文档介绍：Chapter8 Stories of Heracles
蔡海燕
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Today’s content:
I. Heracles’ Birth and Early years
II. The Twelve Labors of Heracles
III. His Further adventures
IV. His Death and Afterlife
I. Heracles’ Birth and Early years
Heracles is probably the most known Greek hero.
Heracles' very existence proved at least one of Zeus' many illicit affairs, and Hera often conspired against Zeus' mortal offspring as revenge for her husband's infidelities. Therefore, a major factor in the well-known tragedies surrounding Heracles is the hatred that the goddess Hera had for him.
Heracles was the son of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman Alcmene (a grandchild of Perseus). Zeus made love to her after disguising himself as her husband, Amphitryon, home early from war.
Amphitryon did return later the same night, and Alcmene became pregnant. She carried twins sired by different fathers.
Birth of Heracles 
by Jean Jacques
Heracles and the Milky Way
Fear of Hera's revenge led Alcmene to expose the infant Heracles in a field.
Someone said, Heracles was taken up and brought to Hera by his half-sister Athena, who played an important role as protectress of heroes. Hera did not recognize Heracles and nursed him out of pity. Heracles suckled so strongly that he caused Hera pain, and she pushed him away. Her milk sprayed across the heavens and there formed the Milky Way.
Others believed it was Hermes that brought baby Hercules to Olympus and that Zeus himself laid him at Hera's breast while she slept. The Milky Way was formed when startled she awoke and pushed him away, or when the strong little guy greedily sucked more milk than his mouth would hold, and coughed it up.
With divine milk, Heracles had acquired supernatural powers. Athena or Hermes brought the infant back to his mother, and he was subsequently raised by his parents.
The Origin of the Milky Way
Jacopo Tintoretto (1518–1594)
Hera suckling the baby Heracles at her breast
Heracles Strangles the Serpents
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