fbpx

KidsKonnect

Heracles Facts & Worksheets

Heracles is one of the most famous of the heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, he was a symbol of masculinity.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Ancient History /Heracles Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Heracles Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Heracles is one of the most famous of the heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, he was a symbol of masculinity, sire of a long line of royal clans, and the champion of the Olympian order against terrible monsters.

See the fact file below for more information on the Heracles or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Heracles worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGINS AND CHILDHOOD

  • Disguised as her husband Amphitryon, Zeus slept with Alcmene on the same night that Amphitryon himself did.
  • Nine months later, Alcmene gave birth to twin sons: Iphicles to her husband and Heracles to Zeus.
  • Angry at Zeus’ infidelity, Hera began to devise ways to seek revenge against the child.
  • Fearful of Hera’s revenge, Alcmene exposed Heracles but he was taken to Hera by Athena, and Hera not recognising him nursed him out of pity.
  • With this divine milk, Heracles acquired supernatural powers and Athena returned him back to his parents who raised him and named him Alcides.
  • When Heracles and Iphicles were eight months old, Hera sent two giant snakes to their chambers.
  • Iphicles started crying at the very sight, but Heracles strangled them in an instant.

EARLY ADVENTURES

  • Heracles’ adventures started in the eighteenth year of his life when he killed the Lion of Cithaeron.
  • The Lion of Mount Cithaeron preyed on the flocks of both Amphitryon and Thespius.
  • While staying with the king of Thespiae, Heracles killed the beast after hunting it for fifty days.
  • Upon returning, Heracles met the heralds of Erginus, sent by the Minyan king to collect the annual Theban tribute of 100 cows.
  • Knowing that, Heracles cut off their ears, noses, and hands, and having fastened them by ropes from their necks, he told them to carry that tribute to Erginus and the Minyans.
  • Furious, Erginus gathered the Minyan army and marched against Thebes.
  • Heracles defeated him and afterwards compelled the Minyans to pay double the original tribute to the Thebans.

HERCULES’ MADNESS and REDEMPTION

  • Out of gratitude, Creon, the Theban king, gave Heracles his eldest daughter Megara, with whom Heracles had at least two and as many as eight children.
  • Hera, still spiteful, induced a fit of madness in Heracles and he killed his children.
  • After his madness had been cured by Hellebore, he fled, ashamed, to the Oracle of Delphi.
  • Hera guided the Oracle so he was directed to serve his sworn enemy, King Eurystheus for ten years and perform any task asked of him in repayment for his crime of killing his children.
  • Heracles was given Twelve Labors which would purify him of his sins and grant him immortality. The Twelve Labours were:
  • Slay the Nemean Lion
    • Kill the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra
    • Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis
    • Capture the Erymanthian Boar
    • Clean the Augean stables in a single day
    • Slay the Stymphalian Birds
    • Capture the Cretan Bull
    • Steal the Mares of Diomedes
    • Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons
    • Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon
    • Take the apples of the Hesperides
    • Capture and bring back CERBERUS, the Guardian of the Underworld
  • After completing this tasks, with help and encounters from numerous prominent figures in Greek mythology, Heracles joined the Argonauts in a search for the Golden Fleece.

OTHER DEEDS

  • On his eleventh labor, Heracles freed Prometheus from the giant eagle which had tormented the Titan. In return, he gave Heracles instructions on how to get Atlas on his side and fetch the golden apples.
  • Heracles killed Busiris, the king of Egypt, and Emathion, the king of Arabia; and the giant Antaeus whom he defeated through a bear hug.
  • He also saved Theseus and Pirithous, who were glued to two seats in Hades because in the attempt to abduct Persephone.
  • After Eurystheus, Heracles’ former trainer in archery, declined to give the hero his daughter Lole in marriage, he killed her brother Iphitus.
  • From this act, he was afflicted with a disease. The oracle at Delphi refused to heed for an advice, Heracles threatened to destroy a tripod which created a battle between him and Apollo. Zeus broke up the fight.
  • The answer for advice was for him to serve the Queen of Lybia, Omphale.

Heracles Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Heracles across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Heracles worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Heracles who is one of the most famous of the heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, he was a symbol of masculinity, sire of a long line of royal clans, and the champion of the Olympian order against terrible monsters.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Becoming a Deity
  • Speaking Greek
  • 12 Labors
  • Work-of-Art
  • Hera-lated
  • Popular Culture
  • Greek Heroes
  • The Hero
  • Great Heroes
  • Heroes Around Us

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Heracles Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 10, 2019

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.

Related Resources