Ancient Greek myths tell about the adventures and exploits of many heroes. Legendary heroes and ordinary people who act together with the gods have amazed the imagination of people for many centuries. Here are just a few of the characters included in the "golden fund" of legends and myths of mankind.
The Adventures of Hercules
Hercules, according to Greek legend, was the son of the powerful Zeus and the beautiful Alcmene, the Queen of Thebes. Zeus knew that his son would certainly become a hero, protector of gods and people. The upbringing and training of Hercules was correspondingly. He knew how to drive a chariot, accurately shot from a bow, owned other types of weapons, played the cithara.
The future hero was strong, brave and eventually turned into a real hero.
Hercules is best known for his twelve labors. He coped with the Nemean lion, killed the disgusting Lernaean hydra, caught the fast-footed Kerinean doe and the Erymanth boar alive. The hero accomplished his fifth feat by defeating the sacred man-eating birds.
The sixth task turned out to be very difficult. Hercules had to cleanse the stables of King Augeus, which had been uncrowned for many years. The hero turned the river beds and directed two streams to the Augean stables, after which the stormy waters washed the entire cattle yard. Then Hercules captured the Cretan bull, stole the horses of Diomedes and, with danger to his life, took possession of the belt of the queen of the Amazons. The tenth feat of the Greek hero is the abduction of the cows of the giant Geryon.
After another adventure, during which Hercules brought magic golden apples to King Eurystheus, the hero had a chance to go to the kingdom of the dead - the gloomy Hades. Having successfully completed the next and last mission, Hercules went on a long journey. Being a favorite of the gods, Hercules, by the will of Zeus, eventually gained immortality and was taken to Olympus.
Feat of Prometheus
The ruler of Olympus Zeus summoned Epimetheus, the son of the powerful titan Iapetus, to him, and ordered him to go down to earth to give animals and people everything that would allow them to get their food. Each animal received what it needed: fast legs, wings and keen hearing, claws and fangs. Only people were afraid to get out of their hiding places, so they got nothing.
Epimetheus's brother, Prometheus, decided to correct this mistake. He planned to give people a fire, which will bring them undivided power on earth. In those days, the fire belonged only to the gods, who carefully guarded it.
Setting himself the goal of benefiting humanity, Prometheus stole fire and brought it to people.
Zeus's anger was indescribable. He struck a terrible punishment on Prometheus, ordering Hephaestus to chain the hero to a granite rock. Over the years, Prometheus suffered. Every day a huge eagle flew to the punished titan and pecked at his flesh. Only the intervention of Hercules allowed the release of Prometheus.
Icarus and Daedalus
One of the most famous myths of Ancient Greece is the legend of Daedalus and Icarus. Icarus's father, Daedalus, was a skilled sculptor, architect and artist. Not getting along with the king of Crete, he actually became his hostage and was forced to live on the island permanently. Daedalus thought for a long time how he could free himself, and in the end decided to leave the island on wings with his son Icarus.
From many bird feathers, Daedalus created two pairs of wings. Tying them to the back of his son, Daedalus instructed him, forbidding him to rise close to the sun, since the heat of the luminary could melt the wax with which the feathers were fastened and glued.
It was also impossible to fly close to the water - the wings could get wet and pull down.
Putting on their wings, father and son soared into the air like two large birds. At first, Icarus followed Daedalus, but then he forgot about caution and rose close to the sun. The scorching luminary melted the wax, the wings scattered and scattered in space. Having lost his wings, Icarus fell into the sea, where he found his death.
