LP0055 - The Fables of Hercules - The life & death of a hero, from The Fables of Hyginus

Legendary Passages #0055 - The Fables of Hercules - The life & death of a hero, from The Fables of Hyginus. Last time we reviewed the Stymphalian Birds and the Erymanthian Boar. This passage covers the whole story of Hercules, from his conception and birth to his apotheosis. But first, the myth of the Aloadae, twin giants named Otos and Ephialtes. Sons or grandsons of Neptune, they dared challenge the gods, and planned to marry Juno and Diana. They were either killed by Apollo, or by each other. Anyway, Alcimena welcomed home her dear husband Amphitryon from his conquest of Oechalia. But it was in fact Jupiter, king of the gods, who extended the night and together they conceived Hercules. Next, a quick overview of the serpents in his crib and his twelve labors. Then a list of his other adventures: Antaeus, Busiris, Cygnus, Hesion, Prometheus, Lycus, Achelous, Neleus, Eurytus, Nessus, and the centaur Eurytion. Euyrtion desired to marry Dejanira, daughter of King Dexamenus, but Hercules killed him and married Dejanira himself. Then the centaur Nessus carried off Dejanira, but Hercules shot him with his hydra arrows. Dying, Nessus gave her a robe soaked in the hydra blood, and said the robe would keep her husband faithful. Finally, the beautiful princess Iole was captured by Hercules. Jealous, Dejanira gave the robe to her husband, discovering too late that it was poisoned, and Hercules began to burn. Water gave no relief, so a wooden pyre was built. In exchange for his hydra arrows, Philoctetes set the wood aflame. The mortal form of Hercules was burned away. And his wife Dejanira, succumbed to grief. Next time, the stories of Thebes and Thespius. http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html#28 The Fables of Hercules, a Legendary Passage, from The Fables of Hyginus, translated by Mary Grant. Fables [28] - [36] XXVIII. OTOS AND EPHIALTES Otos and Ephialtes, sons of Aloeus and Iphimede, . . . daughter [of Neptune], are said to have been of extraordinary size. They each grew nine inches every month, and so when they were nine years old, they tried to climb into heaven. They began this way: they placed Mount Ossa on Pelion (from this Mount Ossa is also called Pelion), and were piling up other mountains. But they were discovered by Apollo and killed. Other writers, however, say that they were invulnerable sons of Neptunus and Iphimede. When they wished to assault Diana, she could not resist their strength, and Apollo sent a deer between them. Driven mad by anger in trying to kill it with javelins, they killed each other. In the Land of the Dead they are said to suffer this punishment: they are bound by serpents to a column, back to back. Between them is a screech-owl, sitting on the column to which they are bound. XXIX. ALCIMENA When Amphitryon was away subduing Oechalia, Alcimena, thinking Jove was her husband, received him in her chamber. When he had entered her room, and told her what he had done in Oechalia, she lay with him, thinking he was her husband. He lay with her with so much pleasure that he spent one day and doubled two nights, so that Alcimena wondered at such a long night. Later when the word came to her that her husband was at hand, a victor, she showed no concern, because she thought she had already seen her husband. When Amphitryon came into the palace, and saw her carelessly unconcerned, he began to wonder and to complain that she did not welcome him when he appeared. Alcimena replied: You already came and lay with me, and told me what you had done in Oechalia. When she had given him all the evidence, Amphitryon realized that some divinity had assumed his form, and from that day did not lie with her. But she, from the embrace of Jove, bore Hercules. XXX. TWELVE LABORS OF HERCULES ORDERED BY EURYSTHEUS When he was an infant, he strangled with his two hands the two snakes which Juno had sent – whence his name, Primigenius. The Nemean Lion, an invulnerable monster, which Luna had nourished in a two-mouthed cave,