Apollodorus: The Library of Greek Mythology

Thursday, December 3, 2015

2:16 PM

Apollodorus is an Athenian writer who lived about 140 B.C. he was a

productive and versatile grammarian.
The name Heracles is derived from the Greek words Hera + Kles =
Hera's glory or Hera's fame.
Hercules is its Latin equivalent
Heracles is a very complex hero who belonged to the entire Greek
world: he is Pan-Hellenic
Heracles had a remarkable birth: he had two fathers Zeus and
Amphitryon (a king of Thebes and Alcmene's husband)
From Zeus was born Heracles the greatest hero; from Amphitryon was
born Iphicles, a man of humbler stature
Heracles' cousin Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, wanted him to perform
Twelve Labors (in Greek athloi means 'contests' for which the victor wins a
prize)
Heracles' prize would be immortality (as the oracle claimed)
Heracles fits the traditional hero archetype by his background,
appearance, labor, and deeds
As a hero, he represents the epitome of mankind: noble blood craft yet
lacks mental ability

The Labors of Heracles

Killing Nemean Lion

The Lernaean Hydra (a multi-headed 'water serpent' whose heads
would immediately replicate if cut off)
The Ceryneian Deer (a magical animal that belonged to Artemis)
The Erymanthian Boar
The Augean Stables
The Stymphalian Birds
The Cretan Bull
The Horses of Diomedes
The Girdle ('chastity belt') of Hippolyta
The Cattle of Geryon (the monster who had three bodies joined at the
waist)

The Apples of Hesperides (had to bring the apples of immortality; Zeus

gave them to Hera as a wedding present)
Capturing Cerberus (the fifty-headed guarddog of Tartarus)

Heracles' Persona was held in high esteem in the artistic world and
interest shown in him is illustrated in Carpenter's book