The Feats of Hercules
Angel, Joanna, Kelly, Panos & Stelios
Information about Hercules
Hercules was an ancient mythical hero, considered as the best hero of Greece.
He lived in the 15th century BC.
Information about Hercules
Hercules’ parents were Zeus and Alkmini.
When Hercules was born, Hera, the wife of Zeus who was jealous of him, sent two snakes to his crib, but the baby strangled them.
Hercules is known throughout the world for his Twelve Feats.
Nemea’s Lion
This lion was raised by Hera and left in the area of Nemea to fight and kill animals and humans.
This beast was eventually killed by Hercules.
Nemea’s Lion
Hercules used a bat made by an olive tree’s branches.
The killing of the lion was the first task assigned to Hercules by Eurystheus.
Nemea’s Lion
In the end, Hercules took the lion’s skin and wore it on his head and showed up to Eurystheus as the lion.
Nemea’s Lion
When Eurystheus saw him, he thought he was the lion and he hid in a big pot. But when he realised it was Hercules, he got really scared for his throne.
The Stymfalides hens
The Stymfalides hens, were man-eating birds with copper beaks, claws and wings.
Hercules did not know how to get them out of the cave, close to the lake.
The Stymfalides hens
Βut, goddess Athena gave him bronze bells, forged in the workshop of Hephaestus (god of iron, metal and bronze).
The Stymfalides hens
In this way, the birds got up scared and Hercules killed some while the rest went scared on the island of Areos where they were later confronted by the Argonauts during their passage to Colchis.
The apples of Hesperides
According to Greek mythology, the apples of Hesperides were known as the golden fruits of the trees that were in the garden of Hesperides. Atlas was outside the garden, carrying the sky on his shoulders, a punishment imposed on him by Zeus.
The apples of Hesperides
Hercules agreed with
Atlas to keep his load
for a while, until
Atlas brought him
the golden apples.
Atlas agreed, but returning
from the garden, refused
to hand over the fruits to
Hercules and stated that
he would leave Hercules in
his place forever.
The apples of Hesperides
Hercules left Atlas believe
that he had accepted his
fate, but first asked him
to hold the sky for a while
in order to make a pillow
for his head. Atlas accepted,
but Hercules escaped taking
the apples with him.
Lernaean Hydra
Lernaean Hydra was raised by Hera.
It lived in the area of Lerni -a swamp located south of Argos- from where it got its name.
Lernaean Hydra
Its nest was located on a hill near the lake at the source of Amymoni.
According to the legend, when Hercules cut off one head, there were two coming out from the same position.
Lernaean Hydra
Only by burning the cut heads with fire, he managed to stop the multiplication and he did this with the help of Iolaos's nephew.
Lernaean Hydra
The last head, which was both central and undead, was cut off and buried in the ground, so that it would not come to life again.
Lernaean Hydra
From her blood, Hercules made his poisonous arrows.
Centaur Nessos, did not escape from his poisonous arrows neither.