
Hercules and Atalanta Two great heroes of Greek mythology
Hercules • The greatest hero in Greece • Strongest man on Earth • Gods needed his help multiple times • Hera killed him with magic • Not very smart • Born in Thebes
Hercules’s Emotions • Hercules had very powerful emotions • Killed his music teacher with a lute • Because of this he killed his family • Hera’s fault • Hercules tried to kill himself • An oracle told him to visit his cousin • He had Hercules do 12 impossible labors
The Labors of Hercules • The first labor was to kill the Lion of Nemea • The second labor was to kill the Hydra • The third labor was to bring back a stag with horns of gold • The fourth labor was to capture a great boar • The fifth labor was to clean the Augean stables • The sixth labor was to drive away Stymphalian birds
The Labors Continued • The seventh labor was to bring back the savage bull from Crete • The eight labor was to get the man eating mares of Thrace • The ninth labor was to get the girdle of Hippolyta. • The tenth labor was to bring back the cattle of Geryon
Labors 11 and 12 • The eleventh labor was to bring back the golden apples of Hesperides. • The twelfth labor was to bring back the Cerberus .
Atalanta • Raised by a she-bear • No liking for men except for companions in hunting • Determined never to marry • Eventually declared to marrywhoever could beat her in a foot race
The Golden Apples • Many men challenged Atalanta to race • The last man, Melanion, had possession of three golden apples • He threw the apples one by one, each time a little more to the side • Atalanta couldn’t help but pause and pick them up • She was to marry him
Childhood • Dad wanted a son • Decided she wasn’t worth raising • Left her on a mountain to die • She bear took her in • She was found by kindly hunters as a child