Heracles - Greece

Question 1

How is Hercles believed to be the founder of the Olympic games?

Answer 1

Question 2

Why is Heracles shown on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia?

Answer 2

He was the mythical founder of the Olympic Games, son of Zeus, and a symbol of heroic excellence. His Labours show him overcoming chaos and embodying strength and virtue, ideals central to the Games and Greek religion. His stories also had Panhellenic significance, making him an ideal figure for a temple visited by all Greeks.

Question 3

What are the 12 Labours of Heracles, and why did he perform them?

Answer 3

Heracles was forced to complete 12 Labours as punishment after Hera drove him mad and he killed his wife and children. The Labours were set by King Eurystheus and were:
1. Kill the Nemean Lion
2. Kill the Lernaean Hydra
3. Capture the Golden Hind
4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar
5. Clean the Augean Stables
6. Kill the Stymphalian Birds
7. Capture the Cretan Bull
8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes
9. Obtain the Girdle of Hippolyta
10. Capture the Cattle of Geryon
11. Steal the Apples of the Hesperides
12. Capture Cerberus from the Underworld

Question 4

How did he capture/ bring back the Neamon lion?

Answer 4

1. Nemean Lion
   The Task: Kill the Nemean Lion, whose skin was impenetrable by weapons.
   How He Killed It: Heracles strangled the lion to death with his bare hands after realizing his weapons were useless.
   How He Got It Back: He skinned the lion using one of its own claws and wore the hide as armor.

Question 5

how did he capture/ bring back the Lernyean hydra?

Answer 5

2. The Task: Kill the multi-headed Hydra, which regenerated two heads for every one cut off.
   How He Killed It: Heracles burned each stump with fire to prevent regrowth, with the help of his nephew Iolaus. He buried the immortal head under a rock.
   How He Got It Back: He dipped his arrows in the Hydra’s poisonous blood to use in future battles.

Question 6

How did he capture/ bring back the Cerianmthian hind?

Answer 6

3. The Task: Capture the sacred golden deer of Artemis alive.
   How He Captured It: He chased the hind for a year before wounding it with an arrow that did not kill it.
   How He Got It Back: He carried the hind on his shoulders and convinced Artemis to let him take it temporarily, promising to return it.

Question 7

How did he capture/ bring back the Erymanthian Boar?

Answer 7

4. The Task: Capture the monstrous boar alive.
   How He Captured It: Heracles chased the boar into deep snow, where it became trapped and easier to subdue.

How He Got It Back: He tied it up and carried it back to Eurystheus, who was so terrified he hid in a jar.

Question 8

How did he capture/bring back the Augean stables?

Answer 8

5. Augean Stables
   The Task: Clean the stables of King Augeas, which had not been cleaned in years and were filled with dung.
   How He Did It: Heracles diverted the course of two rivers (Alpheus and Peneus) to wash out the stables in a single day.
   How He Got It Back: He demanded payment from Augeas, but when Augeas refused, Eurystheus deemed this labour invalid as Heracles had sought compensation.

Question 9

How did he capture/bring back the stymphalian birds?

Answer 9

6. Stymphalian Birds
   The Task: Drive away or kill the man-eating birds with metallic feathers.
   How He Killed/Chased Them Off: Athena gave Heracles a rattle made by Hephaestus, which startled the birds into flight. He shot many of them with his arrows as they fled.
   How He Got It Back: He collected the dead birds as proof of his success.

Question 10

how did he capture/ bring back the Cretan bull?

Answer 10

7. The Task: Capture the bull that was terrorizing Crete.
   How He Captured It: Heracles wrestled the bull into submission with his strength.
   How He Got It Back: He brought it to Eurystheus alive, who then released it to roam freely near Marathon

Question 11

how did he capture/ bring back the maress of dyoimeedes?

Answer 11

8. Mares of Diomedes
   The Task: Capture the man-eating horses of King Diomedes.
   How He Subdued Them: Heracles killed Diomedes by feeding him to his own horses, which calmed the mares.
   How He Got It Back: He drove the subdued mares back to Eurystheus.

Question 12

how did he capture/bring back the belt of Hippolyta?

Answer 12

9. Belt of Hippolyta
   The Task: Retrieve the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, as a gift for Eurystheus’ daughter.
   How He Got It: Initially, Hippolyta offered it willingly, but Hera stirred the Amazons to attack. Heracles killed Hippolyta and took the belt.
   How He Got It Back: He brought the belt to Eurystheus.

Question 13

how did he capture/ bring back the Cattle of Geryon?

Answer 13

10. Cattle of Geryon
    The Task: Steal the cattle of the three-bodied giant Geryon.
    How He Killed Geryon: Heracles used his bow and poisoned arrows to kill Geryon and his guards.
    How He Got It Back: He herded the cattle across land and sea, despite challenges like Hera sending a gadfly to scatter them.

Question 14

How did he capture/ bring back apples of Hesperides?

Answer 14

11. Apples of the Hesperides
    The Task: Retrieve the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon named Ladon.
    How He Got Them: Heracles convinced Atlas to fetch the apples while he held up the sky in Atlas’ place. When Atlas tried to trick him, Heracles tricked him back and took the apples.
    How He Got It Back: He returned the apples to Eurystheus but had to give them back to Athena as they belonged to the gods.

Question 15

how did he capture/ bring back Cerberus?

Answer 15

12. Cerberus
    The Task: Capture the three-headed guard dog of the Underworld.
    How He Captured It: Heracles wrestled Cerberus into submission with his strength alone, as he was forbidden to use weapons.
    How He Got It Back: He carried Cerberus to Eurystheus, who was terrified and ordered Heracles to return the creature to the Underworld.

Question 16

What does “lion-hearted” mean in the Homeric Hymn to Heracles, and why is it important?

Answer 16

A: “Lion-hearted” means brave, fearless, and heroic. It shows Heracles’ strength and connects to his slaying of the Nemean Lion. It highlights him as the greatest of mortals, worthy of divine honour, and reflects Greek heroic ideals of courage and endurance.

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Question 17

Why was Heracles important to Olympia?

Answer 17

• Founder of the Olympic Games: Celebrated physical and mental strength through contests in his honor.
• Depictions: His labours are depicted on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, emphasizing his role as a heroic model.

Question 18

who is Hercules mother?

Answer 18

Alchmene