Character
Heracles: Heracles was one of the Greatest Heroes in Greek Mythology . His parents were Zeus and Alcmene. (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d) It was said that as an act of hatred in which Hera had for Heracles , she drove him mad, and caused him to slaughter his wife and kids. (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d) As a result, his punishment was to complete the 12 labors given to the Greek Hero by his cousin Eurystheus. (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d)
Cerberus : Cerberus was famously known as the three headed dog with its back covered with snake heads and a snake like tail that guards the gateway to the underworld. (Greek Mythology Creature n.d ) It was the child of Typhon and Echinda . (Greek Mythology Creature n.d)
Eumolpus : Eumolpus was known as the priest who taught Heracles how to safely enter the other world after death. (Trckova-Flamee 2002) His parents were Poseidon and Chione. (Trckova-Flamee 2002)
Gorgon Medusa: Medusa belonged to the gorgon sisters. (Gill 2011) One of her most noticeable features included the hair filled with snakes. (Gill 2011) Legend had it that Medusa had the power to turn people into stones, if they were to look her directly in the eyes. (Gill 2011) The Greek hero Perseus was the one who eventually killed the monster. (Gill 2011)
Meleager . Meleager was the son of King Oeneus and the brother of Deianeira. (Greek Mythology n.d)
Deianeria: Deianeria was the daughter of King Oeneus and the sister of Meleager. She was also the wife of Heracles. (Grimal 1996)
Theseus : Theseus was known as the king of Athens. (Churchill 2005) Some myth states that he was the son of Aegeus and Aethra while others believed that he was the son of the sea god Poseidon and Aethra. (Churchill 2005)
Pirithous :Pirithous’ father is Ixion. (Brittanica 2011) He was famous for accompanying and helping Theseus in his journeys and adventures. (Brittanica 2011) One of their most famous journeys included descending into the underworld, which they were later held there captive. (Brittanica 2011)
Persephone . Persephone was known as the goddess of the underworld. (Lindemans 2005) Her parents were Zeus and Demeter.( Lindemans 2005) She was later kidnapped and forced to become the wife of the god of the underworld. (Lindemans 2005)
Pluto(hades) : Pluto otherwise more famously known as Hades was the god of the underworld. (The oxford companion to classical civilization n.d ) His parents were Cronus and Rhea. He was the husband of Persephone (The oxford companion to classical civilization n.d)
Ascalaphus . Ascalaphus was a spirit of the underworld, who was in charge of looking after the orchards. (Atsma 2000) Demeter later trapped him under a rock when he accused Persephone of tasting the pomegranate seed. (Atsma 2000) After being freed by Heracles he was then turned into an owl by the revengeful Persephone. (Atsma 2000)
Demeter. Demeter was famously known as the mother goddess of the earth. ( Grimal 1996) It was said that she belonged to the second divine generation of the Olympian. (Grimal 1996) Her parents were Cronus and Rhea. ( Grimal 1996)
Eurystheus: Eurystheus was the cousin of Hercacles, as well as the person responsible for assigning the 12 labors for the Greek Hero. (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d) Although Heracles was suppose to be older than Eurystheus, because of the knowledge that the first child born would eventually rule the kingdoms in the future. (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d) Hera decided to delay the birth of Heracles and sped up the birth of Eurystheus. (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d) Thus making Heracles younger than Eurystheus. (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d)
(Labor)
The last and final labour that Heracles had to complete was capture Cerberus, the hound of hell.(Grimal 1996) In order to achieve this task Heracles had to travel to depth of the underworld. (Grimal 1996) During this labor Heracles was aided by both Hermes and Athena. (Grimal 1996) Before descending into the depths of the underworld, the Greek hero traveled to Eleusis where he learnt how to cross safely to the other world after death from the priest Eumolpus.( Perseus project n.d) After having entered the underworld he met the shades of Medusa and Meleager, in which Heracles later promise to marry Meleager’s sister Deianeria.(Grimal 1996) While continuing with his task he met two Greek heroes who were chained in the underworld after attempting to kidnapped Peresphone.( Perseus project n.d). The heroes were Theseus and Pirithous, Heracles was only able to free Theseus.(Grimal 1996) Furthermore Heracles freed both Demeter and Ascalaphus. (Grimal 1996) Finally before encountering Cerberus , Heracles asked Hades for the permission to take Cerberus. (Perseus project n.d) Hades agreed under the condition that he overpowers the dog with his bare hands. (Grimal 1996) Heracles successfully overpowered the beast and brought it back to Eurystheus (Perseus project n.d). Lastly unlike all the of the creatures that Heracles have defeated in the 12 labors. (Perseus project n.d ) Cerberus was eventually returned back to Hades ,and continued to guard the gate to the underworld. (Perseus project n.d)
References
Atsma ,A 2000, Askalaphos, Available from: < http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Askalaphos.html>. [ 22 Septmeber 2011]
Brittanica 2011, Pirithous, Available from: < http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461611/Pirithous.>. [ 22 September 2011]
Churchill , J 2005 , Theseus , Available from: < http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/theseus.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d , Eurystheus, Available from: < http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/eurystheus.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Gill, N.S 2011 , Medusa- The Gorgon Medusa in Greek Mythology . Available from: < http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/monsters/g/Medusa.htm> [ 22 September 2011]
Greek Mythology n.d, Meleager, Available from: < http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Meleager/meleager.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Greek Mythology Creature n.d, Cerberus, Available from: < http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/creature.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Grimal, P 1996, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, , Blackwell Publishing , Oxford
Lindemans, M 2005, Persephone, Available from: < http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/persephone.html> . [ 22 September 2011]
Perseus project n.d, Cerberus, Available from: < http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/cerberus.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Greek Mythology n.d, Meleager, Available from: < http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Meleager/meleager.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
Trckova-Flamee, A 2002, Eumolpus, Available from: < http://www.pantheon.org/articles/e/eumolpus.html >. [ 22 September 2011]
The oxford companion to classical civilization n.d, Hades, Available from: < http://public.wsu.edu/~hughesc/hades.htm >. [ 22 September 2011]
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