Herakles: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Mythology=== | ===Mythology=== | ||
Herakles' most famous weapon was his [[Club of Herakles|club]], a branch of a wild [[olive]] [[Olive Tree of Herakles|tree]] in [[Argolis]]. This was taken and hidden from him by the mischievous [[Cercopes]], and the club was said to have sprouted roots and leaves when it hit the ground.<ref | Herakles' most famous weapon was his [[Club of Herakles|club]], a branch of a wild [[olive]] [[Olive Tree of Herakles|tree]] in [[Argolis]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Argolis|Argolis: Olive Tree of Herakles]]</ref> This was taken and hidden from him by the mischievous [[Cercopes]], and the club was said to have sprouted roots and leaves when it hit the ground.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – [[Historical Locations#Argolis|Argolis: Club of Herakles]]</ref> | ||
Among his many adventures, the most famous were the [[Labours of Hercules|Twelve Labours]]. These included the slaying of the [[Nemean Lion]], the [[Lernaean Hydra]], the [[Stymphalian birds]], and the capture of the [[Hind of Keryneia]], the [[Erymanthian Boar]], the [[Kretan Bull]] and [[Cerberus]].<ref name="ACOd" /> The fifth labor required him to cleanse the [[Stable of Augeias]] in [[Elis]]<ref name="ACOd" />, while the eleventh labor required him to steal the [[Apples of Eden|apples]] from the garden of the {{Wiki|Hesperides}}.<ref name="Glyph 1">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]]: [[Glyphs#1|In the Beginning]]</ref> In some of these, most notably with the Hydra, Herakles was aided by his nephew [[Iolaos]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | Among his many adventures, the most famous were the [[Labours of Hercules|Twelve Labours]]. These included the slaying of the [[Nemean Lion]], the [[Lernaean Hydra]], the [[Stymphalian birds]], and the capture of the [[Hind of Keryneia]], the [[Erymanthian Boar]], the [[Kretan Bull]] and [[Cerberus]].<ref name="ACOd" /> The fifth labor required him to cleanse the [[Stable of Augeias]] in [[Elis]]<ref name="ACOd" />, while the eleventh labor required him to steal the [[Apples of Eden|apples]] from the garden of the {{Wiki|Hesperides}}.<ref name="Glyph 1">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]]: [[Glyphs#1|In the Beginning]]</ref> In some of these, most notably with the Hydra, Herakles was aided by his nephew [[Iolaos]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
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In classical antiquity the [[Crete|Kretan]] town of [[Heraklion]]<ref name="ACOd" /> and the [[Egypt]]ian city of [[Herakleion]] were named after him.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | In classical antiquity the [[Crete|Kretan]] town of [[Heraklion]]<ref name="ACOd" /> and the [[Egypt]]ian city of [[Herakleion]] were named after him.<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | ||
In 5th century BCE Herakles was widely celebrated all over Greece, whether by word of mouth or as statues and in murals. A tradition held that the island of [[Mykonos]] was built from the petrified corpses of [[Giant]]s slain by Herakles, and in [[Elis]], a [[Statue of Herakles|statue]] of him watched over the [[Sacred Way, Elis|Sacred Way]]. In Argolis, not only was the olive tree his club had come from revered, but the [[Sinkholes of Herakles|southern region]], full of sinkholes, was regarded as his.<ref name="ACOd" /> | In 5th century BCE Herakles was widely celebrated all over Greece, whether by word of mouth or as statues and in murals. A tradition held that the island of [[Mykonos]] was built from the petrified corpses of [[Giant]]s slain by Herakles,<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Mykonos|Mykonos: Mykonos City]]</ref> <ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Trouble in Paradise]]</ref> and in [[Elis]], a [[Statue of Herakles|statue]] of him watched over the [[Sacred Way, Elis|Sacred Way]]. In Argolis, not only was the olive tree his club had come from revered, but the [[Sinkholes of Herakles|southern region]], full of sinkholes, was regarded as his.<ref name="ACOd" /> | ||
Of special note is the island of [[Thasos]], wherein Herakles was considered the most important of the Greek pantheon, and called ''Soter'', the savior. He was celebrated as the protector of the [[Thasos City|city]], and his image was minted on Thasian coins.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Historical Locations#Thasos|Thasos: Temple of Herakles]]</ref> | |||
In 48 BCE, a [[gladius]] named [[Hercules' Gladius]] was reputedly the very [[sword]] he used to kill the Hydra although [[Rome|Roman]] swords did not exist in his lifetime.<ref name="ACO" /> | In 48 BCE, a [[gladius]] named [[Hercules' Gladius]] was reputedly the very [[sword]] he used to kill the Hydra although [[Rome|Roman]] swords did not exist in his lifetime.<ref name="ACO" /> | ||
Revision as of 11:17, 30 September 2019
| This article is about the Greek hero. You may be looking for the Animus mod. |
Herakles, also known by Hercules in Roman mythology, was a legendary Greek hero. The demi-god son of Zeus, Herakles was born to Alcmene and was the half-brother of Perseus, as well as his great-grandson.
He is renowned in Greek mythology for the completion of his Twelve labours.
Biography
Mythology
Herakles' most famous weapon was his club, a branch of a wild olive tree in Argolis.[1] This was taken and hidden from him by the mischievous Cercopes, and the club was said to have sprouted roots and leaves when it hit the ground.[2]
Among his many adventures, the most famous were the Twelve Labours. These included the slaying of the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Stymphalian birds, and the capture of the Hind of Keryneia, the Erymanthian Boar, the Kretan Bull and Cerberus.[3] The fifth labor required him to cleanse the Stable of Augeias in Elis[3], while the eleventh labor required him to steal the apples from the garden of the Hesperides.[4] In some of these, most notably with the Hydra, Herakles was aided by his nephew Iolaos.[3]
Herakles was also known to be enemies with the queen of the gods, Hera. Hera resented Herakles due to him being another illegitimate child of Zeus, the result of him seeing another woman behind Hera's back. As such, she set out to make Herakles' life as miserable as possible. She once sent two snakes to kill him when he was a baby, but he squeezed them to death. When he was older and had a wife and children, she drove him mad and made him attack his family. He was forced to do the famous Twelve Labours as a form of repentance.
On one occasion, Herakles became poisoned by one of his own arrows which eroded his own flesh. As such, he tore the tallest trees from their roots that he could find and built his funeral pyre before dying from the poison.[5]
Simulation
In a simulation created by the Isu Aletheia, Herakles's soul resided in a vault connected to a fort in Tartaros. During the Peloponnesian War, he met the Spartan misthios Kassandra, who was sent by Hades to recruit him as a guardian of Tartaros. After being defeated by Kassandra, Herakles agreed and travelled to the Gate of the Strong to defend it.[6]
Influence and legacy
In classical antiquity the Kretan town of Heraklion[3] and the Egyptian city of Herakleion were named after him.[7]
In 5th century BCE Herakles was widely celebrated all over Greece, whether by word of mouth or as statues and in murals. A tradition held that the island of Mykonos was built from the petrified corpses of Giants slain by Herakles,[8] [9] and in Elis, a statue of him watched over the Sacred Way. In Argolis, not only was the olive tree his club had come from revered, but the southern region, full of sinkholes, was regarded as his.[3]
Of special note is the island of Thasos, wherein Herakles was considered the most important of the Greek pantheon, and called Soter, the savior. He was celebrated as the protector of the city, and his image was minted on Thasian coins.[10]
In 48 BCE, a gladius named Hercules' Gladius was reputedly the very sword he used to kill the Hydra although Roman swords did not exist in his lifetime.[7]
Trivia
- Ercole Massimo's family was said to have originated from the union of Hercules and an unnamed nymph. [11]
- The name Herakles (Ἡρακλῆς ) means 'Glory of Hera' which he took in an attempt to appease the goddess; his birth name is recorded as Alcaeus (Ἀλκαῖος) or alternatively Alcides, formed by the Greek word for 'strength' (Ἀλκα) appended by a patronymic.
- In some stories, Herakles is counted among the Argonauts.
- One of Layla Hassan's Animus modifications enabled an avatar based on the mythical hero to become a lieutenant aboard Kassandra's ship, the Adrestia.
- In the Tartaros part of the simulation of Hades, Herakles is shown wearing a variant of the Arena Fighter's Set but with unique torso and waist armour.
Gallery
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Statue of Herakles in Elis -
-
Herakles stealing the apple from the Garden of the Hesperides -
A relief depicting 2nd of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 3rd of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 4th of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 5th of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 7th of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 8th of Herakles' labours -
A relief depicting 11th of Herakles' labours -
Herakles at the Gate of the Strong
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed II (painting only)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (artwork only)
- The Fate of Atlantis: Torment of Hades (simulation only)
References
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Argolis: Olive Tree of Herakles
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Argolis: Club of Herakles
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedACOd - ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph: In the Beginning
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Fate of Atlantis: Torment of Hades
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Fate of Atlantis: Torment of Hades – The Underworld's Fallen Guardians
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Mykonos: Mykonos City
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Trouble in Paradise
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Thasos: Temple of Herakles
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Disappearance – Database: Ercole Massimo