hercules, greek hero who performed the twelve labors (5143)
“when talking about such a popular god, goddess, or hero i am going to for warn paraphrasing - of course all these stories have more details and all these popular gods have stories within stories. i would love to share them all/in detail but i would need a book and a lot more time to write it. my attempt in writing these posts are to inform you on the high level story of the god’s or goddess’s life. that being said if any one of the events regaled in the post pique you interest - please let me know i don’t mind giving a more in-depth tale of any of the events mentioned.”
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hercules (the non-disney version).
Hercules is the son of Zeus and Alcmene (sometimes listed Amphitryon - the grandchild of Perseus, the hero who slew Medusa). Zeus, of course, courted Alcmene in secret - the night of Hercules's conception, Alcmene disguised herself as her husband Amphityon after sleeping with him, in order to sneak out to Zeus. In this myth and having slept with two men on that night, nine months later, Alcmene gives birth to Iphicles and Hercules (lol twins? medically speaking, unlikely due to the DNA that is unshared between the two). Hera learns that Hercules is Zeus's demi-god son and immediately is enraged - sending snakes into the cradle of the two newborns. Hercules strangles these creatures, whilst Iphicles cries. In most myths, after this occurrence, there is a time jump (sometimes not: Hercules kills his music teacher, Linus, accidentally in a fit of rage, thereafter he faces a fate who wishes him to choose between a happy, unmarketable life and tragic, rememberable life - he chooses neither) in which Hercules is a man, father of many children, and a slayer of the Cithaeron Lion. This lion was thought to have preyed on Amphitryon's and Thespius's flocks of sheep. After hunting the lion for fifty some days, Hercules famously donned the skin of the lion, creating the deadhead of the beast - showing he was the top predator. Thespius's way of thanking Hercules was then having his daughters sleep with Hercules. After his youth Hercules marries the Theban King Creon's daughter, Megara. Hera, not having forgotten her spiteful ways, cursed Hercules. Hercules ends up slaughtering his family members in a fit of madness caused by Hera (sometimes he kills just Megara, sometimes just the children, and sometimes all of the above). To atone for his crimes Hercules visits a Pythia who informs him to seek his cousin Eurystheus and do whatever he asks of him.
Thus the Twelve Labors of Hercules are born. First, the Nemean Lion whom Hercules killed with his bare hands because the lion's skin was invulnerable. After slaughtering the creature, he shed the Cithaeron Lion's fur to wear the Nemean Lion's like armor. Second, Lernaean Hydra whom Hercules killed with the help of his nephew, Iolaus, who cauterized the site of decapitation each time Hercules lobbed off a head to prevent new heads from growing back. After defeating this creature, Hercules coated his arrows in the creature's poisonous blood. Third, the Ceryneian Head who was requested to be brought back alive to Eurystheus, who wished to give it to Artemis. This doe was thought to have antlers and breath fire - making this not as easy a feat. Fourth, Erymanthian Boar. Fifth, Augean Stables which involved cleaning the stables of King Augeas's immortal cows. Sixth, Stymphalian Birds, the man-eating birds in which Hercules's shot down with his poisonous arrows after scaring them out of hiding by using Athena's gifted rattle. Seventh, Cretan Bull as we recall from the Minos post, Minos had deprived Poseidon of his sacrifice - Hercules captured the bull and gave it to Eurystheus who release's it in the city of Marathon (later, Theseus kills the Cretan Bull because it terrorizes this city). Eighth, steal the Mares of Diomedes - these flesh eating horses were lured away by Hercules who fed them his own horse. Ninth, steal the Girdle of Hippolyta - the Amazonian queen received this gift from her father, Ares (which shows the militant nature of the Amazons she led), yet Hercules defeated them. Tenth, steal the Cattle of Geryon who were guarded by Orthrus, the two-headed dog - Hercules ends up killing the dog, Geryon, and Geryon's shepherds. After these first ten Hercules was supposed to be even but it was Eurystheus who demanded two more. Eleventh, the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. How Hercules learns of the location of these apples varies; in some he asks Prometheus who is set free by Hercules, in others, Hercules captures Nereus. Either way he finds his way to the garden to discover Hera's guard - Ladon, the dragon. Sadly, Hercules kills the beast but can't get into the garden because the creature's body is in the way. This causes Hercules to ask Atlas to get them - Hercules says he will take on Zeus's task to Atlas (holding up the heavens) whilst he gets them. Atlas agrees and retrieves the fruit but attempts to leave Hercules to hold the heaven's. Hercules tricked Atlas into taking it back and then leaves Atlas there to continue holding up the heavens. Twelfth, retrieving Cerberus from the Underworld - he convinces Hades into letting him borrow the creature.
Many years after these tasks, as we recall from the Nessus post, Deianira naively gives Hercules a tunic which peels and burns away his skin. Hercules dies in agony - after his death ceremony, he becomes a god of Olympus and Hera allows him to marry Hebe. IN MY OPINION Heracles in your chart represents a) where you are godly in the mortal realm, b) if/how you are a womanizer, c) where you are the best at hunting/searching/tracking, d) where you may feel a higher being is out to get you, e) where you atone for doing horrible things by doing horrible things, f) the tasks you may be forced to do, and/or g) where you feel betrayed by those you love.
i encourage you to look into the aspects of heracles along with the sign, degree, and house placement. for the more advanced astrologers, take a look at the persona chart of heracles AND/OR add the other characters involved to see how they support or impede heracles!
OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS/PLANETS: hebe (6), hera (103), minos (6239), nessus (7066), prometheus (1809), pythia (432), zeus (5731 / h42), iphiklos (43706), augeias (13184), diomedes (1437), hippolyta (10295), orthos (2329), nereus (4660), hades (h41), and cerberus (1865)!
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return to nox’s guide to metaphysics
return to the masterlist of greek myths & legends
read about nessus-heracles synastry
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