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^{Herakles (Hercules)}

^{Herakles is accepted to be the most famous Greek-Roman Epic Hero. Although he has a very complicated series of mythological stories which developed around him, he is thought to be a real person, such as a local ruler,living in the Argos Kingdom.
He is known to be the son of Zeus and Alkmene (grandaughter of Perseus). Zeus announed that the first male infant to be born from the dynasty of Perseus will became the ruler of Greece. However Hera played a game to Zeus and ill Eurystheus born first, so he became the king. When Herakles grew, he both had to deal with Hera's hostile games and serve king Eurystheus. Herakles,by killing a serpent sent by Hera inorder to kill him and his brother, has proven his Heroic Character when he was very small.
Herakles, after defeating the Orkhomenos Kingdom in Boiotia, married with Princess Megara. However during a psychological crisis he had, caused by Hera, he killed his wife and children, and then on had to serve Eurystheus.}

^{Eurystheus, mainly inorder to keep him away from his kingdom (and with the hope that he would die in one of them) has given Herakles 12 deeds to accomplish, which he all finished with success. These are : 1) Killing the Nemea Lion, whose skin he wore then on. 2) Killing the nine headed Hydra at Lerna. 3)Catching the Arkadian Stag, which no one could ever catch. 4) Catching the Boar at Mt. Erymanthos. 5) Cleaning the Oc Stables of king Augias of Elis, in one day. 6) Killing the human eating birds of Stymphalos Swamp. 7) Catching the furious Bull, causing problems at the island of Crete. 8)Catching the human eating mares of king Diomedes of Thrace. 9) Getting the belt of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons. 10)Getting the ox of the three bodied ruler of the island of Erytheia, Geryoneus. 11) Getting back the golden apples hidden by the Hesperids at the end of the world. 12) Taking the three headed dog Cerberus out of the world of Dead, who guards the gates of the underground.
After finishing the twelve deeds, Herakles defeated the river god Akheloos inorder to marry Deianeira. On the way home, centaur Nessos, who attacked his wife, was killed by his poisonous arrows. Dying Centaur gave Deianeira some of his blood, telling her that whoever wears a cloth with this blood on, will love her forever.
Some years later Herakles fell in love with Iole, daughter of king Eurytos of Oikhalia. Deianeira, in order to keep his love over her, sent him a shirt with the blood, which he wore and died, because in reality the blood was a very strong poison. The mortal part of Herakles was burnt at the top of Mt. Oita, and his immortal side rose up to skies. There he made peace with Hera, and married Hebe.
Herakles who was worshipped as the god of commerce was also prayed to bring chance and help in danger. He is usually shown as a strong, middle size man in art, who eats/drinks a lot, using a stick or arrow/bow. He is usually polite, time to time angry, and known to fall in love easily.}