Though Zeus was Hercules’ father, it was Hera, Zeus’ wife who was instrumental in molding Hercules into the great hero he became. Hercules is the son of Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman. In addition to losing his family, he also lost his immortality. Hercules completed his mission but it cost him dearly. The Oracle told him to serve King Eurystheus for twelve years and perform any task that Eurystheus set for him. Afterward, he realized what he had done and asked the Oracle at Delphi how he could atone for his crimes. He succumbed to madness and killed his wife and children in a fit of rage. Though he was worshipped as a god by some cultures, Hercules was eventually brought down by his own weaknesses. He became famous for his strength and for his twelve labors, which included slaying monsters such as the Hydra and capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the underworld. Hercules was raised on Mount Olympus but when he reached adulthood he left to live among humans. As a result, Hercules was both immortal and mortal. His father Zeus came to Alcmena in the guise of her husband Amphitryon and fathered Hercules.
Hercules is the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Alcmena, a mortal woman.
