The son of Zeus and Alcmene, Heracles, most commonly known as Hercules is the strongest of all mortals. Stronger than many gods. The name Heracles means the pride of Hera.

It has often been said that offsetting his strength was a noticible lack of intellegence and wisdom. I do not agree. I believe that Heracles was not an intellectual like his Athenian counterpart Theseus, but he did have a great deal of common sence, what would transalate into todays language as "street smarts" On behalf of the stories that do protray Heracles as a muscle bound buffoon It has been told that once when he became too hot he pulled his bow out and threatened to shoot the sun. His pride was easily offended. He took up grudges easily and never forgot them. Many of Heracles good deeds and heroic actions occured while doing penance for stupid acts done in anger and carelessness.

His earliest heroic act occurred when he was merely an infant. Heracles' imoratal father was Zeus, but he also had a mortal father, a warrior named Amphitryon. Amphitryon and Alcmene had a child together named Iphicles. Heracles and his brother Iphicles were asleep in their crib when two great snakes came slithering into the room. Iphicles cried and tryed to fle to safety. Heracles didn't follow his brothers lead. He grabed each snake with one hand and strangled the deadly creatures. It was then that his parents knew he was special.

By the time he was eighteen he was full-grown and killed, alone, a great lion which lived in the woods of Cithaeron, the Thespian Lion. Ever after he wore the lions skin as a cloak.

Heracles, meaning the pride of Hera is not a very fitting name. Hera The queen of the gods, Zeus' wife, knew that Heracles was the result of the union of Zeus and another woman. Hera despised the young demigod, and set out to destroy his life more than once.

As I stated before Heracles' most told about adventures were feats done in penance for stupid acts. The labors of Heracles were done in penance for killing his children, and his wife, Megara, when she tried to intervene. Heracles commited these violent acts with the absence of sanity. He had experienced ate, or temporary insanity brought upon by Hera. His great labors took him to far off places including Hades (the underworld).

Story after story is told about his adventures. He fought the river-god Achelous because Achelous was in love with the girl that Heracles wanted to marry. Heracles was greatly feared and respected by this time, even certain gods were no match for his insane ability to kick Greek butt. Achelous had no desire to fight him and he tried to reason with him. Reasoning never worked with Heracles. He simply got more angry. He said, "My hand is better than my tongue." "Let me win fighting and you may win talking." Achelous took the form of a bull and attacked him fiercely, but Heracles was used to subduing bulls. He conquered him and broke off one of his horns. The cause of the contest a young princess named Deianira,who later became his wife.

Since death would not come to him, he would go to death. At the end of his laboring life he ordered those around him to build a great pyre on Mount Oeta and carry him to it. When at last he reached it he knew that now he could die and he was glad. "This is rest," he said. "This is the end." And as they lifted him to the pyre he lay down on it. He told his youthful follower, Philoctetes, to hold the torch to set the wood on fire. The flames rushed up and Heracles was seen no more on earth. He was taken to heaven, where he was made a god. He reconciled with Hera and married her daughter Hebe.

But it is not easy to imagine him contentdly enjoying rest and peace, or allowing the blessed gods to do so, eather.