More Mythology of Hercules
Hercules is probably the best known and greatest of all Greek heroes. His mother Alcmene, granddaughter of Perseus and Andromeda, was married to Amphitryon, but her beauty attracted the god Zeus and the two became lovers. She eventually gave birth to twin boys - Hercules, the son of Zeus, and Iphicles, his mortal half-brother, fathered by Amphitryon. Whilst still a baby, Hercules had to contend with the wrath of Hera, Zeus's wife. Angered at her husband's unfaithfulness, she decided that Hercules must be killed since he was visible proof of her humiliation. She sent two snakes to murder him as he lay in his crib, but such was Hercules' strength that he was able to strangle them both with his bare hands. Hercules grew to manhood and, as a reward for liberating Thebes, was married to Princess Megara, daughter of the king. But Hera, annoyed at his good fortune, succeeded in driving him temporarily insane and he killed his wife and children.