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Hercules Facts & Worksheets

Hercules, also known as Heracles in Greek mythology, is a legendary hero and demigod who was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and a mortal woman named Alcmene

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Hercules is the Roman demigod and divine hero of humans. He is the son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmene, the granddaughter of the Roman hero Perseus.

See the fact file below for more information on Hercules, or you can download our 27-page Hercules worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGINS OF HERCULES

  • Hercules is the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles. Technically, they are the same hero, just named differently by these two cultures.
  • Hercules had many trials and tribulations since he was a child. When he was born, Juno (Jupiter’s wife) sent two snakes to kill him in his crib. However, baby Hercules was incredibly strong and fearless and strangled the two snakes.
  • According to one legend, Alcmene abandoned baby Hercules in the woods to protect him from Juno’s wrath. The goddess Minerva, who discovered him in the woods, took him to Juno, claiming he was an orphan needing nourishment.
  • Goddess Juno suckled Hercules at her breast, strengthening him and bestowing godly powers on him. 
  • When the infant bit her breast, Juno pushed him away, spilling milk across the night sky and forming the Milky Way.

ROLE OF HERCULES

  • He was the archetype of courage and masculinity in the ancient world. Even though he and many more innocent people suffered because of his irritability and lack of restraint, the scope of his efforts was such that he was rewarded with immortality.
  • Hercules participated in a wide variety of activities during his adult life. The great predatory Lion of Cithaeron was one of these. 
  • Others included mutilating the Heralds of Erginus, fathering at least fifty children with the daughters of King Thespius, hunting and killing the great predatory Lion of Cithaeron, and engaging in an ardent love affair with Megara, the daughter of the Theban king Creon.
  • Megara and Hercules had eight incredible offspring as a result of their relationship. Juno, who was envious, pulled another cruel prank on Hercules to keep him from ever finding happiness. 
  • She cursed him with an uncontrolled madness that drove him to slaughter them all. The Delphic oracle then assigned Hercules the burden of serving his cousin Eurystheus, the ruler of the Tiryns, for the following 12 years as atonement for this unfathomable wickedness.
  • Juno gave Hercules a list of twelve challenging activities to overcome as part of his punishment; these duties became known as the legendary Twelve Labors of Hercules.
  • These included stealing, slaughtering, and seizing numerous animals, cleaning Augeus’ enormous stables, and stealing Hippolyta’s girdle. Hercules’ most challenging and last two tasks were to steal the Hesperidean Apples and capture Cerberus, the enormous three-headed gatekeeper of the Underworld.
  • Even though Hercules was a mighty demigod, his death was not without incident. Hercules’ wife, Deianira, gave him a poisoned, blood-stained garment because she suspected him of infidelity; the pain it inflicted on him nearly killed him.
  • Hercules constructed a funeral pyre on Mount Oeta, climbed atop it, and waited for someone to walk by and start it on fire to end his suffering.
  • After considerable convincing, Heracles’ companion Poeas finally started the fire. Heracles was brought to Mount Olympus after being burned alive, where he was made into an immortal god and married to Hebe, the goddess of youth.

RELATIONSHIPS OF HERCULES

  • First wife, Megara – After winning a battle with the kingdom of Orchomenus in Boeotia, Heracles wed Megara, the daughter of Creon, King of Thebes. Still, during a fit of hysteria sent by Hera, he killed her and their children and was forced to serve Eurystheus.
  • Second wife, Omphale – Was the Lydian queen to whom he was delivered as an enslaved person.
  • Mortal wife, Deianeira – She was the child of the monarch of Olenus, or Dexamenus, and Althaea. For Hercules to wed Deianeira, he had to vanquish the river deity, the Achelous. Worried that she would lose him, Deianeira placed what she believed to be a love potion on a garment that she gave Hercules.
  • Final Wife, Hebe – They had two sons, Alexiares and Anicetus.
  • Hercules had sired 50 children with different women while hunting with King Thespius. Other known children are Telephus, Hyllus, and Tlepolemus.
  • The Heraclids were Hercules’ children and descendants. When the Mycenaean civilization collapsed during the Dorian Invasion, the ancient Greeks believed the Heraclids were ancestors of rulers in Argos, Sparta, and Messenia.

SYMBOLISM AND POPULAR CULTURE

  • Under the name Hercules, the Romans borrowed the Greek hero’s iconography and tales for their literature and art. Hercules, as opposed to Heracles, is the hero’s moniker more frequently employed in later Western art, literature, and popular culture. 
  • Hercules is a complex character with contradicting traits, giving later authors and artists the freedom to choose how to depict him.
  • Hercules’s characteristics, including the lion hide and the gnarled club (his preferred weapon), can be recognized in Roman, Renaissance, and post-Renaissance artwork. In mosaics, he is depicted in a tanned bronze state, giving him a virulent appearance.
  • Hercules’ existence was also known to have a connection with the Milky Way. According to legend, Hera nursed Hercules at her breast until the child bit her nipple. At that moment, she pushed the child away, spreading her milk throughout the night sky and creating the Milky Way. Juno then returned Hercules to Athena and instructed her to care for the child independently. The goddess unknowingly gave the kid more strength and power by nursing him from her breast.
  • The Twelve Labors can serve as a metaphor for life. After Hercules killed his wife and kids, he was given twelve chores to finish. These labors represent the tasks in one’s life. Hercules discovered more about his capabilities and himself as he completed one feat after another.

Hercules Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Hercules across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about Hercules, a legendary hero, and demigod who was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and a mortal woman named Alcmene.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Hercules (Roman Mythology) Facts
  • Hero-cules
  • Hercules Constellation
  • Symbols of Hercules
  • Labors of Hercules
  • The Toughest Labor
  • Hercules and the Hind
  • Hercules and Hesione
  • Named After the Strongest
  • Hero of Men
  • Our Local Hero

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the twelve labors of Hercules?

The twelve labors of Hercules were a series of tasks that he was required to complete as punishment for killing his wife and children while he was temporarily insane. The labors included:

  • Slaying the Nemean Lion.
  • Capturing the Erymanthian Boar.
  • Cleaning the Augean stables in a single day.
  • Catching the Golden Hind of Artemis.
  • Slaying the Stymphalian Birds.
  • Grabbing the Cretan Bull.
  • Stealing the Mares of Diomedes.
  • Obtaining the girdle of Hippolyta.
  • Getting the cattle of the monster Geryon.
  • Acquiring the apples of the Hesperides.
  • Capturing and bringing back Cerberus.
  • The three-headed guard dog of the Underworld.

What was the relationship between Hercules and Zeus?

Hercules was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Alcmene. Zeus had seduced Alcmene by disguising himself as her husband, Amphitryon. Hercules had a complicated relationship with his father, as Zeus was often unfaithful and had many other children with mortals and goddesses. However, Zeus did provide Hercules with immense strength and helped him on many occasions throughout his adventures.

What was the importance of Hercules in ancient Greek mythology?

Hercules was one of the most significant figures in ancient Greek mythology. He was seen as the epitome of physical strength, courage, and determination. His stories illustrated the values and virtues that ancient Greeks prized, such as bravery, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. His popularity endured throughout the centuries, and he was often depicted in art, literature, and popular culture as a symbol of heroism and strength.

What was the role of Hercules in the Trojan War?

Hercules did not participate in the Trojan War, as he had died and become a god long before the conflict occurred. However, he did play a role in the events leading up to the war. According to some legends, Hercules had helped the Greeks in their preparations for the war by capturing the Mares of Diomedes, which were thought to be invincible, and by providing the Greeks with the arrows of the centaur Nessus, which were said to be able to kill the monstrous Stymphalian Birds.

What was the significance of Hercules’ death and apotheosis?

Hercules’ death and apotheosis, or ascension to godhood, were significant events in his legend. According to the myths, after Hercules died, he was welcomed into Mount Olympus and became a god. His mortal remains were burned on a pyre, and his spirit was said to have ascended to the heavens. His apotheosis was seen as a symbol of his ultimate triumph over mortality and his acceptance into the pantheon of the gods.

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Link will appear as Hercules Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 2, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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