Category: Hercules

Rainer Maria Rilke, a British novelist and poet once said, “The only journey is the journey within.” In both “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and Hercules, they both go on a journey to prove themselves and try to find out who they really are. On their journeys they encounter many obstacles which proved their determination and heroism. The romantic elements in the book “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and the movie Hercules comparatively show their journeys, and the test of being a hero.

A journey is defined as traveling from one place to another. In both “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and Hercules they go on an expedition to prove themselves and find out who they really are. Sir Gawain agreed to exchange blows with the Green Knight and cut his head off in one blow. The Green Knight survives the blow and picks up his head and told Sir Gawain that he has one year and one day to find him at the Green chapel or else the blow will be returned. On the journey to finding the green chapel, Sir Gawain stumbled across a castle where the host had promised to show him the way to the green chapel if he remains loyal and honest with him and his wife. He stays with them for three days and each day he must give the host his earnings. Although Sir Gawain failed to give the host one of his earnings, the Green Knight had saw that Sir Gawain was not dishonorable because all he wanted was to save his life, so he forgave him. The Green Knight saw he was worthy, so he gave Sir Gawain the belt. In which he went home and told everyone about. Same as Sir Gawain, Hercules also went on a journey to find out who his birth parents were. Hercules found out that his father is a god named Zeus. Since Hercules is immortal he can’t be up there at Mount Olympus with him. And so, in order to become mortal again, he has to prove himself. So, Hercules sets out to find Philoctetes (Phil) to train him. Throughout the whole movie Hercules thinks in order for him to become mortal is that he needs to fight evil monsters. Hercules quickly becomes a famous hero to everyone. While on this journey, Hercules stumbled upon a girl named Meg who he became very fond of. In the battle against the main antagonist Hades, his love Meg was put into danger and so Hercules sacrificed himself in order to save her. In which this time was discovered that his self sacrifice was what made him a true hero not battling all those monsters. Although both of their journeys were different they both found out who they really were and stayed true to themselves.

A hero is someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. Both Sir Gawain and Hercules showed that they are heroes during their journey but not in the ways they expected. Sir Gawain was a real hero from the beginning by stepping up in being part of the beheading game proposed by the Green Knight. If none of King Arthur’s knights accepted the Green Knights challenge, then King Arthur must accept the challenge himself, so they would not be looked as cowards. This had showed his loyalty to King Arthur and the other Knights for stepping up for everyone. As Sir Gawain returned from his journey from finding the Green Knight, everyone saw him as a hero for stepping up for all of them and returning with his head still attached and the belt that the Green Knight gave him. By the Green Knight giving him the belt showed that he has persistence when challenging the Knight. In Hercules he was very determined and trained hard to become a famous hero, so he could return to Mount Olympus. Hercules did just that. He fought evil monsters, titans, and Hades. Little did Hercules know, that what really mad him a hero was him sacrificing his life to save his love Meg. Although Hercules in the end decided not to become a god, he was able to live life with Meg. He then knew what it really meant to be a true hero.

In conclusion, Sir Gawain and Hercules both encounter obstacles on their journeys, but still found what they were looking for. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and Hercules both comparatively show their journeys and them being tested as heroes.

Introduction :

Mythology is used as a base of education to allow an understanding of natural phenomena. Cartwright in 2012 suggested there is a clear synergy with the myth and religion of the time, morals are woven into these teachings of heroes as well as the harsh reality of punishment for those who are disobedient (Cartwright, 2012). Through mythological teachings used to educate and control we are then able to understand the thought processes of the era. This allows a greater understanding of the laws and societal boundaries of the time.

Focussing on Atlas, Heracles and Aphrodite statues the dissertation will make a comparison between the genders using Greek mythology, pop culture and art. Other mythological gender stereotypes, Zeus, Hephaestus and Pygmalion will be discussed in order to outline the mythological challenges, some which remain relevant today. Mythological teachings will be used to identify current injustices looking at how art addresses these contemporary concerns in a unique and maverick way by ensuring the issues are clear and culturally relevant. Reference will be given to artistic examples, particularly pop culture and will consider how certain groups within artistic society challenge existing boundaries. Using current visual media as a framework, the seventeen stages of the monomyth will be reviewed to ascertain whether the individuation of the hero journey described in this model is still applied to current the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Greek antiquity and sculpture are woven into the rich tapestry that has created a footing for art in the modern world. The profound impact of such tapestry has helped two contemporary issues which will be discussed further in this dissertation, male mental health and discrimination of women within the art world. The creed of man in the western world has not changed over time, however if the mindset during Greek time remained the same, we would certainty still be embroiled in a predominantly sexiest culture (Cahill, 2018). Heracles, an Olympian emulates the masculine ‘Gold Standard’ with a dominant, well defined physique demonstrating power and invincibility. Looking at modern day Olympians to identify if the labours of man have changed from the physical to the emotional and if so to what extent and whether art tackles these modern issues.

Recent statistics on male and female mental health disorders and suicide rates will be investigated to outline the complexity of the issue and how art plays a part in addressing these issues.

It is known that the representation of females artists in the art world is limited, historically art was for men by men. Men dominated art in society and perhaps still do; this links back to Ancient Greece and the enforced dominance of the male patriarchy at the exclusion of women. This has led to self-segregation, for example the A.I.R Gallery an art institution for women.

A modern artistic example of representing mental health issues through art can be seen in the Project 84 which visualised male suicide rates in a very unique and hard hitting way. Comparisons will be made between this project and the Greek classical statues on demeanour and physical presence. The facelessness of the modern statues and the installations impact on the viewer and the wider audience.

Traditionally women were excluded, this dissertation will review whether there has been any improvements in this position and what methods were implemented to gain recognition in a predominantly male environment. By focussing on the Guerrilla Girls, a female art collective of 30 years who use a variety of techniques to raise awareness of gender inequality we will look at the techniques demonstrated in their art to deliver the message.

These modern artistic examples of Project 84 and the Guerrilla Girls will be considered with reference to the triangular interplay between Greek mythology, pop culture and art. The interpretive nature of Greek mythology considers the similarity between historic morals and those that are the foundation of our current society. With current thinking on mythology we can deconstruct contemporary issues and investigate the impact art has in the modern era.

Chapter 1 – Atlas

This dissertation is inspired by Greek mythology and the interconnection of the key figures. This interconnection can make it difficult to focus on the background of one specific God or Goddess. However, Atlas the Titan, the god of endurance and astronomy stands out as a dominant male figure in Greek mythology. (Blake & Flammarion, 2009). He leads the titans into battle for control of the heavens against the gods of Olympus namely Zeus, the father of Heracles and many more. This is referred to as Titanomachy.

Following the loss of the Titans to Zeus and his forces, many Titans were condemned to Tartarus but Atlas was condemned to stand on the western edge of Gaia (the earth) and tasked with carrying Uranus (the sky) (Taft & Croce, 2014). The purpose was to separate Uranus and Gaia so they could not conceive any more children to challenge Zeus’s supremacy. This idea is further agreed with when Bremmer, J. and Erskine, A. in 2010 state that “Kronos castrates Ouranos with a sickle and swallows his own children to stay in power, only to be dethroned ultimately by Zeus, who then rules supreme as “the most powerful of the gods” (Bremmer & Erskine, 2010, p. 36) Mythology favours those who persevere and endure, however there is a certain irony to this as Atlas is the Titan of astronomy and endurance but is condemned for his sins.

Classical male sculptures give an insight into how the male form was idolised by men during the ancient Greek era. Their physical presence emulated athletes and gods; within this dissertation these are represented by Atlas (Titan) and Heracles (Demi God).These male forms were sought after and idolised by the Olympians of the time. Meehan,D.2017 notes male dominance was also embedded in the teachings of the era. Women were made to be subservient in the presence of man and this tainted treatment of women stems from men’s belief that women are deceitful, manipulative and lusting.

The nude form in Roman culture has similarities to those embedded in Greek Culture. For example the Demi God Hercules is a Roman representation of Heracles, they are recognised by the same nemean lion. Hercules simulates strength and the numerous adventures of Heracles. Greeks were recognised as the innovators and the Romans would apply Greek methods. Greeks would use marble to create the sculptures, Romans had concrete and other materials available but preferred to work in marble. Even with advancements in the materials. Romans followed the classic and traditional methods of the Greeks. Although the sculptures represented the male form in the nude, there are differences between the two cultures. It is worth noting in the context of training that the word gymnasium comes from the Greek ‘gymnos’, meaning ‘naked’ (Miller, 2004). In Greek culture only adult males were eligible to enter the gymnasium and would be naked while training to compete. The naked form was admired by the Greeks, almost as a combatant’s uniform for stepping into the arena – a coat of righteousness. However in Roman culture this was considered a public disgrace.

Scholars of the time were in disagreement about whether the first cervical vertebrae should be named Atlas or Heracles. It was believed that Heracles was also able to support the weight of the world, however it was named after Atlas. Laiho et al 2005 speculated that this was incorrect based on the idea that Hercules in his 11th labour chose to support the weight of the world in place of Atlas, who stole the golden apples of Hesperides. On his return Atlas refused to retake the burden, Hercules asked Atlas to hold it for an moment so that he could readjust. In this instant, the weight shifted from Hercules to Atlas, Hercules then ran with the apples (Grafton & Most, 2010). Atlas was condemned to do this and had no choice, a penalty for defying Zeus.

Both Heracles and Atlas are portrayed as prime male specimens, with a dominant, sculptured and well defined physique. Even in modern times art is derived from this perception of the male. It can be seen in pop culture and directly referenced in film and the visual arts. This is supported by Sanday P 1981 p.16 who states in order to understand female power and male dominance you need to clarify at the outset the interconnection between supernatural power and sex-role plans.

The Farnese Atlas

The National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy houses the great Titan Atlas. Due to the immense burden of the celestial spheres Atlas is seen in a crouched position giving insight into the Roman and Greek astrological understandings (Moore, 2005). Atlas had autonomy for astronomy, constellations and endurance. The sculpture does not represent Hercules in a heroic form on the celestial sphere, he is one of the 41 within the sphere of 48 classical Greek constellations of Ptolemy (Ridpath, 1988, p. 13). He battles with the giants Albion and Bergion, both sons of Poseidon however their strength dominated. Hercules was forced to kneel in prayer to his father Zeus to seek assistance; following Zeus’s divine intervention Hercules persevered and overcame the giants. This demonstrates that although Hercules represents a heroic figure in Greek culture, he is a demi- god and technically still a mortal. It shows his character is fallible as he is forced to admit defeat and feelings of shame. Atlas at this point uses this weakness to his advantage aiming to cause humiliation on the surface of the celestial sphere. Rieu 1945 recognises this theory is supported by Homer in his ‘Odyssey’.

This statue is not just a representation of the Titan, but man’s understanding of a higher power. It is the oldest original western representation of the constellations and is a 2nd century Roman copy of a Greek sculpture which dates back to before the birth of Christ. (National Museum of Archeology, Naples)

The Farnese Hercules

There are multiple sculptures of Hercules, however, the one which will be focused on is the Farnese. This is key, as the story of the 11th Labour, completed by Hercules, shows how Atlas assisted him so he could complete the tasks set by Eurystheus to retrieve the Golden Apples of Hesperides (Grafton & Most, 2010). Atlas retrieved the apples for Hercules as he did not wish to take the heavens back and offered to deliver the apples to reduce his burden. However, both were deceitful in this act as Atlas did not wish to return to his sentence of carrying the celestial sphere and Hercules tricked Atlas by indicating he would continue to carry the world if he gave him the facility to adjust his cloak. Atlas held the apples whilst Hercules readjusted; this meant that the weight shifted from Hercules to Atlas, in that time Hercules reneged on his promise stealing the apples.

There are multiple sculptures of Hercules in existence, often being tied to physical strength and male prowess. The sculpture being discussed shows Hercules as weary. He has downcast eyes but the facial demeanour is dominant. The cause of this weariness becomes clear on further examination, his weight is cushioned by the skin of the Nemean lion skin on top of the club. This is the rewards of his first labour, the sculpture shows Hercules as the pinnacle of heroism, which is interesting as the form he has is leaning exhausted through mental and physical efforts with his entire body weight against the club propped up under his arm also giving an indication that he is in between his labours verifying his exhausted state. (Tate, 2015, p. 2). There is a certain level of contrast with his well-defined muscles which juxtaposes the fluidity of his posture. Equally, the irony in the brute strength of his articulated muscles contrasts with having superb muscular tone the sculpture still gives the impression of weariness and the battle of his inner demons. He thrusts his right hip out so he can fully lean on his left side. The attention is brought onto the left hand which lies open whereas the right is tucked behind his back; this draws in the viewer to really look at the work within the space. It leads us to believe that he is beaten down and worn out from his trials however if you look behind his back there are the apples clutched in his right hand. You can see that he has acquired the golden apples of Hesperides continuing the links between Atlas and Hercules through the 11th Labour. Hercules embodies a classical view of how the male body should look, it was an ideal goal for Olympians of the era and is still true in the present day.1

Anthropology is the scientific study of human beings, how they behave, and their societies, both in the past and the present (UCDavis 2020). There are three categories of anthropology, that is, social anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Social anthropology studies the behavioural patterns of human beings while linguistic anthropology studies what influences language has on the social life of human beings. In contrast, cultural anthropology studies their culture, values, and norms (UCDavis 2020). Anthropology is built upon knowledge from natural sciences, which includes the evolution and the development of the homo sapiens. This trait has made anthropology the centre of attraction in the development of the late 20th century related fields such as ethnic studies, cognitive studies, and global studies of human beings. This paper will address how the characters in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey are depicted and how they contribute to developing the film.

2001: A Space Odyssey and Mythology

2001: A Space Odyssey portrays the author’s imagination of the future. This science-fiction film came into existence and predicted the technology that we are taking for granted today. This film begins with the genesis the author’s masterpiece and his partnership with author Clarke. Their relationship extends throughout the future of film. As future of this film was being set in space, NASA was also racing to put a man on the moon. The 2001: A Space Odyssey dramatically outdid the NASA emerging technology. Kubrick did this because if it had given NASA any chance to succeed in its mission, his idea could have been portrayed as outdated. This film was inspired by Clarke’s short story “The Sentinel” and other short stories which were written by him.

Furthermore, the film follows a voyage to planet Jupiter with the computer HAL, after the invention of the monolith, which was affecting human evolution, and technology. In addition to that, film is well known for how accurately it depicted space flight and the ambiguous effects. Dialogue and sound effects are used sparingly, in places of narrative techniques. The soundtrack includes several classical kinds of music, which makes it even more interesting to watch. Moreover, film has received many diverse responses as some people saw it as ‘darkly apocalyptic’ and others who saw the film as optimistic and hope for humanity. In film, Hercules is a Roman god and hero who is well known for his strength and power in fighting enemy. Hercules is a Latin name, which was borrowed through Etruscan as Heracles. There are several myths that Hercules had that were specifically Roman. One of the myths was when Hercules defeated the Caucus, who was terrorizing country of Rome.

Background of 2001: A Space Odyssey

The early alien race played a fundamental role in the evolution of the human species and human technology (2001: A space in Odyssey). 2001: A Space Odyssey is a science fiction film, which tries to explain that an early alien race influenced the evolution of human species. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film tried to portray his meditation on what age the space flight could mean to evolution of human beings. In this film, we learn that during creation of the universe, there was a group of beings who came into existence. They were known as the ‘firstborns,’ and their main purpose on earth was to act as caretakers of universe, by controlling issues before they become worse, and to encourage development of new species throughout the universe. Moreover, ‘firstborns’ invented a mysterious stone-like structure, which human beings commonly referred to as ‘monoliths,’ which can advance into species.

It is believed that monoliths placed strategically around the world significantly helped to shape evolution of technology. Around the year 4,000,000 BCE, four monoliths were positioned in universe. One was placed on earth in prehistoric Africa, near tribe of apes, the second was placed below moon surface, the third around Jupiter, and the last monolith was in a third-dimensional construct. The film 2001: A Space Odyssey opens on earth, in prehistoric Africa, where the first monolith was placed. It is evident that apes are sharing but have also built territories within their species. After that, a monolith is shown appearing near the apes, and apes are filled with fear. They then manage to stay calm, and out of curiosity, they all touch the surface of the monolith, and the ape leader leads this act. When an ape from enemy tribe reaches out to drink water from their water hole, the leader ape attacks enemy ape.

Themes in 2001: A Space Odyssey

A theme is a bigger idea or picture that an author is trying to convey in his film. It is the beliefs about life that the author is trying to put forward and is usually universal. Some of the themes that have been depicted in this film include the theme of evolution, conflict of human evolution, and higher intelligence in human development.

Evolution

The evolution of humanity is the first theme that is addressed in this film where the apes evolve from using their primitive hunting techniques to using a more advanced hunting tool, the monolith. At the beginning of the film, human beings are represented by apes, which mostly lived in caves, and are not that intelligent (Heathcote 2018, p. 119). However, the apes are inspired when a monolith appears, and they begin to hunt using stones. The apes are now able to provide for themselves because of their hunting tool.

Conflict of Human Evolution

The conflict has arisen from the human evolution from the psychological costs that come with the reliance on technology. Later, in the film, Dr. Floyd is called to the base of the moon to see a monolith, which looked like the one the apes found and has disappeared from the surface of the earth. Floyd becomes the center of attention in this phase of evolution. Humankind had now evolved from apes to human beings and greatly relied on technology despite the conflicts.

Higher Intelligence in Human Development

Human development began the moment the apes discovered the monolith. The first monolith was discovered on earth, and the second monolith, which appeared under the surface of the moon, wanted to determine the ability of humankind to reach beyond the surface of the earth. This marked the first step to human development.

Background to Hercules

There are many myths in Romans surrounding Hercules. Hercules was a Roman hero and god, who is well known for his strength and wild adventures (Krämer, 2020). The Romans adapted the myths that were revolving around Hercules for use in their literature and artwork under the name of Hercules. Hercules had many conflicting characters, which made writers and artists think deeply about how they want to represent him. Hercules is portrayed as the champion of the weak, but his problems started right after birth when Hera sent two witches to kill him, and when they failed, a serpent was sent to kill him (Kubrick 1969). Hercules was born of Jupiter and Alcmene, and in another myth, it is said that Alcmene hid his son in the woods to prevent the wrath of Hera. Then coincidentally, the goddess Athena found Hercules and brought him to Hera, claiming that he was abandoned in the bush.

Hera, then suckled Hercules from her breast until one day, Hercules bit her nipple, and Hera pushed him away, in turn spilling breast milk across the night sky. This is how the Milky Way was formed. Hera then gave back Hercules to Athena and told her to look after the infant and nourish her by herself (Bernstein 2017). When Hera suckled the child from her breasts, she did not know that she has added him more power and strength. Hercules was raised in a family where he learned about wrestling, horse riding, and singing, among others. Later, he was married to Megara, had three sons, and when Hera found out about this, she was not pleased. She struck Hercules with madness, which led him to kill his wife and children.

Themes in Hercules

Strength and Skill

This is the main theme that keeps appearing throughout the life of Hercules. In almost every story, Hercules performs a superhero act. For instance, the twelve labors showed how skillful and strong Hercules was in accomplishing his tasks. His strength is depicted when he holds up the sky for Atlas (Gloyn 2018, p. 114).

Jealousy

This theme revolves around the queen of gods, Hera. Hera portrays her jealously almost throughout the entire life of Hercules. Being that Hercules was among Zeus many illegitimate kids, his sight constantly reminded Hera of her husband’s cheating habits. Hera’s jealously becomes extreme when she strikes Hercules with madness and makes him kill his whole family.

Perseverance

No normal human being could have accomplished the twelve labors, in the same way, Hercules did. However, strong Hercules was, he needed the perseverance to accomplish all the tasks.

Similarities between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Hercules

Both have similar character traits

Odysseus and Hercules are both strong and heroic. This is seen from the tasks that they must accomplish.

They both share almost the same death experience

The wrath of the gods triggered Odysseus’s death experience, and the same happened with Hercules, only that he almost dies from accomplishing the twelve labors.

Differences between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Hercules

There are differences in why the two main characters intend to stay alive. For instance, Odysseus struggles to stay alive because he wants to reunite with his wife, whereas Hercules stays alive to live with his people peacefully and win their hearts (Prezi 2020).

Odysseus is proud of himself and has a thirst for greed, whereas Hercules is courageous, strong, and brave.

Heroic Myths in Relation to Anthropology

In both 2001: A Space Odyssey and Hercules, the heroes have played different roles, which have influenced the societies in which they live. For instance, in the Odyssey, the first incident of social anthropology is seen when the apes are sharing. This shows the behavioural characteristics of human beings and how it has developed over time. Secondly, leadership traits also emerge from the film. This is seen when the apes are curious to touch the monolith, and the ape leader leads them. Leading is a human trait that shows the interrelationship between those in top positions and their juniors. Anthropologists can tell that leadership role begun long before the evolution proves to take place. Thirdly, the theme of conflict between societies is a clear indicator to anthropologists that conflicts between societies lead to the progress of different societies. Conflict can lead to disputes at first, but later, peace reigns and societies start progressing. In Hercules, the theme of perseverance shows anthropologists how perseverance has enabled people to achieve many positive things.

Linguistic anthropology also occurs when Dr. Floyd is called to see the monolith that has disappeared from the surface of the earth. The fact that communication was enacted shows how the role of higher intelligence has impacted language. Anthropologists now know how language has evolved over the years, and how human beings have improved their social lives through communication.

When Athena picked Hercules from the bush and thought he was an orphan, it shows how caring she was. She then took the child to Hera, who suckled Hercules until he bit her nipple. Maybe it was in their cultural practice to be nice and caring to other people, and that is why Athena took care of Hercules for some time. The theme of strength and skill shows how skilful Hercules is. He possesses various skills, which allowed him to accomplish his tasks. There is a similarity with the modern world, in that most people or companies who become successful possess various skills, which help the company is growing.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Odyssey and Hercules both played the same roles; in that, they were both strong and were heroes to their community. In addition to that, both fought for their societies, and this shows how cultural anthropology started in the early times. Hercules and Odysseus believed that they had to protect their society from living peacefully. Human beings evolved from apes, who could not communicate effectively and in an intelligent way, to people who can socialize with other people and communicate perfectly.

Myths were not derived from a single book, rather from many stories. Greek mythology begins with Homer. The Greeks made the gods in the image of themselves.

Acrisius is told by an oracle that his daughter Danae’s son will kill him. He locks up his daughter but she gets pregnant by Zeus himself and has a son named Perseus. Acrisius locks them up in a chest and floats them out to sea. They eventually wash up at Dictys’ house, brother of the harsh ruler of the area, Polydectes. Polydectes wants to get rid of Perseus and marry Danae so he tells Perseus to go and kill Medusa. This would usually be almost impossible, but the gods favored him and gave him 5 gifts. Athena gave him a mirror shield. Hermes gives him a magic sword and information leading to winged sandals, a magic wallet, and an invisibility cap. He sneaks into the Gorgon’s lair and the two gods point out which one is Medusa as the other two cannot be killed. Using his gifts, he chops off her head, puts it in the wallet and flies away. On the way back he finds Andromeda chained up about to be eaten. He saves her and takes her as his wife. When he gets back, he finds that Polydectes has driven off Dictys and Danae so he goes to Polydectes’ palace and interrupts a meeting with Medusa’s head turning them all to stone. Perseus ends the story by accidentally killing Acrisius in a discus throwing accident.

Theseus is the son of Aegeus, King of Athens. Aegeus leaves a sword and a pair of shoes under a giant rock for Theseus when he gets strong enough to move the rock. When he finally can, he takes the items and sets off on a journey to Athens. Along the way there are bandits who Theseus kills the same way they kill their victims. When he finally arrives in Athens the evil Medea convinces Aegeus to kill this man who he doesn’t realize is his son. Just as Theseus is to be killed Aegeus notices the sword and Medea escapes to Asia. Theseus then saves the city from their obligation to King Minos, to send 7 boys and 7 girls to meet their fate at the hands of the minotaur. Theseus offers to go, and promises his father if the survives he will sail back with white sails to signal that he is alive. Minos’ daughter Ariadne falls in love with Theseus who helps him by giving him a golden ball of thread he can unwind as he walks, so he can find his way back. He finds the Minotaur asleep and beats him to death. He runs quickly back to the ship with Ariadne but abandons her when she goes to shore and he gets blown away. Ariadne dies. Theseus forgets to raise the white sails and Aegeus throws himself into the sea. Theseus inherits the throne and converts Athens into a democracy. He does some small things while king. He helps the Argives, Oedipus, Hercules, and Pirithous, the last of which almost kills him and Hercules has to come and save him. He fights the amazons a few times, marries their queen Hippolyta, and has a child named Hippolytus. Theseus then marries Phaedra, Ariadne’s sister, who falls in love with Hippolytus. He rejects her and she commits suicide and falsely accuses him of rape. Theseus exiles Hippolytus who then dies. Artemis tells Theseus the truth and goes to visit his friend King Lycomedes. He kills Theseus for no apparent reason.

Hercules is the son of Zeus. This gives him the power to challenge the gods. Even with all of this strength, he was not intelligent in the slightest. For example, once he threatened to shoot the sun because it was too hot. When he was a baby, he killed two snakes threatening him and his brother. He kills many other things as a youngling including the legendary Thespian lion, and unfortunately one of his teachers.

One important myth of Hera is when she tries to kill Hercules. It all started when Zeus started to hang out with other girls. That made Hera really angry. Then one day Hera found out that Zeus was having a child with Alcmene, a beautiful human princess. That made Hera very jealous and she sought out revenge on Zeus. Hera tried to delay Hercules from being born because she did not want him to rule. She would have delayed his birth permanently but she was told that Alcmene already had Hercules. After Hera found out that someone lied to her, she sent two serpents to his bed to kill him but, as a baby, Hercules was very strong. He then strangled the two serpents without getting a scratch. A few years later, Hercules got married to Megara and had 3 children. Since killing Hercules did not work out so well for Hera, she decided to make Hercules go mad and make him kill his wife and children. Guilty and heartbroken, Hercules wanted to find Apollo, the god of truth and healing (and another of Zeus’ sons). Then Hercules begged to be punished for what he had done. As a punishment for killing his wife and children, he was forced to perform the twelve labors. The twelve labors were so difficult that it seemed impossible. Hera did as much as she could to make the twelve labors much harder. Once, Hera whipped up a storm to makes Hercules’s ship sink so he could die.