Hercules Grows to Manhood
Hercules was
well educated by many experts as he grew up. While serving as a shepherd he was involved with various adventures in his
youth. Through a series of incidents,
Hercules ended up freeing Thebes his native city, from tribute and humiliation after the populace was defeated by a
neighboring king. He, along with fellow
citizens, defeated the enemies of Thebes and returned power back to Creon as king. In gratitude, Creon gave Hercules his daughter
Megara in marriage. This union produced
three sons.
While
Hercules was out of town, Creon died suspiciously and his throne was usurped by an outsider, Lycus. Hercules returned unexpectedly
and after learning what was going
on, killed Lycus. During the celebratory rejoicing that followed, Hera, perpetrator of all these events, struck Hercules with a
fit of madness and he became deranged.
In the throws of this madness, he seized a bow and shot Megara & his three sons. Athena (Minerva) struck him senseless with a
rock, ending the bloodletting.
It was this event that put Hercules on the path of his many labors…
The
murders caused Hercules to leave Thebes. After consulting the Oracle of
Delphi, he proceeded to Tiryns,
under the control of King Eurystheus. It was to this king he pledged to do as demanded in retribution for his
misdeeds. Eurysthenus enjoined upon
Hercules a series of desperate adventures, called the ‘Twelve Labors of Hercules’. Three of import to constellations in myth
will be recounted here.