LP0003x - The Son of Amphitryon - A summary of Heracles from E. M. Berens' Handbook of Mythology

Legendary Passages #0003x - The Son of Amphitryon - A summary of Heracles from E. M. Berens' Handbook of Mythology.     Last time we reviewed the origin of Heracles. This time we would be covering an alternate translation of the Library of Apollodorus, but as it happens, none could be found. So instead we shall cover a public domain mythology book covering the early days of Heracles.     First the text covers events from last episode. Heracles is born and abandoned, nursed by Hera, and strangles snakes.     Growing up, Heracles has many tutors. Once, he made a mistake and Linus, his music teacher, smacked him. Angry, he killed him, and was sent away into the countryside.     Alone in the forest, two young women named Vice and Virtue approached him. Later, he killed the Cithaeron Lion and took up its mantle.     After killing Erginus, King of the Minyans, Heracles learned that his father Amphitryon had died in the battle.     Lastly we come to Eurystheus. As Heracles' mother went into labor, Zeus announced that the next grandson of Perseus to be born would inherit his kingdom. So Hera delayed his birth, and Eurystheus was born next, and grew up to became High King. When Eurystheus ordered his cousin to perform labors, Heracles fell into depression, and then madness, killing his own children. Having nothing left to lose, we went to work for Eurystheus. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22381/22381-h/22381-h.htm#page234 The Son of Amphitryon, a Legendary Passage, from the Myths & Legends of Greece & Rome, written by E. M. Berens. PART II.—LEGENDS. Heracles, 234     Heracles, the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus.     At the time of his birth Alcmene was living at Thebes with her husband Amphitryon, and thus the infant Heracles was born in the palace of his stepfather.     Aware of the animosity with which Hera persecuted all those who rivaled her in the affections of Zeus, Alcmene, fearful lest this hatred should be visited on her innocent child, entrusted him, soon after his birth, to the care of a faithful servant, with instructions to expose him in a certain field, and there leave him, feeling assured that the divine offspring of Zeus would not long remain without the protection of the gods.     Soon after the child had been thus abandoned, Hera and Pallas-Athene happened to pass by the field, and were attracted by its cries. Athene pityingly took up the infant in her arms, and prevailed upon the queen of heaven to put it to her breast; but no sooner had she done so, than the child, causing her pain, she angrily threw him to the ground, and left the spot. Athene, moved with compassion, carried him to Alcmene, and entreated her kind offices on behalf of the poor little foundling. Alcmene at once recognized her child, and joyfully accepted the charge.     Soon afterwards Hera, to her extreme annoyance, discovered whom she had nursed, and became filled with jealous rage. She now sent two venomous snakes into the chamber of Alcmene, which crept, unperceived by the nurses, to the cradle of the sleeping child. He awoke with a cry, and grasping a snake in each hand, strangled them both. Alcmene and her attendants, whom the cry of the child had awakened, rushed to the cradle, where, to their astonishment and terror, they beheld the two reptiles dead in the hands of the infant Heracles. Amphitryon was also attracted to the chamber by the commotion, and when he beheld this astounding proof of supernatural strength, he declared that the child must have been sent to him as a special gift from Zeus. He accordingly consulted the famous seer Tiresias, who now informed him of the divine origin of his stepson, and prognosticated for him a great and distinguished future.     When Amphitryon heard the noble destiny which awaited the child entrusted to his ca