The myth of Hercules: 12 labors in 8-bits - Alex Gendler

Summary

In a tragic twist, Hercules, son of Zeus, is cursed by Hera to commit a horrific act against his own family. Seeking redemption, he undertakes the legendary Twelve Labors, battling invincible beasts, enduring Herculean tasks, and reshaping the world's order. With the aid of gods and his own cunning, Hercules atones for his sins, tames chaos, and secures his place among the divine.

Takeaways

• 🌀 Hercules was cursed by Hera with madness, leading him to commit an unspeakable crime against his own family.
• 🔮 The Oracle of Delphi directed Hercules to seek atonement through tasks set by King Eurystheus.
• 🦁 The first labor involved slaying the Nemean Lion, whose golden fur was impervious to weapons but vulnerable to its own claw.
• 🐍 Hercules battled the Lernaean Hydra, a multi-headed serpent, with the help of his nephew Iolaus to cauterize the necks and prevent regrowth.
• 🦌 The Ceryneian Hind was captured alive, showing Hercules' respect for the sacred by promising to return it to Artemis.
• 🐗 The Erymanthian Boar was captured using advice from Chiron, showcasing Hercules' ability to seek and apply wisdom.
• 🐂 Hercules cleaned King Augeas' stables in a day by redirecting rivers, demonstrating his resourcefulness and strength.
• 🐦 The Stymphalian birds were defeated using Athena's rattle, illustrating Hercules' reliance on divine assistance.
• 🐃 The Cretan Bull was subdued by Hercules' chokehold, emphasizing his physical prowess.
• 🐎 King Diomedes' man-eating horses were tamed by Hercules, who wrestled their master into their own stables.
• 👸 Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, willingly gave Hercules her belt, showing respect and admiration for his heroic deeds.
• 🐂 Hercules' tenth labor involved stealing Geryon's cattle, which required him to borrow the sun god Helios' chariot.
• 🍎 The eleventh labor had Hercules obtaining golden apples from the Hesperides by tricking Atlas into retrieving them for him.
• 🐾 The final labor involved capturing Cerberus, the three-headed hound of the underworld, without weapons, a testament to Hercules' courage and strength.
• 🏆 Hercules' completion of the twelve labors not only redeemed him but also reshaped the world, allowing humanity to thrive in a new order.

Q & A

What curse did the goddess Hera place on Hercules?

Hera placed a temporary curse of madness on Hercules, which led him to commit an unspeakable crime against his own family.

What was the Oracle of Delphi's advice for Hercules' atonement?

The Oracle of Delphi advised Hercules that the path to atonement lay with his cousin, King Eurystheus of Tiryns.

What were King Eurystheus' intentions with the ten tasks he assigned to Hercules?

King Eurystheus intended to humiliate Hercules by assigning him ten impossible tasks that involved facing invincible monsters and unfathomable forces.

How did Hercules defeat the Nemean Lion?

Hercules defeated the Nemean Lion by cornering it in its cave, stunning it with a club, and strangling it with his bare hands.

What unique characteristic did the Lernaean Hydra possess that made the battle difficult for Hercules?

The Lernaean Hydra had the ability to regrow two heads every time one was cut off, making the battle seemingly endless.

How did Hercules manage to capture the Ceryneian Hind without harming it?

Hercules tracked the Ceryneian Hind for a year and finally trapped it in the northern land of Hyperborea, respecting its sacred status to Artemis by swearing to return it.

What clever strategy did Hercules use to clean King Augeas' stables in one day?

Hercules dug massive trenches and rerouted two nearby rivers to flow through the stables, cleaning them thoroughly in a single day.

How did Hercules deal with the Stymphalian birds that nested in an impenetrable swamp?

Hercules used Athena’s special rattle to frighten the Stymphalian birds into the air, after which he shot them down.

What was Hercules' approach to retrieving the belt from Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons?

Hercules sailed to Themyscira prepared for battle, but Queen Hippolyta was so impressed with him that she willingly gave him the belt.

Why did Hercules shoot an arrow at the Sun during his journey to obtain the golden apples from the Hesperides?

Hercules was annoyed by the heat of the Libyan desert, and in his frustration, he shot an arrow at the Sun.

How did Hercules manage to bring back Cerberus, the three-headed hound, without weapons?

Hercules achieved this by grabbing all three of Cerberus' heads at once, which allowed him to subdue the beast without using weapons.

What was the significance of Hercules' labors in reshaping the world for humanity?

Hercules' labors overcame the chaotic and monstrous forces of the world, sweeping away the remnants of the Titans' primordial order and reshaping it into one where humanity could thrive.