts of kindness, compassion, and self-sacrifice.

The theme of Hercules is a timeless tale of heroism and adventure that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. From his mythological origins to modern adaptations, Hercules’ story has inspired countless individuals to embrace their inner strength and face their own challenges head-on. Whether through literature, art, or film, the theme of Hercules reminds us that we all have the potential to be heroes in our own lives. So, let us embark on our own heroic journeys, facing our trials with courage, and discovering the power that lies within us.

What Is The Theme Song For The Movie Hercules?

The theme song for the movie Hercules is “Go the Distance”. It is performed by Roger Bart and has a length of 3 minutes and 14 seconds. The song is included in the soundtrack of the film and was composed by Alan Menken. “Go the Distance” is a powerful and uplifting song that captures the central theme of the movie, which is about finding one’s place in the world and overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness. The lyrics convey a sense of determination, perseverance, and the desire to go beyond one’s limits to achieve one’s dreams. The song has become a popular anthem and is often associated with the movie Hercules.

What Is The Cartoon Hercules From The 60s?

The cartoon Hercules from the 60s is an animated television series that aired from 1963 to 1966. It is loosely based on the character of Heracles, also known as Hercules, from Greek mythology. The show was part of the sword-and-sandal genre of films that were popular during that time.

Here are some key points about the cartoon Hercules from the 60s:

1. Inspiration: The cartoon series drew inspiration from the Greek mythological character Heracles, who is more commonly known by his Roman name Hercules. However, the show took creative liberties and was not a direct adaptation of the mythological stories.

2. Duration: The series ran for three years, from 1963 to 1966. It aired during a period when sword-and-sandal films, which depicted heroes and mythical elements, were popular.

3. Animation: Being an animated television series, the show featured vibrant and colorful visuals. It utilized traditional animation techniques prevalent during that era.

4. Plot: The cartoon Hercules followed the adventures of the titular character as he embarked on various quests and battles against mythological creatures and villains. The storyline often deviated from the original mythological tales to create exciting and entertaining episodes.

5. Influence: The show was part of a larger trend of Hercules-themed entertainment during the 1960s. The popularity of the character was fueled by the success of sword-and-sandal films like “Hercules” (1958) and “Hercules Unchained” (1959), which starred Steve Reeves.

6. Cultural Impact: The cartoon Hercules helped popularize the character among younger audiences and contributed to the lasting legacy of Hercules in popular culture. The series introduced the mythological hero to a new generation of viewers.

The cartoon Hercules from the 60s was an animated television series that loosely adapted the Greek mythological character Heracles, known as Hercules. It aired from 1963 to 1966, coinciding with the popularity of sword-and-sandal films. The show had a significant cultural impact and played a role in shaping the enduring image of Hercules in popular culture.

Who Is Hercules Sidekick?

Hercules, the renowned Greek demigod, is accompanied on his numerous heroic quests by his loyal and trusted sidekick, Iolaus. As a best friend and constant companion, Iolaus plays a vital role in aiding Hercules in his endeavors. Together, they journey across ancient lands, facing mythical creatures and overcoming various challenges.

Iolaus is depicted as a skilled warrior and a cunning strategist, complementing Hercules’ immense strength and power with his own set of abilities. While Hercules possesses god-like strength due to his divine heritage as the son of Zeus, Iolaus compensates for his lack of supernatural abilities with his quick thinking and resourcefulness.

Throughout their adventures, Iolaus proves to be an invaluable ally to Hercules. He offers moral support, providing encouragement and guidance when Hercules faces personal and emotional struggles. Iolaus is not just a sidekick but also a trusted confidant, someone Hercules can rely on in times of need.

In their quest to help people and rid the world of mythical monsters, Hercules and Iolaus form a formidable team. Their bond is strengthened by their shared experiences and the challenges they face together. Together, they tackle various threats, such as the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Erymanthian Boar, using their combined skills and abilities to ensure the safety of the innocent and the preservation of peace.

Hercules’ sidekick is none other than Iolaus, his loyal and trusted companion. Together, they embark on epic adventures, utilizing Hercules’ god-like strength and Iolaus’ quick thinking to overcome challenges and vanquish mythical foes. Their partnership showcases the power of friendship and demonstrates the importance of teamwork in achieving heroic feats.

The theme of Hercules is a timeless and captivating one that has captured the hearts of audiences for generations. The story of Hercules, a half-god with immense strength, embarking on epic adventures to help others and defeat mythical monsters, has resonated with people throughout history.

The animated television series, The Mighty Hercules, brought this legendary character to life in a way that captured the imagination of viewers. From 1963 to 1966, audiences were enthralled by the heroic exploits of Hercules and his loyal friend Iolaus. The show capitalized on the popularity of the sword-and-sandal genre of films during that time, creating a memorable and entertaining experience for viewers.

One of the standout elements of Hercules is its powerful and uplifting soundtrack. The song “Go the Distance” by Roger Bart perfectly encapsulates the determination and courage of the title character as he strives to overcome challenges and prove himself. This iconic song has resonated with audiences of all ages and has become a symbol of inspiration and perseverance.

Furthermore, the theme of Hercules, which centers around the idea of a hero’s journey, has transcended time and culture. The story of a hero facing trials and tribulations, finding strength within themselves, and ultimately triumphing over adversity is a universal tale that continues to resonate with people today. The character of Hercules serves as a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of the human spirit.

The theme of Hercules is a powerful and enduring one that has captivated audiences for decades. Through its compelling storytelling, memorable characters, and uplifting soundtrack, Hercules has become a beloved and timeless tale of heroism. Whether in animated form or through other adaptations, the story of Hercules continues to inspire and entertain audiences, reminding us of the strength and potential within ourselves to overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.

Doug Barlow

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Hero’s Journey of Perseus

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the ”Hero’s Journey” is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most basic version has 12 steps, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.

Using the steps of the Hero's Journey, students will illustrate the journey of a Greek hero. The example above uses the story of Perseus, but students can even create Hero's Journey storyboards for Hercules, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or anyone else.

The Legend of Perseus : An Example of the Monomyth Structure

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Use the story of one of the great ancient heroes and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. Choose from Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or other approved hero.

• Click "Start Assignment".
• Depict and describe how the hero's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
• Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.
• Click "Save & Exit" when done.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

• [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/5] Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/10] By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

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12 Hero’s Journey Examples in Disney Movies

Looking for the hero’s journey examples in Disney movies? Discover our guide with our top picks!

The hero’s journey is a narrative structure that’s been used in literature for thousands of years. This structure and its inherent stages are discussed in the seminal work by Joseph Cambell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces . Checking out the best Disney movies can be helpful when writing essays about movies .

The hero’s journey structure can be identified in movies, too, and those from the Disney studio are no exception. Below you’ll find our selection of the top twelve Disney films that follow this distinctive pattern. And once you recognize the structure, you might start to spot it everywhere!

Here Are The Best Hero’s Journey Examples in Disney Movies

1. the lion king, 3. hercules, 5. toy story, 7. finding nemo, 9. pocahontas, 12. the jungle book.

The Lion King is a much-loved Disney movie released in 1994. It follows a clear hero’s journey narrative structure. Simba’s Ordinary World is the Pride Lands, where he was born and lives with his family. We learn how important it is to him to grow to be as strong and competent as his father, Mufasa, who he will one day succeed as king.

Simba’s story progresses through all the stages of the hero’s journey. From the Call to Adventure, where Simba is encouraged to visit the elephant graveyard by his uncle Scar, to The Reward, which sees the young protagonist lose his self-doubt, the one thing holding him back from becoming a hero. Finally, the Return with the Elixir. Simba, taking up his father’s crown, restores his kingdom. His journey has healed both himself and the Pride Lands. You might also be interested in these hero’s journey examples in real life .

Mulan is another Disney movie in which the hero’s journey is clearly evident. A couple of stages are particularly clear. Encountering Mushu the dragon is a comedic rendering of The Meeting of the Mentor part of the hero’s journey. At the same time, The Road Back is Mulan’s physical race against time as she dashes home to warn Shang of the Huns’ plan to storm the palace. You might also be interested in these personal narrative examples .

• Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong (Actors)
• Barry Cook (Director) - Alan Ormsby (Writer)
• English (Subtitle)
• Audience Rating: G (General Audience)

Pretty much the epitome of the hero’s journey, Hercules is a Disney classic from 1997 that literally follows a hero’s journey! While it departs a fair way from the twelve labors tale of the original legend, it still sticks to Joseph Campbell ’s monomyth structure. Even the Crossing the First Threshold stage is clearly delineated, with Hercules engaging in a little warm-up roundhousing with a centaur to save Meg.

• Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods (Actors)
• John Musker (Director) - Bob Shaw (Writer)
• English, English (Subtitles)

The hero’s journey can be simplified into three key stages: Departure, Initiation, and Return. The title character of Aladdin begins life in Agrabah as a ‘street rat’ – but we see him leave his ordinary world when he’s lured into entering the Cave of Wonders, sent on a mission by the villainous Jafar (Departure). 

Our hero meets the genie and sets off on a spectacular adventure, dealing with enemies and difficult matters of the heart (Initiation)! He triumphs in the end, though, defeating Jafar, winning over his true love, and finally becoming comfortable in his skin (Return). For more, check out these hero’s journey short stories examples .

It’s not just the narrative structure that can have an archetypal structure: the heroes themselves can often be categorized into archetypes, too, such as The Warrior (Hercules) or The Orphan (Aladdin). One of the lesser-seen hero archetypes is The Caregiver, represented in Toy Story by the character of Woody the cowboy, who oversees and generally looks after all of Andy’s other toys.

The arrival of Buzz Lightyear causes Woody’s consternation. Still, after many trials and challenges Woody has to face in rescuing the toy astronaut, the pair must team up to escape the cruel boy next door, Sid, and save his ill-treated toys. You might also be interested in these tragic hero examples .

In Moana , when a mysterious, dark force threatens her island, Moana is called to adventure to discover how to save her community. During her quest, the heroine faces multiple challenges, meets her mentor, the mighty Maui , and Returns with the Elixir, saving her island and coming home triumphantly, recognized as the firm leader she is. 

It’s worth mentioning that Moana actually has two mentors. As well as Maui, her grandmother, also embodies the role of mentor, demonstrating how the hero’s journey structure has a little give in it and can flex to the story’s needs. Check out these essays about films .

• New Store Stock
• Japanese, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic (Subtitles)

Finding Nemo is a classic hero’s quest tale – even if it features the most unlikely protagonists! The stages of the hero’s journey are nice and clear: Nemo is swept from his Ordinary World when he’s captured by a scuba diver and taken far from his home. His mission is to return to his dad, Marlin, who finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime as he seeks his lost son. 

Marlin finds his mentor, Dory. Together they navigate many dangers until they eventually find Nemo and return to their home in the reef. And the Elixir? Marlin is a way more chilled-out dad and enjoys a closer relationship with his son due to the quest.

• Lee Unkrich, Andrew Stanton (Actors)
• English, Dutch (Subtitles)
• English (Publication Language)

In Up , another unlikely hero, Carl, lives alone following the death of his beloved wife. The Call to Adventure takes the form of a construction company trying to force Carl out of his home to redevelop the land. And Carl’s having none of it. Faced with the prospect of a move to the Shady Oaks retirement home, Carl takes extreme action, attaching thousands of helium balloons to his house. There’s no going back once his adventure has literally taken flight!

• Running time 96 minutes
• Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger (Actors)
• Bob Peterson (Director) - Bob Peterson (Writer) - Andrew Stanton (Producer)

Released in 1995, Disney’s Pocahontas may have raised eyebrows with its re-writing of history. Still, in terms of its adherence to the hero’s journey structure, it’s authentic. It features Captain Smith, the stereotypical brave explorer-type hero, and Pocahontas, the heroine of this tale.

The story focuses on the importance of remaining open-minded, accepting of differences, and knowing oneself – deeply – this is a hero’s journey story with a difference – but a hero’s journey story all the same.

• Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles.
• English, Spanish, Dutch (Subtitles)

A beautifully vibrant movie, Coco ’s plot follows Miguel, who loves music but has the misfortune of growing up in a family where music is banned. The young hero literally crosses the threshold when he enters the Land of the Dead in search of the truth about his family history and why music is such a taboo.

The Return with the Elixir stage is particularly magical in Coco : upon returning to the world of the living, there is reconciliation within Hector’s family, and music flows through the house once more – for good.

• Lee Unkrich (Director) - Adrian Molina (Writer) - Darla K. Anderson (Producer)

Step into the land of Brave , where a Scottish medieval Princess named Merida is frustrated at the fate being imposed upon her. She has no wish to marry and, to defy her family’s wishes, runs away to escape the betrothal. 

In the forest, Merida meets a witch and makes a life-changing (literally) bargain with her. Returning to the castle, she presents her mother, Queen Elinor, with the cake the witch has given her, promising that it will alter the situation. But this ‘alteration’ is not what Merida imagined.

• English, French (Subtitles)

Released in 1967, the original The Jungle Book movie remains much loved by audiences and features many unforgettable characters. In many ways, the movie reverses the traditional hero’s journey. Young Mowgli’s Ordinary World – the jungle – is anything but ordinary. And the narrative arc is driven by his journey (physically and spiritually) to a destination entirely alien to him: the human world. Looking for more? Check out our guide with movies that follow the hero’s journey !

• UK Import Exclusive Disney Villains Gloss Slipcover
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portugese
• Audio: English, Spanish, Portugese
• Phil Harris, Bruce Reitherman, George Sanders (Actors)

Melanie Smith is a freelance content and creative writer from Gloucestershire, UK, where she lives with her daughter, long-suffering partner, and cat, The Magical Mr. Bobo. Her blog posts and articles feature regularly in magazines and websites around the world.

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Chelsea butler.

Digital Artist - Animator - Character Designer

Film Review: Disney’s Hercules (1997) - The Hero’s Journey

Thank Silk Sonic for us! Her husbands were the entire group with Vicky- her grandmother's ids. But we go to Donna Heath to help her out for dying young and living life into reincarnation with her is all of us with our living mother. Now don't get carried away, she will always be ours, but she is only helping us out now. So a whole life process has occurred here already- and they were all of the parrty people- in the FAME one. Now, things are different. I hope they will process this message for me. And Jasmine loves the lead singer- that wore the 80's glasses.

I apologize that I am behind a siamese face, but I'm cute as can be. And more of reception life belongs to you- for being my intended star- for all ids.

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