Essay - Hercules Was the Son of the God Zeus and Was...

Hercules was the son of the god Zeus and ***** born in Thebes to Alcmena. ********** wife, Hera, was jealous of Alcmena and sent serpents ***** kill Hercules when he was an *****f*****t. T***** infant ***** killed ***** serpents. However, ***** was not satisfied to leave Hercules alone. In fact, it is Hera's continued interference in Hercules' life that led to h***** status as Greece's ultimate hero. (Wikipedia).

*****he legend of Hercules would be incomplete without the stories of his 12 labors. However, though the labors made ***** Greece's most famous hero, they were rooted in tragedy. Hercules only performed the labors as punishment for killing ***** wife and children in a fit of insanity. After praying to Apollo for guidance, Hercules ***** *****ld that he would have to serve Eurystheus ***** 12 years, in ***** for the murders. (Crane). As part ***** his punishment, Hercules performed 12 Labors, which were difficult feats that appeared impossible. (Crane).

***** first labor was to kill the lion of Nemea, ***** was made more difficult because ***** lion's skin could not be penetrated by spears or arrows. (Skidmore). The second ***** was ***** kill a nine-he*****ded hydra. Hercules' third labor was to capture the Cerynitian hind, which was sacred to Artemis. Hercules' fourth labor was to capture and bring back a huge boar, the Erymanthian boar alive. Hercules' fifth labor was to clean out King Augeas stables in a single day, which Hercules accomplished by re-routing two rivers. Hercules' sixth labor ***** to eradicate the Stymphalian birds, which inhabited a marsh near Lake Stymphalus in Arcadia, and may have eaten human flesh. Hercules' seventh ***** was ***** rid Crete ***** a fire-breathing bull. Hercules' eighth labor was to ***** Eurys*****us Diomedes' mares, which dined on the flesh of travelers who accepted Diomedes' assistance. (Skidmore). The ninth labor ***** to retrieve Hippolyta's (the Queen of the Amazons) girdle, which would ***** been easy, except that Hera told the Amazon that the Greeks had captured Hippolyta. The tenth ***** was to retrieve cattle belonging ***** Geryon. Hercules' eleventh task was to steal golden apples from the Hesperides. ***** final labor was ***** capture Cerberus ***** bring him up ***** the underground.

In addition to ***** labors, Hercules completed several other ********** ventures. He freed Theseus and Prometheus. In addition, he wrestled death in order to return his friend Admetus' wife from the dead. (Hamilton, 240). ***** also cont*****ued to get in***** trouble; after accidently ***** a servant, Hercules was given to a ***** ***** act as her servant, and she ***** ***** dress like a woman. In addition, he ***** death ***** order to return ***** friend ***** wife (Hamilton, 240).

Al***** ***** survived all of his adventures, Hercules ***** not immortal. In f*****, it was common jealousy that killed him. His wife, Deianara, believed ***** was in love w*****h a*****her. A centaur had given her a ***** potion, which she used on Hercules' robe. The ***** ***** actually poi*****, ***** when Hercules donned the