Heracles with wife and child

Heracles was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Alcmene.

Zeus’s wife Hera hated Heracles as he was a constant reminder of her husband’s infidelity. Throughout Heracles life Hera tried many times to kill him and/or ruin his life. As a child she sent two snakes into his bed to kill him, however Heracles strangled the snakes before they could do him harm. When Heracles was an adult and married with children, Hera caused him to lose his mind and during that state he killed his family. When he came to and realised what he had done he went to the Oracle to ask how he could make up for what he’s done. Heracles was then assigned the twelve labours.

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