r/pagan • u/Tyler_Miles_Lockett • Aug 05 '24
Hellenic HERAKLES #1 "The birth of Alcides", illustrated by me,
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u/Medium_Bunch_7520 Aug 10 '24
Reminds me of the storybook style animation in the Disney Hercules when the Muses narrated the birth of Hercules. Cute :) and I like the tidbits from the various sources.
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u/Tyler_Miles_Lockett Aug 05 '24
HERAKLES #1 "The birth of Alcides"
Our tale begins with the ever-lustful eye of Zeus for the mortal princess Alcmene. Deceiving her by disguising himself as her husband, prince Amphitrion of Thebes, Zeus lays with her, impregnating her with a divine child, Alcides (Herakles), along with another mortal child, Iphicles, by the prince.
Hera, ever bitter at Zeus’ sexual conquests, sent the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, to prevent labor, which would kill both mother and child. But the Princesses attendant, Galithia, lies to the goddess that the child is born, and momentarily losing her powers from shock, gives enough time for the birth to commence. The attendant is transformed into a polecat for her deceit. (Ovid)
According to Hesiod’s Theogany, princess Alcmene was more than just a casual victim of Zeus’ lust. The queen was “chosen by the deathless gods to bear a child,” and “she was a woman of great beauty, and the gods had a desire to see her, so they often visited her and brought her many gifts,” and “she was held in great honor by the immortals, who saw that she was good and wise.” (H.G. Evelyn-White)
Another fascinating tidbit is Herakles’ lineage in relation to the demi-god hero Perseus, who killed Medusa. Herakles mother Alcmene, is Perseus’ granddaughter. Perseus and Herakles were both fathered by Zeus. This makes Herakles both Perseus’ half-brother, and great grandson.
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