Heracles
The son of Zeus and Alcmene who performed twelve impossible labours and was the only hero to achieve full godhood after death.
The Legend of Heracles
Heracles — whose name ironically means glory of Hera, the goddess who persecuted him — was the greatest hero of Greek mythology. Born to Zeus and the mortal Alcmene, he was marked for suffering from birth: Hera sent serpents to his cradle, which the infant strangled. Driven mad by Hera, he killed his own children, and the twelve labours were his penance. Each labour pushed beyond mortal limits: the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Ceryneian Hind, the Erymanthian Boar, the Augean Stables, the Stymphalian Birds, the Cretan Bull, the Mares of Diomedes, the Belt of Hippolyta, the Cattle of Geryon, the Apples of the Hesperides, and Cerberus from the Underworld. After the labours, he continued adventuring until his wife Deianeira, deceived by the centaur Nessus, gave him a poisoned shirt. In agony, Heracles built his own funeral pyre on Mount Oeta. As his mortal body burned away, his divine nature ascended to Olympus, where he married Hebe and became a god.
Fun Fact
Heracles is the only Greek hero who fully became a god — all others remained in the Underworld as shades.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Heracles
🗡 heroGreatest of the Greek heroes, demigod of strength
The greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his extraordinary strength and his Twelve Labors.
Heracles
🗡 heroThe twelve labours
Heracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a madness sent by Hera — the most famous cycle of heroic tasks in mythology.
Alcmene
🗡 heroMother of Heracles
Alcmene was the mortal woman whom Zeus seduced by disguising himself as her husband — she bore Heracles, the greatest hero of Greek mythology.
Diomedes
🗡 heroThe hero who wounded two Olympian gods in a single day
The king of Argos who fought at Troy with such ferocity that he wounded both Aphrodite and Ares — becoming one of the only mortals to injure gods.
Sarpédon
🗡 heroSon of Zeus who died at Troy
Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and the greatest Lycian warrior at Troy — his death forced Zeus to confront the limits of even divine power.
Theseus
🗡 heroFounder-hero of Athens
Theseus was the great hero of Athens who slew the Minotaur, united Attica, and established Athenian democracy — Athens' answer to Heracles.
Theseus
🗡 heroFounder-hero of Athenian democracy
The hero who killed the Minotaur and later united Attica under Athens, becoming the mythological founder of Athenian democracy.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Achilles
🗡 heroThe greatest warrior of the Trojan War
The swift-footed son of Peleus and Thetis whose wrath drives the Iliad and whose choice between glory and life defines the heroic ideal.
Diomedes
🗡 heroKing of Argos who wounded gods
Diomedes was the only mortal in the Iliad to wound two Olympian gods in a single day.
Hector
🗡 heroChampion of Troy
Hector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.
Anchises
🗡 heroLove, royalty, Troy
Trojan prince beloved by Aphrodite and father of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome