古希腊罗马神话2HeraclesRomanname:HerculesAncientGreekMythsforKidsHerculeswashalfmanandhalfgod.Hismotherwasamortal.Buthisfatherwasaking-averyspecialking,thekingofallthegods,themightyZeus.ButHerculesdidnotknowhewaspartgoduntilhehadgrownintoaman.Rightfromthebeginning,Hera,Zeus'wife,wasveryjealousofHercules.Shetriedallkindsofwaystokillhim,includingsendingacoupleofbigsnakesintohiscrib.Herculescrushedthosesnakesinaflash!Herculeswasincrediblystrong,evenasababy!Zeuslovedhislittleson.HefiguredthatsoonerorlaterHeramightactuallyfindawaytokilllittleHercules.Tokeephissmallsonsafefromattack,Zeussenthimtolivewithamortalfamilyonearth.Herculesgrewuplovedandnoble.Buthedidn'tfitinonearth.Hewastoobigandtoostrong.Oneday,hisearthfathertoldhimhewasagod,well,partgodanyway.TherestofthestoryofHerculesisabunchoflittlestoriesthattogethertellthetaleofhowHerculesearnedhiswayintotheheavens,totakehisplacewiththegods.Asthestorygoes.....HerculeshadacousinnamedEurystheus(Euryforshort).Eurywasthekingofalittlevillageinthecity-stateofArgos.Eurywasanevilman.Hethoughteveryonewantedtostealhiscrown,especiallyHercules.Oneday,whenHeraandEurywerechattingabouttheirmutualhatredforHercules,Heracameupwithaplan-aplantokillHercules!HerahelpedEurydesign12Labors(missionsortasks)thatHerculeshadtocomplete.Supposedly,whenHerculeshadcompletedthe12Labors,hewouldearnhisimmortality,orsoHerapromised.Butreally,HeraandEurywerecertainthatoneoftheir"labors"wouldsurelykillHercules,probablytheveryfirstone.Herculeswasnofool.HeaskedtheOracleatDelphiifthiswasasmartthingtodo.Theoracleagreedthatitwas.Actually,theoraclehadsaid,"Ifyoucomplete12Labors,immoralitywillbeyours."Beinganoracle,sheneverexplainedwhatshemeantby"immortality"-wouldheliveforeverinlegendorforreal?Herculesneverasked.(Shewouldnothavetoldhimanyway.)Herculesnotonlylived,hehadgreatadventures,discoveredtruefriends,andridtheworldofsomereallynastycritters.The12LaborsofHercules:AnAncientGreekMythforKidsThe1stLaborofHerculesTheNemeanLionTheNemeanLionhadhugeteeth,andskinsotoughthatitcouldnotbepiercedbyarrows.EveryoneinthelandofNemeanwasscaredtodeathofit.Manyhuntershadtriedtokillthebeast,butnonehadsucceeded.TheNemeanLionwasalsosmart.Severalhuntershadtriedtotrickitwithpoisonedmeat.Thelionneveratethemeat.Hedid,however,eatthehunters.Thelionwasstrong.ButHerculeswasstronger.Herculesluredthebeastintoatrapandstrangledit.Hemadeacoatoutofthelion'sfur.Heworethelion'sheadasahelmet.WiththecheersofthegratefulpeopleofNemeanringinginhisears,Herculesheadedforhome,delightedwithhisnewclothes.WhenKingEurysawthelion'sheadapproaching,hewentscreamingintohiscastle.IttookHerculesmostofonedaytoconvinceKingEurythatthelionwasdead.AnAncientGreekMythforKidsThe2ndLaborofHerculesTheLernaeanHydraHissecondlaborwastogetridoftheLernaeanHydra.TheHydrawasabigsnake,bigbigsnake.Ithadnineheads.Oneofitsheadswasimmortal-youcouldn'tkillit.KingEurymadeitquiteclearthathedidnotwantHerculesreturningwithanypartoftheserpent.Nosnakeskinbootsorhatorgloves.KingEuryandHerabothknewthatanyonewhoapproachedthemonster'sdenintheswampwaskilledbythemonster'spoisonousbreath.Herculesdidnothaveachance!ButHerculesluredthemonsteroutoftheswamp.Withthehelpofhisservant,Iolaus,heclubbedoffthemonster'snineheads.Heburnedthem.Butoneheadrefusedtodie.Itkeptcomingbacktolife.SoHerculescrushedthatheadandburieditdeepintheground,andtothisday,itwasneverseenagain.A...
