12希腊神话赫拉克勒斯.ppt

Chapter8 Stories of Heracles 蔡海燕 goddy0223@163.com Today’s content: I. Heracles’ Birth and Early years II. The Twelve?Labors of Heracles III. His Further adventures IV. His Death and Afterlife I. Heracles’ Birth and Early years Heracles is probably the most known Greek hero. Heracles very existence proved at least one of Zeus many illicit affairs, and Hera often conspired against Zeus mortal offspring as revenge for her husbands infidelities. Therefore, a major factor in the well-known tragedies surrounding Heracles is the hatred that the?goddess?Hera had for him. Heracles was the son of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman?Alcmene (a grandchild of Perseus). Zeus?made love to her after disguising himself as her husband,?Amphitryon, home early from war. Amphitryon did return later the same night, and Alcmene became pregnant. She carried twins sired by different fathers. ? Heracles and the?Milky Way Fear of Heras revenge led Alcmene to expose the infant Heracles in a field. Someone said, Heracles was taken up and brought to Hera by his half-sister?Athena, who played an important role as protectress of heroes. Hera did not recognize Heracles and nursed him out of pity. Heracles suckled so strongly that he caused Hera pain, and she pushed him away. Her milk sprayed across the heavens and there formed the Milky Way. Others believed it was Hermes that brought baby Hercules to Olympus and that Zeus himself laid him at Heras breast while she slept. The Milky Way was formed when startled she awoke and pushed him away, or when the strong little guy greedily sucked more milk than his mouth would hold, and coughed it up. Heracles Strangles the Serpents He and his twin were just eight months old when Hera sent two giant snakes into the childrens chamber. Iphicles cried from fear, but his brother grabbed a snake in each hand and strangled them. He was found by his nurse playing with them on his cot as if they were toys. Astonished, Amphitryon sent for the seer, who