LP0053 - The Thirteenth Labor - The Life & Labors of Heracles, from Tzetzes' Chiliades

Legendary Passages #0053 - The Thirteenth Labor - The Life & Labors of Heracles, from Tzetzes' Chiliades. Last time we reviewed the Augean Stables, and Heracles' later attack on the kingdom. This time we hear the first half of a sort of ancient encyclopedia entry on Heracles, covering his early adventures and labors. First, the origin of Heracles' mother Alcmene, and her encounter with Zeus. When she was about to give birth, Zeus decreed that the next born descendant of Perseus would rule as king, but that turned out to be Eurystheus instead. Heracles grew up to be a strong young man, but when he killed his music teacher, he was sent away into the countryside. In defense of his cows, he kills the Cithaeronian Lion and wears its skin. Meanwhile, he accomplishes what some authors call his thirteenth labor, and sleeps with the fifty daughters of Thespeus. Heracles returns to Thebes, kills King Erginus, ends the tribute to the Minyans, and marries Princess Megara. But he goes mad and kills their children, and agrees to serve King Erystheus to absolve him of this crime. He accomplishes many labors: The Nemean Lion, The Learnean Hydra, The Ceryneian Hind, The Erymanthian Boar, The Augean Stables, The Stymphalian Birds, The Cretan Bull, The Mares of Diomedes, and retrieving The Girdle of Hippolyta from the Amazons. The passage continues, but must wait for a future episode. Next time we review the labors of The Birds and the Boar. http://www.theoi.com/Text/TzetzesChiliades2.html#4 The Thirteenth Labor, a Legendary Passage, from Tzetzes' Chiliades, translated by Gary Berkowitz. Book 2 [157] - [320] 2.4 CONCERNING HERACLES (STORY 36) Heracles, the son of Alcmene, belonged to Amphitryon. By one account, he was called Amphitryon's son, But in truth, he was the son of Zeus, a lord, and astrologer. With regard to how they used to call all kings Zeuses, I spoke. This Zeus, having mingled, even, with women that met him, Women who they also call mortals, made offspring from them. That they used to call the women that met him mortals, And queens goddesses, even Ptolemy writes In his Tetrabiblos, writing to Syrus: "As many men as have an Aphrodite belonging to their family, Are mingling with such divine and eminent destinies." And so that magic astrologer king Had, from different women, countless children. When, because of Zeus, both Alcmene was at the time of parturition, And about to bear a son Heracles to Zeus then, And Archippe was pregnant then to Zeus Except that the child, Eurystheus, was going to be the result of an incomplete seven-month birth, That king Zeus, the great astrologer, Then alone had been deceived. For seeing the stars All being well, and in kingly places, And knowing that Alcmene was pregnant for nine months, And that it was then the time for the baby's birth, Not having considered beforehand whether even then the baby was born, Or Alcmene kept in the one, but the other was born incomplete, Looking away to only the stars belonging to his family, Gods wise and ruling, this thing (Zeus says) I am speaking forth: "The son who today was born mortal from my wife, My queen, is going to take the scepter, And rule all those born to me and to my mortal women." In this way he spoke, thinking that Heracles was born. But when this great-bodied son was being born, And was surrounding all of the air of his mother, Which they even said was the power of Hera  that belonged to his family, Rather, since even Iphicles was being brought forth with Heracles, Alcmene, in sore travail after some days Gave birth in the tenth month. But Archippe then Gave birth to a seven month baby in the time of kingly stars. His name was Eurystheus, and for the rest of the time he was a lord over Heracles. But in this way I allegorized rather learnedly; And now I will speak more ethically in the manner of orators. There was a Zeus, a king, childless because of custom, But having mistresses, in Alcmene and Archippe, who were pregnant. Alcmene was to bir