Heracles is known as Hercules in Greek mythology and stands out as a symbol of strength and bravery. This legendary hero is not only famous for his mighty labors but also for his remarkable family tree. Tracing Hercules’ genealogy is essential to understanding the divine and mortal elements that define his character.
Table of Contents
Hercules’ Parents and Birth
Hercules was the son of Zeus, the almighty king of the Greek gods and goddesses, who ruled from Mount Olympus, and Alcmene, a mortal woman. This blend of divine and human elements made Hercules a demigod, setting him apart from ordinary mortals and gods alike. Zeus, disguised as Alcmene’s husband, Amphitryon, visited her, and Hercules was conceived.
Alcmene, Hercules’ mother, was already married to Amphitryon and had a son, Iphicles, making Hercules and Iphicles twin brothers with different fathers. This unusual birth was not just a matter of lineage but also of divine intervention and mythological significance. Alcmene’s husband, Amphitryon, was himself a well-known figure in Greek mythology, often depicted as a hero who participated in important quests like the Calydonian Boar Hunt.
The circumstances of Hercules’ birth were surrounded by prophecies and omens. Hera, Zeus’ wife, knew of Zeus’s infidelity and harbored a deep resentment towards Hercules. She tried to kill Hercules by sending two snakes into his crib. However, the infant Hercules displayed his god-like strength by strangling the snakes, a sign of his future as a formidable hero.
Divine Relatives of Hercules
Hercules’ connections to the divine aren’t limited to his father, Zeus. His family ties extend throughout the Olympian gods, making his family tree one of the most illustrious in Greek mythology. Hera, despite her hostility, is his stepmother. Other notable relatives include Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, both of whom share Zeus as a father.
READ MORE: Zeus Family Tree: The Family Tree of the King of the Gods
Apart from his immediate family, Hercules’ divine relations had significant impacts on various myths and legends. For example, his cousin, Perseus, another famed hero in Greek mythology who also descended from Zeus, shows the recurring theme of Zeus’s offspring playing roles in Greek mythology. Hercules also had connections through marriage, such as his wife Deianeira, whose lineage included gods and heroes, thus further intertwining the divine with the mortal.
Perhaps the most significant and tumultuous relationship is with Goddess Hera, who, despite being his stepmother, frequently antagonized him. Hera’s relentless vendetta against Hercules, which began with her attempt to kill him with snakes when he was just a baby, underscores her role as a source of conflict.
This ongoing struggle highlights the theme of madness and punishment that recurs in Hercules’ life, as Hera’s wrath often drives him to the brink, most notably causing the madness that leads him to kill his own family tragically. This act set the stage for his famous Twelve Labours, which were not only atonements but also Hera’s way of both tormenting and unwittingly sculpting Hercules into the quintessential hero in Greek mythology.
On a more supportive note, Hercules’ interactions with other divine figures often provided him with the necessary aid and companionship to navigate his challenges. His nephew Iolaus, for example, was not only a loyal companion but instrumental in some of Hercules’ labors, such as helping him defeat the Hydra.
Additionally, figures like the god Dionysus, who shared a common lineage as a son of Zeus, occasionally crossed paths with Hercules.
READ MORE: Dionysus Family Tree: The Lineage of the Greek God of Wine
His feats, often seen as efforts to protect the mortal world from supernatural threats, like the Nemean Lion and the Erymanthian Boar, also solidified his reputation across Greece and beyond. Notably, his involvement in significant mythological events such as the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece and aiding Theseus to obtain freedom from the underworld remains central.
READ MORE: Jason and the Argonauts: The Myth of the Golden Fleece
Mortal Relatives of Hercules
His stepfather, Amphitryon, plays a crucial role in the early part of Hercules’ story. Amphitryon, a celebrated warrior and king of Tiryns and later of Thebes, was renowned for his military exploits, which included leading an expedition against the Taphians and Teleboans.
His marriage to Alcmene, Hercules’ mother, before Hercules’ miraculous birth, sets the stage for the familial dynamics that define much of Hercules’ life. This mortal parentage places Hercules in a unique position within Greek mythology, where he bridges the gap between the divine and the human, embodying traits from both realms.
Hercules also had a close but complicated relationship with his half-brother Iphicles, who was Alcmene’s son with Amphitryon. Unlike Hercules, Iphicles did not inherit any divine powers.
Despite their different fathers, Iphicles and Hercules grew up together, shared many adventures, and supported each other during various military campaigns, including the battle against the Molionides.
Other notable relatives through marriage and descent include figures like Eurystheus, who was famously responsible for assigning Hercules’ Twelve Labors. Eurystheus’ lineage as a descendant of Perseus, another demigod, intertwines the fates of two of Greece’s greatest heroes.
Moreover, Hercules’ descendants, such as Hyllus, the eldest of the children Hercules had with Deianeira, continued his legacy. Hyllus and the other sons of Hercules attempted to reclaim their father’s homeland, leading to the establishment of dynasties in places like Sparta, Argos, and Mycenae.
Wife, Marriage, and Other Romantic Relationships
Hercules’ first marriage was to Megara, the daughter of King Creon of Thebes. This union was both a reward and a consolidation of Hercules’ heroic efforts to protect Thebes from surrounding enemies. Megara and Hercules’ marriage, marked by the birth of several children, symbolizes a brief period of domestic stability for Hercules, whose life was otherwise dominated by turmoil and adventures.
However, this peace was short-lived due to the vengeful actions of Hera, who struck Hercules with a sudden fit of madness. Tragically, under the influence of this divine-induced insanity, Hercules killed his own children and, in some versions of the myth, Megara as well.
Following the devastating loss of his family, Hercules’ life was filled with numerous other romantic engagements and marriages. One of the most significant was his marriage to Deianira, the daughter of King Oeneus of Calydon, who became an integral part of Hercules’ later life. Their marriage began promisingly, with Hercules winning Deianira’s hand by saving her from a centaur named Nessus.
However, this relationship was also doomed to end in tragedy. Nessus, before dying, tricked Deianira into believing that his blood would ensure Hercules’ fidelity. Deianira later used the blood on a robe, not knowing it was poisoned. When Hercules wore the robe, it caused him unbearable pain, leading to his eventual death by self-immolation on a funeral pyre. This marriage, like his first, emphasizes the recurring motifs of deception, betrayal, and sacrifice in Hercules’ relationships.
Apart from his marriages, Hercules had encounters with various other women, both mortal and immortal. His numerous exploits led to liaisons that often resulted in offspring, who would go on to found royal lineages or become heroes themselves.
Hercules’ Offspring: Divine and Mortal
Hercules’ children, scattered across the Greek world, often represent Hercules’ physical prowess and heroism. Many of his sons, such as those with Megara and others born from unions that tales less often recount, became important figures in various local legends, embodying Hercules’ characteristics and often continuing his battles against tyranny or monstrous foes.
The widespread nature of his progeny in myths helps join the fabric of Greek mythology, with strands reaching as far as Egypt and the Mycenaean kingdoms.
Hercules’ children with Deianira, including Hyllus, are particularly noteworthy. Hyllus, and other sons like Ctesippus, Glenus, and Oneites, are often referred to as the Heraclidae, who attempted to reclaim their father’s dominion in the Peloponnese.
Additionally, Hercules is said to have fathered other significant figures in various myths, contributing to his reputation as a progenitor of heroes. For instance, through less formal unions, he fathered Telamon, who joined the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece.
Each of these children, from different mothers and regions, undoubtedly reigns as a symbol of Hercules’ influence across Greece and serves as an extension of his heroic attributes. Their stories were passed down through generations and were recounted by historians like Herodotus and in epics like the Iliad and Odyssey.
Wrapping Up the Hercules Family Tree
Hercules was not just about the brawn; his family connections put him smack in the middle of some of the biggest mythological tales, packed with heroics, heartache, and a dash of redemption.
He really embodies what it means to be a hero — not just in how tough he was, but in how he handled the crazy cards he was dealt. As a result, Hercules’s story, proportional to his family, is a symbol of guts, glory, and grappling with fate, making him a favorite in the world of ancient Greek myths.
References
Apollodorus. Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Includes Frazer’s notes.
Pharsalia. M. Annaeus Lucanus. Sir Edward Ridley. London. Longmans, Green, and Co. 1905.
Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.
Moschus. The Greek Bucolic Poets. J. M. (John Maxwell) Edmonds. William Heinemann; G. P. Putnam’s Sons. London; New York. 1919. Keyboarding.
“Hercules,” in The Classical Tradition (Harvard University Press, 2010), p. 426.