Heracles — Greek mythology
For a very long time, Hercules (Heracles) did not know he was half man and half god. His mother was a mortal. But his father was a king - a very special king, the king of all the gods, the mighty Zeus.
Zeus loved his little son. But Hera, Zeus' wife, hated Hercules. She was very jealous. She tried all kinds of ways to kill Hercules, including sending a couple of big snakes into his crib. Hercules crushed those snakes in a flash! Hercules was incredibly strong, even as a baby!
To keep his small son safe from attack, Zeus sent him to live with a mortal family on earth in the ancient Greek city-state of Argos. Hercules grew up noble and loved. He married and had a couple of kids. He was happy, but he did not fit in on earth. He was too big and too strong. He was hard to miss. Hera soon discovered his location.
The rest of the story of Hercules is a bunch of little stories that together tell the tale of how Hercules used clever tricks and great courage to stay alive and earn his way into the heavens, to take his place with the gods.
Hercules Birth
Disguised as her husband Amphitryon, Zeus slept with Alcmene on the same night that Amphitryon himself did. Nine months later, Alcmene gave birth to twin sons: Iphicles to her husband and Heracles to Zeus.
Heracles’ Mentors
Heracles had a number of mentors. His father Amphitryon taught him to drive a chariot; Autolycus, Odysseus’ grandfather, tutored him in wrestling; Eurytus, the king of Oechalia, instructed Heracles in archery; Castor, the mortal Dioscuri twin, trained Heracles in fencing and Harpalycus of Phanotè, a fearsome son of Hermes, in boxing.