Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fourteen, Lecture OneLecture One

HeraclesHeracles

HeraclesHeracles

Strong man and primitive tough guyStrong man and primitive tough guy But still admired and venerated for But still admired and venerated for

“heroism” – dangerous tasks done “heroism” – dangerous tasks done with physical strength for a good with physical strength for a good purposepurpose

HeraclesHeracles RepresentatioRepresentatio

n of natural n of natural world by world by toting a toting a club…shield club…shield and spear and spear were civilized were civilized weapons!weapons!

Bad manners Bad manners and behaviorand behavior

HeraclesHeracles

BUT he rid the BUT he rid the civilized world civilized world of dangerous of dangerous men, animals, men, animals, and beasts!and beasts!

HeraclesHeracles

He was He was eventually taken eventually taken to Olympus to Olympus where he where he became a god.became a god.

HeraclesHeracles

Alcmena is a Alcmena is a decendant of decendant of Perseus.Perseus.

Heracles GeneologyHeracles Geneology

The Birth of HeraclesThe Birth of Heracles

The Birth of HeraclesThe Birth of Heracles

Pirates kill all but one of Electryon’s sons.Pirates kill all but one of Electryon’s sons. Prepares a campaign against themPrepares a campaign against them Gives Amphitryon Alcmena to watch overGives Amphitryon Alcmena to watch over But he and Amphitryon get into a fight and But he and Amphitryon get into a fight and

Amphitryon kills him over a herd of cattle.Amphitryon kills him over a herd of cattle. Amphitryon escapes to Thebes with Amphitryon escapes to Thebes with

Alcmena and marries her.Alcmena and marries her. Banished because he shed kindred blood, Banished because he shed kindred blood,

his unclehis uncle

The Birth of HeraclesThe Birth of Heracles

Alcmena won’t have sex with him until Alcmena won’t have sex with him until Amphitryon avenges the death of her Amphitryon avenges the death of her brothers.brothers.

Meanwhile, Zeus sneaks in, disguised as Meanwhile, Zeus sneaks in, disguised as her husband.her husband.

Amphitryon comes later.Amphitryon comes later. Thus, there are divine and human seed in Thus, there are divine and human seed in

her and she gives birth to twins.her and she gives birth to twins.– Heracles (Alcides) demigodHeracles (Alcides) demigod– Iphicles mortalIphicles mortal

The Birth of HeraclesThe Birth of Heracles Zeus’s boast about Eileithyia delivering a Zeus’s boast about Eileithyia delivering a

ruler on that day, a descendent of Zeus’ ruler on that day, a descendent of Zeus’ who will rule all surrounding regionswho will rule all surrounding regions

Hera holds up Heracles’ birth and Hera holds up Heracles’ birth and advances Eurystheus’s birth 2 months advances Eurystheus’s birth 2 months earlyearly

Eurystheus ends up being ruler. Heracles Eurystheus ends up being ruler. Heracles becomes a slave to himbecomes a slave to him

Lucina (Eileithyia) sat outside the birthing Lucina (Eileithyia) sat outside the birthing room with her legs crossed and fingers room with her legs crossed and fingers crossed to delay Heracles’ birth.crossed to delay Heracles’ birth.

Galanthis pretended he had been born and Galanthis pretended he had been born and Lucina stood up thus allowing Alcmena to Lucina stood up thus allowing Alcmena to give birth. Turned into a weasel.give birth. Turned into a weasel.

The Birth of HeraclesThe Birth of Heracles

Heracles’s Youthful DeedsHeracles’s Youthful Deeds

SerpentsSerpents

The Milky WayThe Milky Way

AutolycusAutolycus

EurytusEurytus

LinusLinus

Daughters of ThespiusDaughters of Thespius

Erginus of the MinyansErginus of the Minyans

SerpentsSerpents

Hera sent venomous Hera sent venomous serpents to kill serpents to kill Heracles, but he Heracles, but he grabbed them in his grabbed them in his baby fists and baby fists and strangled them. This strangled them. This is how Amphitryon is how Amphitryon figured out which son figured out which son was his and which was was his and which was Zeus’.Zeus’.

Milky WayMilky Way Hera took pity Hera took pity

and breast fed and breast fed Heracles, but he Heracles, but he bit her so she bit her so she threw him from threw him from her and Hera’s her and Hera’s spurting milk spurting milk became the became the Milky Way.Milky Way.

TutorsTutors Autolycus was King of Thieves and the father Autolycus was King of Thieves and the father

of Odysseus. Wrestling tutor for Heracles.of Odysseus. Wrestling tutor for Heracles. Eurytus was the best archer. Heracles’ tutor Eurytus was the best archer. Heracles’ tutor

on how to shoot a bow and arrow.on how to shoot a bow and arrow. Linus was Heracles’ tutor for the lyre. Linus Linus was Heracles’ tutor for the lyre. Linus

complained about Heracles’ big, clumsy complained about Heracles’ big, clumsy fingers breaking the strings, so Heracles fingers breaking the strings, so Heracles killed him by bashing in his head with the killed him by bashing in his head with the lyre.lyre.

Heracles was acquitted of the murder by Heracles was acquitted of the murder by way of self-defense.way of self-defense.

Daughters of ThespiusDaughters of Thespius

Daughters of ThespiusDaughters of Thespius

While hunting a lion, Heracles stayed While hunting a lion, Heracles stayed with Thespius and each night Thespius with Thespius and each night Thespius sent one of his fufty daughters to sent one of his fufty daughters to Heracles’ bed. Heracles thought it was Heracles’ bed. Heracles thought it was the same woman every night.the same woman every night.

Another version: All 50 were sent to Another version: All 50 were sent to him in one night and he slept with all of him in one night and he slept with all of them thinking they were one woman.them thinking they were one woman.

Thus begetting his first 50 children!!Thus begetting his first 50 children!!

Daughters of ThespiusDaughters of Thespius

ErignusErignus

He intercepted heralds on their way He intercepted heralds on their way to collect 100 cattle from Thebes, so to collect 100 cattle from Thebes, so he cut off the heralds’ noses and he cut off the heralds’ noses and ears, put them on strings around the ears, put them on strings around the heralds necks and sent them back to heralds necks and sent them back to Erginus.Erginus.

Erginus attacked Thebes, but Erginus attacked Thebes, but Heracles armed them with weapons Heracles armed them with weapons from temples. They won and forced from temples. They won and forced the Minyans to pay twice as much.the Minyans to pay twice as much.

Madness and MurderMadness and Murder

Madness and MurderMadness and Murder

Married to Megara, daughter of Creon, the Married to Megara, daughter of Creon, the new king of Thebesnew king of Thebes

Driven mad by Hera and kills Megara and Driven mad by Hera and kills Megara and their three children: stabbed the first, their three children: stabbed the first, shot the second with an arrow and then shot the second with an arrow and then bashed in his head, shot third child and bashed in his head, shot third child and Megara with same arrow.Megara with same arrow.

Athena appeared and hit him in the chest Athena appeared and hit him in the chest with a rock. He fell into a comawith a rock. He fell into a coma

After consulting at Delphi, as punishment, After consulting at Delphi, as punishment, Heracles must serve Eurystheus, his Heracles must serve Eurystheus, his cousin as a slave.cousin as a slave.

Madness and MurderMadness and Murder