Disney’s Hercules 25th anniversary

Hercules: The Legendary Hero of Ancient Mythology

Hercules is one of the most famous and beloved heroes in ancient mythology. He was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman, and is known for his extraordinary strength, courage, and adventures. Hercules had to face many challenges and dangers, both from the wrath of his jealous stepmother Hera and from the tasks he had to perform to atone for his tragic mistake.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Hercules, which was nominated for an Oscar for it’s music in 1997. The movie was so successful that it spawned a tv series that lasted 2 years. The movie has aged quite well and is still watchable today. What is interesting about this animated movie is that it does not focus on his 12 labors but rather it’s an original story. It is also one of the few productions out there that features the 9 Muses.

The Birth and Childhood

Hercules was born as Heracles in ancient Greece. His name means “glorious gift of Hera”, but ironically, Hera hated him and tried to prevent his birth. She sent two snakes to kill him in his crib, but the baby Hercules strangled them with his bare hands. He grew up to be a strong and brave young man, who helped his neighbors and defended his homeland. He married Megara, a princess of Thebes, and had two children with her.

The Madness and the 12 Labors

Hera was not satisfied with tormenting Hercules in his infancy. She also wanted to ruin his adult life. She sent a fit of madness to Hercules, which made him kill his own wife and children in a rage. When he came to his senses, he was horrified by what he had done. He sought the help of Apollo, the god of truth and healing, who told him to serve King Eurystheus of Mycenae for 12 years and perform 12 labors that he would assign him. Only then could he be forgiven and become immortal.

The 12 labors of Hercules were:

• Killing the Nemean Lion, a monstrous beast with impenetrable skin.
• Killing the Lernaean Hydra, a nine-headed serpent that grew two new heads for each one cut off.
• Capturing the Ceryneian Hind, a sacred deer with golden horns and hooves that belonged to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
• Capturing the Erymanthian Boar, a huge and ferocious wild pig that ravaged the countryside.
• Cleaning the Augean Stables, where 3,000 cattle had been kept for 30 years without ever being cleaned.
• Killing the Stymphalian Birds, man-eating birds with bronze beaks, claws, and feathers that could shoot like arrows.
• Capturing the Cretan Bull, a fire-breathing bull that terrorized the island of Crete.
• Stealing the Mares of Diomedes, four man-eating horses that belonged to a savage king.
• Stealing the Belt of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women.
• Stealing the Cattle of Geryon, a three-bodied giant who lived on a faraway island.
• Stealing the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, which grew in a garden guarded by a dragon and the nymphs of the evening.
• Capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld.

Hercules completed all these labors, sometimes with the help of his friends or the gods, and sometimes overcoming the obstacles that Hera or Eurystheus put in his way. He proved his worth and his heroism, and gained fame and glory throughout the world.

The Death and the Apotheosis of Hercules

After the 12 labors, Hercules continued to have many other adventures and deeds. He fought against many enemies, such as the centaurs, the giants, and the tyrant Eurytion, and had many love affairs, with mortal and immortal women alike. He fathered many children, who became the ancestors of many noble families and kings.

Hercules’ final adventure was his marriage to Deianira, the daughter of King Oeneus of Calydon. On their way to their new home, they encountered the river god Nessus, who offered to carry Deianira across the river. However, Nessus tried to rape her, and Hercules shot him with a poisoned arrow. Before dying, Nessus gave Deianira his blood-soaked shirt, telling her that it was a love charm that would keep Hercules faithful to her.

Years later, Deianira heard a rumor that Hercules was in love with another woman, Iole, the daughter of King Eurytus of Oechalia. She decided to use the shirt of Nessus to win back his love, and sent it to him as a gift. However, the shirt was tainted with the poison of the Hydra, and as soon as Hercules put it on, he felt an unbearable pain. He realized that he had been tricked by Nessus, and that he was dying. He asked his friends to build a funeral pyre for him, and he lay down on it, giving his bow and arrows to his son Philoctetes, asking him to light the fire. As the flames rose, a thunderbolt struck the pyre, and Hercules was lifted up to the sky by a cloud. He was welcomed by his father Zeus, who made him a god and gave him a place among the stars. He also reconciled with Hera, who gave him her daughter Hebe, the goddess of youth, as his wife.

Hercules became a symbol of strength, courage, and heroism and was worshipped by many people, especially by soldiers and athletes. He was also honored by the Romans, who called him Hercules and considered him a protector of their empire. Hercules remains one of the most popular and inspiring figures of ancient mythology.

Disney Live-Action Hercules Remake

As great as the Hercules animated movie was, there are many parts of it that are not mythologically accurate. This article will explain the mythological inaccuracies in Hercules. Disney is currently working on a live-action remake of Hercules, directed by Guy Ritchie, who also directed the live-action remake of Aladdin. Keep an eye out for it in 2024. To celebrate Disney’s Hercules, here are some videos you will enjoy (you might also enjoy our god page about Hercules):