Myth and Religion: Heracles (GREEK)

Question 1

What were the names of Heracles’ parents?

Answer 1

Zeus and Alcmene

Question 2

Who was Alcmene’s husband (Heracles’ mortal ‘adoptive’ father)?

Answer 2

Amphitryon

Question 3

Of which city was Eurystheus the king?

Answer 3

Mycenae

Question 4

Name TWO ways in which Hera tried to kill Heracles in his youth.

Answer 4

1) Hera asked her daughter, Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, to prolong Alcmene’s childbirth so that Heracles would die.
2) Hera sent two snakes to poison Heracles (which he strangled).

Question 5

Name Heracles’ first wife.

Answer 5

Megara

Question 6

Why did Heracles kill Megara and their children?

Answer 6

Hera sent the goddess Madness to drive him insane.

Question 7

Why did Heracles become a slave to King Eurystheus?

Answer 7

Because the oracle at Delphi, controlled by Hera, told him he must in order to atone for killing Megara and his children.

Question 8

Which SIX of Heracles’ labours happened in the Peloponnese?

Answer 8

1. The Nemean Lion
2. The Lernaean Hydra
3. The golden Hind
4. The Erymanthian boar
5. The Augean stables
6. The Stymphalian birds

Question 9

Which FOUR of Heracles’ labours happened at the four points of the compass?

Answer 9

7. SOUTH: The Cretan bull (Crete)
8. NORTH: The mares of Diomedes (Thrace)
9. EAST: The Belt of Hippolyte (Black Sea)
10. WEST: The Cattle of Geryon (Spain)

Question 10

Which TWO of Heracles’ labours involved regions beyond the edges of the earth?

Answer 10

11. The Apples of the Hesperides

12. Fetching Cerberus from the underworld

Question 11

On which TWO tasks did Eurystheus accuse Heracles of cheating (hence two more were added to the original ten)?

Answer 11

The Lernaean hydra (Heracles had help from his cousin Iolaus)
The Augean stables (he asked for payment from King Augeas for the task)

Question 12

Which story was shown on the EAST pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia?

Answer 12

The chariot race of Pelops and Oinomaos

Question 13

How did Pelops make sure he would win the race against Oinomaos?

Answer 13

He bribed Oinomaos’ charioteer to replace the linchpins of the wheels with wax substitutes.

Question 14

What was Pelops’ prize for winning the race against Oinomaos?

Answer 14

Oinomaos’ daughter, Hippodamia.

Question 15

Which TWO stories did the Greeks tell to explain the origins of the Olympic games?

Answer 15

1) Pelops set them up in honour of Oinomaos as funerary games.
2) King Augeas refused to pay Heracles after he had cleaned the Augean stables; Heracles conquered Elis with an army in revenge and celebrated his victory by setting up the Olympic Games.

Question 16

Where could Heracles’ labours be found on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia?

Answer 16

On twelve metopes, six above the front entrance, and six above the back entrance.