The Wicked Stepmotherīut from the very beginning, Heracles had an adversary – Zeus’ wife, the goddess Hera. An account of this origin story, in the form of a comedic play, can be found in Amphitryon by the Roman playwright Plautus. While he was away on a heroic journey of his own (avenging his wife’s brothers), Zeus visited Alcmene disguised as her husband.įrom that tryst, Alcmene conceived Heracles, and when the real Amphitryon returned the same night, Alcmene conceived a son with him as well, Iphicles. Zeus had a habit of fathering heroes, and in fact, one of his earlier progeny – the hero Perseus – was the grandfather of Heracles’ mother, Alcmene.Īlcmene had been the wife of Amphitryon, an exiled prince of Tiryns who had fled with her to Thebes after accidentally killing his uncle.

Heracles is the son of the greatest Greek gods – Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Labor #11: Stealing the Golden Apples of the Hesperides.Labor #9: Taking the Girdle of Hippolyte.Labor #8: Stealing the Mares of Diomedes.

Labor #6: Killing the Stymphalian Birds.

Labor #5 Cleaning the Augean Stables in a Day.

Labor #4: Capturing the Erymanthian Boar.

Heracles’ Birth Name and an Ironic Nursemaid.

Zeus son hercules