Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #2: Heracles Quiz

Answer: Alcides

Heracles was in fact named Alcides, after his adopted grandfather, when he was born (Thersimachus and Creontidas were two of his sons by Megara.) He was later given the name Heracles, "glory of Hera," meaning that he would gain fame through Hera's hatred of him.

Answer: Thespius

Thespius of Boetia offered Heracles his fifty daughters as a prize for killing a lion which was ravaging his kingdom. Stories differ whether he slept with them all in one night or on fifty different nights, but most accounts agree that each of them bore him a son. These daughters are usually referred to as the Thespiades.

Answer: Erginus

On his way back to Thebes after slaying the lion, Heracles encountered the emissaries of Erginus, the king of Orchomenus. They informed him that Thebes, after losing a war started because of the death of Erginus's father Clymenus at Theban hands, was forced to pay a tribute of 100 oxen per year for a period of 20 years.

Heracles was so enraged by this that he cut off the ears and noses of the messengers and sent them back to Erginus. Then, with the help of the Thebans, he succeeded in killing Erginus and burning down his palace, then proceeding to demand tribute, twice that required of the Thebans, of the city of Orchomenus.

Answer: Demodocus

As a young man, Heracles was provided with a fine education by his stepfather Amphitryon. Eurytus taught him archery, Autolycus showed him wrestling, Polydeuces instructed him in fencing, and Linus showed him the art of the lyre (an act he was later repaid for by Heracles smashing him over the head with the instrument.)

Answer: Lycus

While Heracles was away in Argos, his father-in-law and the rightful king of Thebes, Creon, died and a Euboean named Lycus seized his throne. Heracles quickly returned to kill the usurper before he harmed his family. Ironically, it was at the feast over Lycus's death that Heracles murdered his wife and children.

Answer: Alcyoneus

While he was retrieving the cattle of Geryon, Heracles was compelled to cross the Isthmus of Corinth. The giant Alcyoneus threw a boulder at him so hard that it struck Heracles, bounced back, and killed Alcyoneus instantly.

Answer: Theseus

Theseus and Pirithous were both trapped in the underworld because Pirithous, famous from the story of the battle with the centaurs at his previous wedding to Hippodamia, wished to kidnap Persephone, queen of the Underworld. Heracles was allowed to rescue Theseus because he was only helping his friend, but Pirithous was doomed to remain there for all eternity.

Answer: Meleager

While in the Underworld fetching Cerberus, Heracles encountered Meleager, who had been killed by his mother after he murdered his own uncles. Meleager made him promise to marry his sister Deianira, for whose hand Heracles fought the river-god Achelous. She would later accidentely bring about his death because of her jealousy of his new handmaiden, Iole.

Answer: Periclymenus

Periclymenus was the son of Neleus and had previously sailed on the Argo. When Heracles attacked his city, he used the shape-shifting powers that were given to him by his grandfather Poseidon to change into an eagle, but was slain by a poisoned arrow.

Answer: Hesione

After Laomedon refused to pay Apollo and Poseidon for building the walls of Troy, they punished him by forcing him to feed his daughter to a sea monster. Heracles agreed to save her in exchange for immortal mares Laomedon's grandfather Tros had received from Zeus. Later, when Laomedon again refused to pay, he sacked Troy and captured Hesione, giving her to Telamon and letting her save one Trojan prisoner, her brother Podarces (later Priam.)