Heracles

General Notes

    This is all questionable as it is :) But we find he most likely was a real person whos deeds & image were blown out of proportion as the years went on.

    Heracles of Greek Myth died. Heracles fell in love with Iole, daughter of Eurytus, king of Oechalia. Deianeira, realizing that Iole was a dangerous rival, sent Heracles a garment smeared with the blood of Nessus the Centaur. The blood proved to be a powerful poison instead, and Heracles died.2 He killed Megara and their children in a fit of madness sent by Hera and, consequently, was obliged to become the servant of Eurystheus, the Perseid King of Greece.2 He was traditionally said to be the son of Zeus and Alcmene, granddaughter of Perseus.2 He was deprived of the kingdom of Mycenæ, by Hera, the jealous wife of Zuen, in favor of his father's cousin Eurystheus, yet another grand-son of Perseus, who later subjected him to his famous labors.3 He was born in Thebes, Greece.3 . His body was placed on a pyre on Mt. Oeta (modern Greek Oiti), his mortal part consumed and his divine part ascending to heaven. There he was reconciled to Hera and married Hebe.2 He was the most famous Greco-Roman legendary hero, and behind his very complicated mythology, probably a real man, perhaps a chieftain-vassal of the kingdom of Argos in Greece.2 Alcides was the first name of Heracles until a Pythian priestess first called him Heracles. This priestess told him to serve Eurystheus for twelve years and to perform the labours imposed on him, and when the tasks were accomplished he would become immortal.4 Also called Hercules Roman.5,2 He was the son of the God of the Sky Zeus of Greek Myth and Alcmene of Greek Myth.4,3 He was the descendant of Perseus promised to be made king of Mycenae, but thwarted because of the jealousy of Hera.4 He married Omphale of Lydia.4 He married Deianeira of Greek Myth , daughter of King of Calydon Oeneus of Greek Myth and Althaea of Greek Myth .5 He married Megara of Greek Myth .2
    Child of Heracles of Greek Myth and Omphale of Lydia:
    Alcaeus Heraclid+
    Child of Heracles of Greek Myth and Deianeira of Greek Myth :
    the Heraclid Hyllus of Greek Myth +
    [S723] Herodotus of Halicarnassus, The History of Herodotus (London and New York: MacMillan and Co., 1890), Book 1 - Clio, [1.7]. Hereinafter cited as Herodotus' History.
    [S862] Various Encyclopædia Britannica 2001 Standard Edition CD-ROM (U.S.A.: Britannica.com Inc.
    , 1994-2000), Heracles (class. myth.). Hereinafter cited as EB CD 2001.
    [S1078] Plato and his dialogues, online . Hereinafter cited as Plato and his dialogues.
    [S289] Greek Mythology Link, online . Hereinafter cited as Greek Mythology Link.
    [S922] Michael Marcotte's Genealogy: Hercules Chart, online . Hereinafter cited as Marcotte's Hercules Chart.

Click here for details of Heracles' family with Deianeira