Heracles

Mortal man

Heracles ( Ancient Greek: Ἡρακλῆς, lit. 'glory/fame of Hera'), born Alcaeus (Ἀλκαῖος) or Alcides (Ἀλκείδης), was the greatest of the Greek heroes. He was considered the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.

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Mentions
16
Connected characters
31
Books
9
Heracles. Tired Herakles Statue
Tired Herakles StatueImage source CC BY-SA 4.0

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“Of all these was Idomeneus, famed for his spear, captain, and Meriones, the peer of Enyalius, slayer of men. And with these there followed eighty black ships. And Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, a valiant man and tall, led from Rhodes nine ships of the lordly Rhodians,”
Il. 2.650–654
“that dwelt in Rhodes sundered in three divisions—in Lindos and Ialysus and Cameirus, white with chalk. These were led by Tlepolemus, famed for his spear, he that was born to mighty Heracles by Astyocheia, whom he had led forth out of Ephyre from the river Selleïs,”
Il. 2.655–659
“Howbeit he was a weakling, and but few people followed with him. And they that held Nisyrus and Crapathus and Casus and Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian isles, these again were led by Pheidippus and Antiphus, the two sons of king Thessalus, son of Heracles.”
Il. 2.675–679
“brought tidings unto Hermes; and he stole forth Ares, that was now sore distressed, for his grievous bonds were overpowering him. So suffered Hera, when the mighty son of Amphitryon smote her on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow; then upon her too came pain that might in no wise be assuaged.”
Il. 5.390–394
“And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;”
Il. 5.395–399
“for all he was so tall and mighty and lordly, thrust him from them; and he gave ground and was made to reel. So these toiled in the mighty conflict, but Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, a valiant man and tall, was roused by resistless fate against godlike Sarpedon.”
Il. 5.625–629
“They speak but a lie that say thou art sprung from Zeus that beareth the aegis, seeing thou art inferior far to those warriors that were sprung from Zeus in the days of men of old. Of other sort, men say, was mighty Heracles, my father, staunch in fight, the lionhearted,”
Il. 5.635–639
See all 16

Connections

Father · Sources
Father · Sources
And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;
Il. 5.396
howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeussend me forth to succour him. Had I but known all this in wisdom of my heart when Eurystheus sent him forth to the house of Hades the Warder, to bring from out of Erebus the hound of loathed Hades, then had he not escaped the sheer-falling waters of Styx.
Il. 8.363–365
Deemest thou that Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, will aid the Trojans, even as he waxed wroth for the sake of Heracles, his own son? Nay, come, I will give thee one of the youthful Graces to wed to be called thy wife, even Pasithea, for whom thou ever longest all thy days.
Il. 14.266

Il. 5.396 · Il. 8.363–365 · Il. 14.266 · Il. 14.324

Mother · Sources
Mother · Sources

2.658–659: Антиоха названа матерью Тлеполема, рождённого Геракловой силе; «взята Гераклом в Эфире» — пленение, не любовная связь.

that dwelt in Rhodes sundered in three divisions—in Lindos and Ialysus and Cameirus, white with chalk. These were led by Tlepolemus, famed for his spear, he that was born to mighty Heracles by Astyocheia, whom he had led forth out of Ephyre from the river Selleïs,
Il. 2.658–659

Il. 2.658–659

Paternal half-brother · Sources
Paternal half-brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Зевс. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Илиада: Общий отец; разные матери подтверждены. Общие родители: Зевс.

Wikidata: Гера — роль родителя · P25 Wikidata: Зевс — роль родителя · P22 Wikidata: Зевс — пол родителя · P21
took furious Ares by the hand and spake to him, saying: Ares, Ares, thou bane of mortals, thou blood-stained stormer of walls, shall we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight, to whichsoever of the two it be that father Zeus shall vouchsafe glory? But for us twain, let us give place, and avoid the wrath of Zeus.
Il. 5.33
And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;
Il. 5.396
Howbeit I will no longer endure that thou shouldest be in pain, for thou art mine offspring, and it was to me that thy mother bare thee; but wert thou born of any other god, thus pestilent as thou art, then long ere this hadst thou been lower than the sons of heaven. He spake, and bade Paeëon heal his hurt;
Il. 5.896

Il. 5.33 · Il. 5.396 · Il. 5.896 · Il. 8.363–365 · Il. 14.266 · Il. 14.324

Brother through father · Sources
Brother through father · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Зевс. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Илиада: Общий отец подтверждён; сведения о матерях неполны. Различие матерей не установлено. Общие родители: Зевс.

Wikidata: Зевс — пол родителя · P21
And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;
Il. 5.396
And when they were come near as they advanced one against the other, the son and grandson of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, then Tlepolemus was first to speak, saying: Sarpedon, counsellor of the Lycians, why must thou be skulking here, that art a man unskilled in battle?They speak but a lie that say thou art sprung from Zeus that beareth the aegis, seeing thou art inferior far to those warriors that were sprung from Zeus in the days of men of old. Of other sort, men say, was mighty Heracles, my father, staunch in fight, the lionhearted,
Il. 5.634–635
And Tlepolemus smote Sarpedon upon the left thigh with his long spear, and the point sped through furiously and grazed the bone; howbeit his father as yet warded from him destruction. Then his goodly companions bare godlike Sarpedon forth from out the fight, and the long spear burdened him sore,as it trailed, but no man marked it or thought in their haste to draw forth from his thigh the spear of ash, that he might stand upon his feet; such toil had they in tending him. And on the other side the well-greaved Achaeans bare Tlepolemus from out the fight, and goodly Odysseusof the enduring soul was ware of it, and his spirit waxed furious within him; and he pondered then in heart and soul whether he should pursue further after the son of Zeus that thundereth aloud, or should rather take the lives of more Lycians. But not for great-hearted Odysseus was it ordained
Il. 5.662–672

Il. 5.396 · Il. 5.634–635 · Il. 5.662–672 · Il. 5.675 · Il. 6.198–199 · Il. 8.363–365 · Il. 12.292 · Il. 12.402–403 · Il. 14.266 · Il. 14.324 · Il. 15.67 · Il. 16.522

Paternal half-brother · Sources
Paternal half-brother · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Зевс. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Илиада: Общий отец; разные матери подтверждены. Общие родители: Зевс.

Wikidata: Зевс — пол родителя · P21 Wikidata: Лето — роль родителя · P25 Wikidata: Зевс — роль родителя · P22
from the time when first they parted in strife Atreus' son, king of men, and brilliant Achilles. Who then of the gods was it that brought these two together to contend? The son of Leto and Zeus; for he in anger against the king roused throughout the host an evil pestilence, and the people began to perish,
Il. 1.9
And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;
Il. 5.396
to sacred Ilios. And Apollo sped forth to meet her, for he looked down from out of Pergamus and beheld her, and was fain to have victory for the Trojans. So the twain met one with the other by the oak-tree. Then to her spake first the king Apollo, son of Zeus: Wherefore art thou again come thus eagerly from Olympus, thou daughter of great Zeus,
Il. 7.23

Il. 1.9 · Il. 5.396 · Il. 7.23 · Il. 8.363–365 · Il. 14.266 · Il. 14.324 · Il. 15.236 · Il. 20.103 · Il. 21.229 · Il. 22.302

Paternal half-sister · Sources
Paternal half-sister · Sources

Братство или сестринство выведено из общего родителя: Зевс. Матери и отцы, не указанные в источнике, не предполагаются. Квалификация братства/сестринства: Илиада: Общий отец; разные матери подтверждены. Общие родители: Зевс.

Гомер, Илиада — роль родителя · Ил. 3.236–238 Wikidata: Зевс — роль родителя · P22 Wikidata: Зевс — пол родителя · P21
His battle-gear lieth upon the bounteous earth, but himself he rangeth like the bell-wether of a herd through the ranks of warriors. Like a ram he seemeth to me, a ram of thick fleece, that paceth through a great flock of white ewes. To him made answer Helen, sprung from Zeus:
Il. 3.199
and hate thee, even as now I love thee wondrously; and lest I devise grievous hatred between both, Trojans alike and Danaans; then wouldst thou perish of an evil fate. So spake she, and Helen, sprung from Zeus, was seized with fear; and she went, wrapping herself in her bright shining mantle,
Il. 3.418
And so suffered monstrous Hades even as the rest a bitter arrow, when this same man, the son of Zeus that beareth the aegis, smote him in Pylos amid the dead, and gave him over to pains. But he went to the house of Zeus and to high Olympus with grief at heart, pierced through with pains;
Il. 5.396

Il. 3.199 · Il. 3.418 · Il. 5.396 · Il. 8.363–365 · Il. 14.266 · Il. 14.324

See all 31

In art

Peter Paul Rubens. Achilles Vanquishes Hector. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau. Public domain. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66107749

Photograph / reproduction: Peter Paul Rubens

Photograph / reproduction date: 1630

Hubert Robert. Alexander before Achilles' Tomb. Department of Paintings of the Louvre. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19606327

Klaus-Peter Simon. NemrudOstApolloHerakles. собрание не указано. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANemrudOstApolloHerakles.jpg

Photograph / reproduction: Klaus-Peter Simon

Photograph / reproduction date: 2011-09-05

Olympia Master. Temple of Zeus in Olympia - Metope. Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19120750

Olympia Master. Mètopa del temple de Zeus d'Olímpia amb representació d'Hèracles i el lleó de Nemea (Museu Arqueològic d'Olímpia). Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19120859

Olympia Master. Mètopa del temple de Zeus d'Olímpia amb representació d'Hèracles i les pomes de les Hespèrides (Museu Arqueològic d'Olímpia). Archaeological Museum of Olympia. CC BY-SA 3.0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19121784

Olympia Master. Temple of Zeus in Olympia - Metopa. Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities of the Louvre. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19414857

See all 616

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q122248

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.