what was hercules journey

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By: History.com Editors

Updated: July 6, 2023 | Original: February 7, 2011

Hercules (known in Greek mythology as Heracles or Herakles) is one of the best-known heroes in ancient mythology. His life was not easy—he endured many trials and completed many daunting tasks—but the reward for his suffering was a promise that he would live forever among the gods at Mount Olympus.

Was Hercules a God?

Hercules was not a god but was born a mortal, although, like many mythic heroes, he had a complicated family tree. According to legend, his father was Zeus, ruler of all the Greek gods on Mount Olympus and all the mortals on earth, and his mother was Alcmene, the granddaughter of the hero Perseus. (Perseus, who was also said to be one of Zeus’ sons, famously beheaded the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa .)

Did you know? The constellation Hercules is the fifth-largest one in the sky.

Then, after Hercules was born, Hera sent two snakes to kill him in his crib. The infant Hercules was unusually strong and fearless, however, and he strangled the snakes before they could strangle him.

But Hera kept up her dirty tricks. When her stepson was a young adult, she cast a kind of spell on him that drove him temporarily insane and caused him to murder his beloved wife and their two children.

Guilty and heartbroken, Hercules tracked down Apollo, the god of truth and healing (and another of Zeus’ sons), and begged to be punished for what he had done.

HISTORY Vault: The Greek Gods

The Greek gods acted like a dysfunctional feuding family, often displaying near-human frailties. Visit magnificent monuments and temples to see how the gods' changing faces reflected the advancement of the Greeks.

The 12 Labors of Hercules

Apollo understood that Hercules’ crime had not been his fault—Hera’s vengeful actions were no secret—but still he insisted that the young man make amends. He ordered Hercules to perform 12 labors for the Mycenaen king Eurystheus. Once Hercules completed every one of the labors, Apollo declared, he would be absolved of his guilt and achieve immortality.

The Nemean Lion

First, Apollo sent Hercules to the hills of Nemea to kill a lion that was terrorizing the people of the region. (Some storytellers say that Zeus had fathered this magical beast as well.) Hercules trapped the lion in its cave and strangled it. For the rest of his life, he wore the animal’s pelt as a cloak.

The Lernaean Hydra

Second, Hercules traveled to the city of Lerna to slay the nine-headed Hydra—a poisonous, snake-like creature who lived underwater, guarding the entrance to the Underworld. For this task, Hercules had the help of his nephew Iolaus. He cut off each of the monster’s heads while Iolaus burned each wound with a torch. This way, the pair kept the heads from growing back.

The Golden Hind

Next, Hercules set off to capture the sacred pet of the goddess Diana: a red deer, or hind, with golden antlers and bronze hooves. Eurystheus had chosen this task for his rival because he believed that Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal her pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the goddess, she allowed him to go on his way without punishment

The Erymanthean Boar

Fourth, Hercules used a giant net to snare the terrifying, man-eating wild boar of Mount Erymanthus.

The Augean Stables

Hercules’ fifth task was supposed to be humiliating as well as impossible: cleaning all the manure out of King Augeas’ enormous stables in a single day. However, Hercules completed the job easily, flooding the barn by diverting two nearby rivers.

The Stymphlaian Birds

Hercules’ sixth task was straightforward: Travel to the town of Stymphalos and drive away the huge flock of carnivorous birds that had taken up residence in its trees. This time, it was the goddess Athena who came to the hero’s aid: She gave him a pair of magical bronze krotala, or noisemakers, forged by the god Hephaistos. Hercules used these tools to frighten the birds away.

The Cretan Bull

Next, Hercules went to Crete to capture a rampaging bull that had impregnated the wife of the island’s king. (She later gave birth to the Minotaur, a creature with a man’s body and a bull’s head.) Hercules drove the bull back to Eurystheus, who released it into the streets of Marathon.

The Horses of Diomedes

Hercules’ eighth challenge was to capture the four man-eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes. He brought them to Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Hera and set them free.

Hippolyte’s Belt

The ninth labor was complicated: stealing an armored belt that belonged to the Amazon queen Hippolyte. At first, the queen welcomed Hercules and agreed to give him the belt without a fight. However, the troublemaking Hera disguised herself as an Amazon warrior and spread a rumor that Hercules intended to kidnap the queen. To protect their leader, the women attacked the hero’s fleet; then, fearing for his safety, Hercules killed Hippolyte and ripped the belt from her body.

The Cattle of Geryon

For his 10th labor, Hercules was dispatched nearly to Africa to steal the cattle of the three-headed, six-legged monster Geryon. Once again, Hera did all she could to prevent the hero from succeeding, but eventually, he returned to Mycenae with the cows.

The Apples of Hesperides

Next, Eurystheus sent Hercules to steal Hera’s wedding gift to Zeus: a set of golden apples guarded by a group of nymphs known as the Hesperides. This task was difficult—Hercules needed the help of the titan Prometheus and the god Atlas to pull it off—but the hero eventually managed to run away with the apples. After he showed them to the king, he returned them to the gods’ garden where they belonged.

For his final challenge, Hercules traveled to Hades to kidnap Cerberus, the vicious three-headed dog that guarded its gates. Hercules managed to capture Cerberus by using his superhuman strength to wrestle the monster to the ground. Afterward, the dog returned unharmed to his post at the entrance to the Underworld.

How Did Hercules Die?

After completing his 12 Labors, Hercules had a number of other adventures—rescuing the princess of Troy and battling for control of Mount Olympus—but none were as taxing, or as significant, as the labors had been.

Later in his life, Hercules married his second wife, Deianira. When a centaur (a half-man, half-horse) attempts to steal her away, Hercules shot him with an arrow that he had soaked in the poison of the Hydra. As he lay dying, the centaur, realizing that his own blood is now also poisonous, gave his blood-stained tunic to Deianira, lying to her that it will forever bind Hercules to her.

Years later, when Deianira hears a rumor that Hercules is having an affair, she gave him the blood-stained tunic to wear, hoping it will bring him back to her. However, the poisoned blood on the tunic burns Hercules’ flesh, causing intense pain. Realizing that he has been poisoned, Hercules builds his own funeral pyre and burns himself to death on it.

After he died, Athena carried him to Olympus on her chariot. According to legend, he will spend the rest of eternity with the gods.

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What is Hercules Hero’s Journey? 12 Stages

Wondering how Joseph Campbell’s monomyth narrative structure applies to this well-known Greek myth? Read on to discover the Hercules hero’s journey.

Hercules – also known as Heracles – and his twelve labors, are one of the staples of Greek mythology. The story has even been transformed into a Disney movie and plenty of big-budget action-adventure fantasy films over the years.

The hero’s journey structure can be clearly identified in the tale. We can see the twelve stages, from The Ordinary World through to The Return with the Elixir in Hercules’s story, as his adventures take him from an ordinary town in Greece to the Temple of Zeus.

Return with Elixir: Hercules Becomes a God-Like Hero

Stages of the hero’s journey in hercules.

To prepare this analysis, we’ve read through many of the best books about greek mythology and also applied the hero’s journey framework to the legend of Hercules.

The Ordinary World: Hercules in the Human World

Hercules, the demigod son of Zeus, grew into a mighty warrior in the human world. He was well-respected and generally adored in his hometown of Thebes in Greece. Despite his lofty heritage, Hercules was a mortal. This background may not scream ‘ordinary world’, but it was business as usual for Hercules. You can also check out our guide on hero’s journey archetypes .

The Call to Adventure: Hercules Goes To War

Now for the next stage of the hero’s journey. Every year the people of Thebes were compelled to pay homage to the king of the Minyans, Erginus. Hercules isn’t happy about this state of affairs and, encountering some Minyans by chance, takes matters into his own hands, cutting off their noses, ears, and hands.

King Erginus is not impressed and subsequently declares war on Thebes – and Hercules in particular. The king’s army is no match for the demigod, though, and he dispatches it in short order. As a symbol of gratitude, the king of Thebes allows Hercules to marry his daughter, Megara.

Refusal of the Call: Hercules Goes Insane

Hercules happens to be Zeus’s illegitimate son, and this infuriates the jealous Hera, Zeus’s wife. She decides to drive him insane, and is so successful in her endeavors that Hercules goes seriously off the rails, even killing his three children.

For some, this represents the initial refusal stage of the hero’s journey as it represents Hercules’s refusal to take on the role of hero, becoming the dark reflection of the hero, instead. Even if he had a little help with this decision.

Meeting the Mentor: Hercules Visits the Oracle of Delphi

Hercules, recovering from the temporary insanity, is devasted at what he has done. He decides that a visit to the Oracle of Delphi is needed to help him figure out what to do. The Oracle was a high priestess, serving in the sanctuary of Apollo, with powerful prophetic abilities.

Here, the Oracle advises him that the best way to atone for his terrible actions is to serve King Eurystheus.

Crossing the First Threshold: Hercules Undertakes Ten Labors

King Eurystheus accepts Hercules’s service offer but tells him he’ll need to undertake ten labors successfully. And that’s not a typo; there were initially ten rather than twelve labors. Hercules agrees – he is the son of Zeus, after all, so he has a level of confidence that we mere mortals may struggle to muster when faced with ten near-impossible endeavors.

Tests and Meeting Allies and Enemies: Hercules Meets Athena and Chiron

Hercules completes nine of the ten tasks. These missions include the Nemean Lion’s slaying, the Hydra’s vanquishing, capturing the Cretan Bull, and retrieving Hippolyte’s belt.

Some of the allies that Hercules meets on his adventures are Athena and the centaur Chiron, but it wasn’t all plain sailing, even with a ton of supernatural aid. The Greek god Poseidon’s sons and Sarpedon (another of Zeus’s offspring) were just a few of the characters that cause trouble for the erstwhile hero during his quest. But being Hercules, he vanquishes them all.

Approaching the Inmost Cave: Hercules Travels to The Edge of The World

For his tenth labor, Hercules has to travel to the very edge of the world, Erytheia, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to do so. His mission is to retrieve the Red Cattle of Geryon. This part of the hero’s journey concerns the approach to the inmost cave.

According to Joseph Campbell, who wrote widely on this structure, this part of the journey represents a pause before a shift: the hero’s mindset may change. He or she may be approaching unchartered territory, either physically or spiritually, and must draw on new energy to continue.

The Ordeal: Hercules Recovers the Golden Apples of Hesperides

Those allies we mentioned above who gave Hercules a helping hand in his quest? King Eurystheus wasn’t best pleased with the intervention and stated that two of the ten labors that had been assigned were, therefore, invalid. The king subsequently set two additional tasks – bringing the total to twelve labors.

These extra missions were to bring back the golden apples of Hesperides and to fetch Cerberus from Hades. When Hercules successfully completes these two extra tasks, he becomes a bona fide Greek hero.

The Reward: Hercules Enters Olympus

It was never about treasure. By completing the twelve labors, Hercules is seen as atoning for the murder of his children and is now ready to join the godly world of his father in Olympus . But the hero’s journey doesn’t end there…

The Road Back: Hercules Returns to Earth

According to the Disney version of this Greek myth, Hercules isn’t satisfied with life in Olympus and returns to the ordinary world to live as a mortal with his beloved Meg (Megara). However, this isn’t exactly what happens, according to Greek mythology.

In the original legend, Hercules gives his wife to his friend Iolaus (okaaaay) and decides to live out his life as a heroic wanderer on Earth.

The Resurrection: Hercules is Reborn Immortal

Zeus granted Hercules immortality after successfully undertaking his twelve labors. According to some versions of the tale, this happened immediately after he returned from Hades with Cerberus in tow, and in others, it occurred at a later point. Either way, Hercules’s rebirth as an immortal is clearly the Resurrection stage of his journey.

As well as gaining God status and access to Mount Olympus, Hercules is now able to use the lessons he has learned throughout the hero’s journey to heal his past wounds and be a true hero. He is triumphant in every sense of the word, has atoned, and gained spiritual freedom.

Hero’s Journey Archetypes

When it comes to main characters, there are several archetypes. Hercules is generally considered an example of the Warrior archetype, as he primarily uses his physical skills and strength to overcome challenges and trials.

However, the character in Disney’s Hercules can be categorized differently. In Disney’s retelling of the tale, Hercules is cast in the Orphan role, cast adrift in the Ordinary World and needing to discover himself and his powers to gain fulfillment. The role of the hero does not sit quite comfortably at first; think Peter Parker in Spiderman , another Orphan archetype.

This shift of Hercules’s character from Warrior to Orphan archetype tells an interesting story about general cultural shifts that have occurred over time and the nature of our understanding of the ‘hero’ role and its mentality.

If you enjoyed this analysis, check out our guide to movies that follow the hero’s journey.

Melanie Smith is a freelance content and creative writer from Gloucestershire, UK, where she lives with her daughter, long-suffering partner, and cat, The Magical Mr. Bobo. Her blog posts and articles feature regularly in magazines and websites around the world.

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The Twelve Labors of Hercules: A Hero's Journey

Ever wondered about the ins and outs of Hercules' epic journey? Well, let's chat about it. We're going to break down his legendary Twelve Labors and see how they match up with the famous hero's journey concept – you know, the one outlined by scholar Joseph Campbell.

We're talking about the daring start, the tough challenges, and finally, the victorious return. We'll see how our hero Hercules, a real old-school hero, handles his unique transformation journey. And believe me, it's not a walk in the park – we're talking about battling monsters, dealing with tricks, and yes, even some meddling from the gods.

As we dig into this side-by-side analysis, you'll start to see the timeless wisdom tucked away in these old Greek myths. And who knows? You might even find yourself more intrigued by Hercules' extraordinary story.

Understanding Hercules' Ordinary World

Let's dive in and better understand Hercules' everyday life. You see, Hercules was highly respected in his hometown of Thebes. He led a privileged life, widely admired by all. Yet, his life wasn't all sunshine and roses, as he faced the immense challenge of confronting King Erginus, the Minyans' ruler. Here, Hercules' bravery truly shines as he steps up against the tyrant king, earning the Thebans' love even more.

Let's not forget, Hercules was married to Megara, Erginus' daughter, which only increased his standing in society. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. His life was filled with turmoil, largely thanks to Hera's constant interference. Hercules, despite his heroic image, had his fair share of trials and tribulations. It goes to show, even heroes aren't exempt from life's struggles.

In his search for peace, Hercules turns to the Oracle of Delphi, leading him down a path of redemption. This point is a game-changer, signaling the start of his transformative journey. When we look at Hercules' everyday world, we see a mix of privilege and hardship. It's an enlightening lesson for us, as Hercules' Heroes, showing us that our struggles are part and parcel of our journeys, much like they were for Hercules.

The Call and Refusal: Hercules' Inner Battle

Imagine Hercules, our legendary hero, trying to navigate his regular, chaotic day-to-day life, when suddenly he's faced with a tough decision. He's tasked with completing the twelve labors – a monumental challenge that scares him to his core. This stage of his journey, known as 'The Call and Refusal', really shows us his human side, showcasing his fears and vulnerabilities.

Think about it like this – Hercules' internal struggle is something every hero goes through. The adventure calling out to them is daunting enough, but it's saying "no" that really puts their courage to the test. As for Hercules, the twelve labors are more than just tasks, they symbolize a chance to transcend his normal life. He's scared, so his first reaction is to deny the call. But in a weird twist, it's this rejection that nudges him to take that first step.

Hercules' Allies, Enemies, and Tests

Hercules, the famed hero of ancient lore, sets out on an extraordinary adventure filled with allies and foes, each providing unique challenges that shape him into the hero he is destined to be. His friends, including divine entities like Athena and ordinary humans like Iolaus, offer him priceless advice, aid, and moral encouragement. They embody the positive traits of Hercules' persona: his bravery, determination, and ability to form lasting friendships.

On the other hand, Hercules also has to confront formidable foes, such as the spiteful Hera and the terrifying Nemean lion. These foes symbolize the darker sides of his personality, like his unmanageable anger and impulsive behavior. They act as trials forcing Hercules to confront and conquer his inner weaknesses.

The trials Hercules goes through are more than just physical confrontations. They're also mental and moral dilemmas. He must tackle tasks that require more than just raw power. They demand wisdom, resilience, and a rock-solid moral compass. These trials serve to shape him into a more well-rounded individual, propelling him along his heroic journey. Through Hercules' friends, foes, and trials, we see his transition from a volatile hero into a paragon of power and virtue.

The Ordeal and Reward: Hercules' Transformation

Let's dive deep into the life-changing journey of Hercules, where he faced ordeals that pushed him to his limits and rewards that reshaped his entire existence. The hero's journey is often a rollercoaster ride, and Hercules' was no exception. His mission? To make up for his past by completing twelve challenging tasks.

• He had to get his hands on the golden apples of the Hesperides. This wasn't a simple task – it demanded both physical strength and sharp wit.
• Capturing Cerberus from Hades was also on his list, which meant a risky trip into the underworld itself.
• These trials were part of Hercules' attempt to make amends for the devastating mistake of killing his own children.
• His transformation and rebirth into an immortal symbolize a deep, spiritual healing.
• At last, Hercules ascended to Mount Olympus, marking his growth into a true hero and gaining spiritual liberation.

These tasks are a testament to Hercules' transformation. He evolved from a tormented soul, burdened by his past, to a heroic figure akin to a god, emphasizing the transformative power of such a journey. His tale teaches us a valuable lesson – it's not just the destination that matters, but the journey and the change that comes with it.

Hercules' Resurrection and Return

So, let's talk about the last chapter in Hercules' incredible tale. What we observe here is Hercules' transformation from mortal to divine, a powerful symbol of his heroic journey's completion and the ultimate proof of his redemption and rebirth. After finishing his twelve labors, Hercules makes amends for his past mistakes and gains the ability to live forever, essentially getting a second chance at life as an eternal hero.

This rebirth and return are meaningful in so many ways. They mark his spiritual liberation, his healing, and the wrap-up of his heroic journey. This journey changes him in many ways, not just physically but also spiritually. When Zeus gives him the gift of immortality, it's like a fresh start and a massive change in his journey.

Now, here's a cool twist in the story when we look at the Disney version versus the original Greek mythology . In Disney's take, Hercules decides to go back to his normal, mortal life with Megara. But in the original Greek story, instead of settling down, he chooses to keep wandering the Earth like a hero, which presents an interesting contradiction. He's a hero, but he's also forever tied to his human origins. This conflict reminds us of how complex the hero's journey can be, full of challenges, victories, and ultimately, a rise to a higher level.

Frequently Asked Questions How Is Hercules a Hero's Journey?

So, you're curious about Hercules and his legendary journey? It's a fascinating story that truly embodies the essence of a hero's quest. Here's the scoop: Hercules begins his tale as a well-regarded citizen of Thebes. But then, he's faced with a series of daunting challenges, the most memorable of which are his notorious twelve labors. After overcoming these hardships, his story reaches an inspiring conclusion – Hercules attains not just salvation, but also ascends to a divine stature. It's a quintessential tale of a rise from humble beginnings to the heights of Olympus.

What Are the 12 Steps in a Hero's Journey?

Let's chat about the 12 steps that typically define a hero's journey. It all starts in an ordinary world, where our hero lives a normal life. Suddenly, an adventure beckons, but initially, the hero is hesitant to accept the challenge. That's when a mentor steps in, offering guidance and support. With newfound courage, the hero crosses the threshold into a world of trials and challenges.

These tests prepare the hero for the impending ordeal, a major conflict that pushes them to their limits. After overcoming this difficult situation, the hero receives a reward. However, they must then embark on the road back home, often facing additional trials.

In a moment of resurrection, the hero experiences a significant transformation, leading to the final step – returning home, but now with a newfound wisdom or power, often symbolized by an elixir. This narrative arc is prevalent in many of the stories we love and relate to. It's a timeless formula that continues to resonate with audiences across the globe.

What Is the Point of the 12 Labors of Hercules?

You know, when I think about Hercules and his famous 12 labors, it strikes me as a classic story of bouncing back and personal development. It's like a journey, right? Each task he tackles is a hurdle he has to overcome, showing his inner strength and grit. And in the end, it's all about the victory of goodness over the wrong. Pretty cool, huh?

What Are the 12 Steps to Being a Hero?

From my perspective, if you want to step into the shoes of a hero, there's a 12-step process you need to go through. Start by setting out on an exhilarating journey. You're bound to come across obstacles along the way. Tackle them head-on, learn from them, and use that knowledge to your advantage. The aim is to come back from your expedition a stronger person. It's all about embracing change and growing as an individual.

The Untold Truth Of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

This is the story of a time long ago, a time of myth and legend, when the ancient gods were petty and cruel, and they plagued mankind with suffering. Only one man dared to challenge their power: Hercules! 

While today, "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" is often remembered for being surpassed by its best-known spinoff, " Xena: Warrior Princess ," the show cleaned up in the ratings department and successfully introduced many of the characters that would go on to make "Xena" the hit that it was — including Xena herself. "The Legendary Journeys" laid an epic foundation to work from by world-building a mythology-inspired landscape with sensibilities to suit a mid-'90s audience, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Hercules of "The Legendary Journeys" was a sensitive everyman who fought for the common people against his father Zeus. Raised by his human mother Alcmene, he tried to settle down a lead a normal life before Zeus' wife Hera incited the events that would lead to the tragic deaths of Hercules' wife and children. Angry but righteous, Hercules traveled the land with his best friend Iolaus, righting wrongs and saving the innocent. Though the gods were cruel, Zeus favored and admired Hercules, and that set us up for some A+ television drama that more often than not still holds up today. And even after all these years, chances are there are plenty of things you don't know about "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."

It started as a series of made-for-TV films

Before the 1995 debut of "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," there was a series of made-for-TV films, including "Hercules and the Amazon Women," "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom," "Hercules and the Circle of Fire," "Hercules in the Underworld," and "Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur." This was part of the Universal Action Pack , which also adapted William Shatner's "TekWar" novel series and later saw the birth of a handful of forgotten greats of late 1990s TV including "Jack of All Trades" starring Bruce Campbell and "Cleopatra 2525" starring Gina Torres. Rather than debuting via individual networks, these releases were syndicated across a patchwork of regional outlets.

This will make very little sense to the viewers of today, who've become accustomed to the streaming landscape in which content is almost always centralized to specific networks, but in the mid-1990s, syndicating to individual TV stations to fill specific time slots was a move that was predicted to change the television landscape forever. Other massively popular series had paved the way for this approach beforehand, including " Star Trek: The Next Generation " and " Baywatch ," but the Action Pack specifically benefited from the need of independent stations to provide original programming. These low-budget fantasy and sci-fi productions were successful in no small part due to the unique utility they provided to audiences and networks alike. The Action Pack was discontinued in 2001 , but it had a good run.

Hercules was a ratings monster

To say that "The Legendary Journeys" was a surprise hit is no exaggeration, and it helped bring the realm of ancient mythology to the small screen in ways that had never occurred before. The classic "Hercules" films remain wildly enjoyable for the most part, but there's no disputing that this was a starkly different take on the character. Throwing out the flowery dialogue of old and modernizing the story clicked with 1990s audiences. For most of its run, it went head-to-head in the ratings with other syndicated megahits like "Baywatch."

Competitive shows like "Sinbad" and "Tarzan" would quickly attempt to replicate the success of "Hercules," but they didn't fare nearly as well. The reasons for this failure are up for debate, but it might just boil down to the fact that the star power, unique charisma, tongue-in-cheek humor, and exciting fight scenes all just pulled together to make "Hercules" something truly special. In the end, the success of the show might be due to the virtue of its creators making bold choices in updating old material and never being afraid to take chances, making a whole new mythology out of tales as old as time.

Many of the show's stars played multiple roles

A tried and true practice of the "Xena" and "Hercules" series is that they made a humorous habit of recasting the same actors in different roles. This includes the main "Hercules" characters, Hercules and Iolaus. Besides starring as Hercules, Kevin Sorbo played Sovereign, the despotic goatee-wearing alternate universe version of himself, while Michael Hurst played an impressive seven other roles besides his turn as Hercules' best friend and traveling buddy. Likewise, actor Kevin Smith is well-known for his turn as Hercules's charismatic but highly bratty brother Ares, but he also played Bacchus and Hercules' other, human brother Iphicles.

Though today most people probably know him best for starring as Butcher in "The Boys," some of Karl Urban's earliest roles were on "Hercules," "Xena," and the made-for-TV movie "Amazon High," where he played Mael, Kor, Cupid, and Julius Caesar. The actor who likely set the record for the most roles throughout the Xenaverse is Ted Raimi, brother of producer Sam Raimi, who clocked in at no less than nine parts total, perhaps the most famous among them being the bumbling but good-hearted Joxer from "Xena." Still, impressive though those nine roles may be, there were plenty of actors that were nearly as busy as Raimi, with Lucy Lawless only losing out on a technicality because one of her nine roles between the many series was a version of herself.

Hercules the American football hero

Though the series was very much based in mythology and the classic Hercules films, the writers and producers behind "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" wanted to reimagine Hercules as a Joe Montana-style all-American everyman. In the words of Sam Raimi in a 1995 interview with Florida's Sun Sentinel, "We didn't want to have the gods looking into pools of mists and staring down from Mount Olympus. We decided to make Hercules an American and a regular guy who wasn't necessarily a muscle-head."

The vibe of Hercules as a chill dude you could snag a beer with is indeed a major part of what makes the series click. His irritation with the gods is ever-present, but he regularly reaches out and makes the attempt to connect with them, even when he finds them frivolous or otherwise offensive. He forms solid bonds with his sibling Aphrodite and her son Cupid. Even his intense rivalry with the his hotheaded half-brother Ares just gives Hercules the opportunity to show the world that he simply operates on a different wavelength than his famous siblings. "Xena" takes the form of a redemption arc in which she's forced to come face-to-face with her past throughout every season, while "Hercules" is a bit simpler — straight up just the story of a nice guy with a good sense of humor who loves his mom and misses his family.

Iolaus, the Shakespearean actor

The relationship between Xena and Gabrielle is timeless and their love will no doubt be the subject of conversation (and fan fiction) for many decades to come. While their bond perhaps hasn't proved quite as fascinating for the fanbase, Hercules had a lifelong best friend in Iolaus who stood by him through thick and thin, and that dynamic played a big role in building his character. Behind the scenes, Michael Hurst , the actor who played Iolaus, was a well-known theatrical talent in New Zealand, praised for his turns as "fool" and "bard" characters in productions of Shakespeare's plays. Bringing that skill to "Hercules," Iolaus was one of the series' fan favorite characters throughout its run, a popularity reaffirmed when he later appeared (played by Dean O'Gorman) in the "Young Hercules" spinoff series.

Hurst has never fully stopped working as an actor, but today he's arguably better known for his work as a director. Jumping behind the camera on "Hercules," "Young Hercules," and "Xena," he has more recently added to that side of his resume as the director of "Spartacus" and "Ash vs. Evil Dead." Still, no matter how talented he might be behind the scenes, "Hercules" fans will always remember him for his work as the charismatic Iolaus, who carried many episodes of the show and helped introduce the world to Xena when he (somewhat foolishly) fell in love with her during her full-on evil era, leading to a standoff with his best bud Herc before he came to his senses and showed Xena the door.

Speaking of Xena

When looking into which "Hercules" character might make a great focus for a spinoff, showrunner Rob Tapert noted in an interview with the fan magazine Whoosh! that Xena wasn't necessarily their first choice. In fact, they initially considered Jason of Jason and the Argonauts, as Xena was intended to die in her third appearance. The thought of an alternate universe where we only ever got three appearances from Xena might be more than a little terrifying for some viewers, but it all worked out in the end as Jason was (rightfully) deemed to be much too similar to Hercules to warrant his own series.

Xena's arc in "Hercules" instead worked to set her up for her own ongoing series, though interviews of the time show creators like Raimi and Tapert musing on how to plausibly pull off a heroic turn from one of the series' most terrifying villains. In the end, "Xena" succeeds in no small part due to her quest for redemption, but the character work done in "Hercules" is crucial for building her up to a place where she could move forward. Despite initially appearing as a dastardly foe, she quickly comes to respect Hercules and Iolaus, and even has short-lived romantic dalliances with both. In many ways, without Hercules, there could be no Xena.

Xena wasn't the only Legendary Journeys spinoff

One of Ryan Gosling's earliest roles saw him landing the lead in the "Young Hercules" spinoff, which explored the teen adventures of the title character and Iolaus. The central characters' ambitions and personalities remain very much the same as they would be in the original "adult" version, but the emphasis is on Ares, Strife, and Discord attempting to undermine the young Herc in order to get into Zeus' good graces (which, of course, never worked). Though "Young Hercules" lasted only a single season, this was in the days of the mega-season, which means the series actually aired a grand total of 50 episodes. Today, Gosling's star power makes the idea of him playing this character seem a little ridiculous, but looking back at "Young Hercules" makes it obvious that the kid was destined for the big time from the very start.

Besides this, there was also a two-hour pilot made for "Amazon High," which would interact with the "Young Hercules" mythos by bringing in guest stars from the show. Though the pilot never got picked up, it featured an impressively star-studded cast, with a number of classic "Xena" regulars like Danielle Cormack appearing alongside the series villain Kor, played by Karl Urban, and high school student from the future Cyane, played by none other than Selma Blair. Quite a bummer that their series wasn't picked up — hopefully those two did okay.

Bruce Campbell wasn't just a guest star

As a longtime collaborator and pal to Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell has often discussed his friendship with Raimi dating back to babysitting Sam's younger brother Ted in his youth. After he and Raimi made horror history with "The Evil Dead" and its many sequels and spinoffs, it might not come as a surprise that he was a regular guest star throughout the Xenaverse series. Appearing as the dashing thief Autolycus, he showed up in 12 episodes of "The Legendary Journeys" and eight episodes of "Xena."

Campbell appeared on "Hercules" and "Xena" many times, but he was also a frequent director, helming seven episodes through the series run. As part of the Action Pack, he ultimately snagged a starring role in the alternative history narrative "Jack of All Trades," which remains an underrated show full of Campbell's trademark witty one-liners and bravado. Featuring a Canada ruled over by Napoleon, the series tapped into humor more than any of the other Action Pack series, but remained full of the fight scenes and acts of spontaneous heroism the lineup was known for.

No centaurs were harmed

Though neither "Hercules" or "Xena" are particularly well-known for their slapstick comedy, there were tons of humorous performances and running jokes to be found in both series. Wild disclaimers appeared in the credits throughout the shows, including references to the episodes such as "no centaurs were harmed." Dating all the way back to the first season, this was a running gag that continued throughout all seasons of the show. In addition to a number of entirely humor-based episodes like "The Green-Eyed Monster," these tagged on Easter eggs were a part of how the series let its fans celebrate the cheesiness of the show in a way that made them feel like they were in on the joke.

Highlights include Season 1's "The Vanished Dead," in which the disclaimer reads "No dogs of war were harmed during the making of this motion picture." Another episode, "Unchained Heart," features the line "No vicious beasts intent on taking over the world were harmed during the making of this motion picture." "Xena" would take this joke and run with it, making the disclaimers increasingly complex and even occasionally a bit meta, but it all started here.

Kull the Legendary Journeys

Today, Kevin Sorbo remains best known for his work on "Hercules," but he's also put his genre hero chops to work in various other roles; for example, between seasons of "Hercules," he starred in the 1997 film "Kull the Conqueror." Another Robert E. Howard creation, Kull is a barbarian hero similar to Conan. Indeed, this was initially intended to be the third "Conan" film , but was repurposed when it was confirmed that "Conan" star Arnold Schwarzenegger would not be returning for the role. It'd be a stretch to say "Kull" is a great movie, but Sorbo certainly gives it his all.

Running with the theme of starring in the slightly less famous properties of major genre writers, Sorbo also played the lead in the sci-fi series "Andromeda," based on unused material from "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's archives and produced by Roddenberry's widow Majel Barrett. Sorbo plays the captain of a ship known as the Andromeda Ascendant, Dylan Hunt, who is rescued hundreds of years after he is frozen in time. Embarking on a mission to restore civilization in the cosmos, Hunt enlists a ragtag crew. The series ran for five seasons, and while it might not be quite as fun as "Hercules," it's a neat artifact for Roddenberry megafans and anyone who enjoys the low-budget sci-fi television of the early aughts.

Saying goodbye

Like any long-running series, "Hercules" saw a number of behind-the-scenes ups and downs, and so did its stars — most notably Sorbo, who experienced extreme health issues unrelated to his work on the series during the filming of the fourth season. He had an aneurysm in 1997 and experienced three subsequent strokes, ultimately losing ten percent of his vision. Though he was forced to relearn basic things like keeping his balance, this was kept almost entirely out of the press until he wrote about it at length in his autobiography, "True Strength."

Ultimately, the series ended up being canceled during its sixth season when Sorbo didn't renew for a three-year contract and only eight episodes of the final season were produced, making it the rare series with fewer overall episodes than its spinoff — 111 to the 134 "Xena" aired. The final season doesn't fully catch its balance, perhaps due to the uncertainty behind the scenes, making it a strange leaving off point. Still, regardless of any shortcomings, "Hercules" had a heck of a run.

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Product Description

Through the ages of history and myth, there's never been another hero like the mighty Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), whose awesome physical prowess is only surpassed by the strength of his heart. Discover why he's held the imagination of countless viewers with all 111 episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. This compelling TV series from Executive Producer Sam Raimi (Spider-Man movies) follows the warrior from his humble beginnings as a child born to a beautiful mortal woman and Zeus, king of the gods, to his explosive battles against power-hungry immortals, deceptive demons, massive monsters, and bloodthirsty armies. With special guest appearances by Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness), Karl Urban (Star Trek), and more, it's an unforgettable trip into the world of legends with the greatest fighter the world has ever known.

Product details

• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 1.35 Pounds
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 81 hours and 34 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ September 18, 2018
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst, Roma Downey, Anthony Quinn
• Producers ‏ : ‎ Sam Raimi
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DXRW8WB
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 25
• #449 in Action & Adventure DVDs
• #679 in Drama DVDs

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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Where to watch.

Watch Hercules: The Legendary Journeys with a subscription on Prime Video, or buy it on Vudu, Prime Video.

Cast & Crew

Kevin Sorbo

Michael Hurst

Executive Producer

Popular TV on Streaming

Series info.

• Children of Zeus
• View history
• 1.1 Conception, birth and early life
• 1.2 At the Academy
• 1.3 Early adventures and family life
• 1.4 Revenge upon Hera
• 1.5 Marriage to Serena and aftermath
• 1.6 The banishment of Hera
• 1.7 After the death of Iolaus
• 1.8 Return of Iolaus and later adventures
• 1.9 Hercules in The Twilight of the Gods
• 1.10 Hercules in the modern era
• 2.1.1 Iolaus
• 2.1.2 Deianeira
• 2.1.3 Serena
• 2.1.4 Jason
• 2.1.5 Other romantic relationships
• 3.2 Abilities
• 3.3 Godhood
• 3.4 Mortality
• 5.1 As Portrayed by Kevin Sorbo
• 5.2 As Portrayed by Ian Bohen
• 5.3 As Portrayed by Ryan Gosling
• 5.4 Other portrayals
• 5.5 Costume Designs
• 6 Background Information
• 7.1 Appearances
• 7.2.1 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
• 7.3 References
• 8 External links

History [ ]

By his early twenties, Hercules was considered a legendary hero, of which mythology and rumor about him spread throughout the Grecian landscape. Some, such as Iole , believed him to be a hulking figure, several feet taller than he actually was. He was about 6 feet, 3 inches tall and very muscular with golden and brown hair. [11]

Conception, birth and early life [ ]

Hercules was the result of a union between the widowed Alcmene and Zeus, King of the Olympians . Zeus took the form of Amphitryon when he appeared to Alcmene that night [42] , although they maintained close feelings for years afterwards. [1]

While pregnant with Hercules, Alcmene was nearly killed by a time-travelling Callisto , but saved by the time-travelling Iolaus. [43]

Shortly after Hercules' birth, Hera became aware of his status as Zeus' son and attempted to destroy him with a two-headed snake . The infant Hercules strangled the snake, thwarting Hera's first attempt on his life. [44]

Zeus visited Hercules as an infant [1] Hercules and the Amazon Women , but stopped sometime in his early childhood. [7] He would not visit him again until late in his teenage years, however, he did mention to Hercules as being proud of him and saying he had put alot of thought and love into his creation and birth. [9] Zeus did place a protection order on Hercules, banning any other Gods from harming the young Hercules. [7]

From a young age, Hercules was raised on his mother's farm near Thebes. The centaur Ceridian was Hercules' mentor as a youth, teaching him philosophy , medicine , literacy, and talents he would use as a warrior. [45]

Hercules and Iolaus both trained under Echetus in their preteen years, in a male-dominant atmosphere. [1] They would later go their separate ways, Iolaus becoming a thief and member of a gang and Hercules back to his mother's farm. At the age of eighteen, Alcmene enrolled Hercules in Cheiron 's Academy. [7]

At the Academy [ ]

At the Academy, Hercules met Prince Jason and became friends with his grudging acquaintance, the former thief Iolaus. After several weeks of training, Hercules participated in his first adventure. He accompanied Prince Jason and Iolaus as an Argonaut on the quest for the Golden Fleece . [7]

During his years at the Academy, Hercules went on many adventures with Jason and Iolaus, and other cadets, such as Lilith or Theseus . He ran afoul of the Gods Ares , Bacchus , Discord , Strife , and Apollo , multiple times. [46]

Early adventures and family life [ ]

After the Academy, Hercules went back to life with his mother. He was soon recruited by Iolaus and Jason into fighting in a war against Parthus . He was able to negotiate a cease fire, ending much of the bloodshed, and gaining fame throughout Corinth. [47]

He gained his first brush with life on Mount Olympus when he ate some ambrosia given to him by Apollo. It was then that he determined most Gods to be cruel and the need to live without them. [9]

Around this time, Hercules performed some of his first labors, including slaying the Erymanthian Boar [48] and the Nemean Lion . [11] These labors helped immortalize Hercules in the minds of the populace. [4]

He saved the town of Gargarencia from attack by Amazons [1] and discovered the lost kingdom of Troy [4] before meeting his future wife Deianeira during a time when the Earth was without fire. [49]

With his wife Deianeira, Hercules stopped adventuring, settling down to family life. Years later, he was pulled back into action when a hole to the Underworld was inadvertently opened in a small village . [11] He continued life with his family while also occasionally answering requests for assistance for some time after that. [38]

It was during this peaceful time in Hercules' life that Hera once again attacked. She destroyed his family in a fireball that sent him into a downward spiral for a short time. [50]

Revenge upon Hera [ ]

After the death of his family, Hercules briefly took it upon himself to destroy Hera's temples until his friend Iolaus visited and convinced him to honor his family by helping, rather than harming, others. Hercules didn't return home, but instead began wandering the countryside performing good deeds. [50]

He spent much of that first year wandering the countryside alone. Some of his early adventures included:

• Fighting and defending the Cyclops of Traycus [51]
• Destroying the Stymphalian Bird [52]
• Stopping the schemes of Ares on multiple occasions [53] [34] [54]
• Stopping the centaur Nemis [55]
• Fighting against slavery [56] [57]

Another notable incident during this period was Hercules's defeat of the warlord Xena [58] , whom he would soon on a road to redemption. [59] This actions dramatically altered the course of history – quite likely for the better – as without Hercules's influence Xena would have brutally conquered and ruled the known world. [43] Instead however, she became as great a champion for good as Hercules himself.

His journeys expanded after he began teaming up with Iolaus again:

• He was responsible for briefly catching the King of Thieves [60]
• He restored King Midas to the throne of Midasius.
• He helped the people of Flagra overthrow the warlord Gorgas .
• He captured the Barbarian warlord Goth .
• He destroyed the children of "mother of monsters" Echidna , and one of Hera's Enforcers . [61] [62]
• He continued his occasional journeys to the Underworld, solving a dispute between Hades and Demeter [63] and ending the threat posed by the escaped Sisyphus . [64]
• He freed the giant Typhon and reunited him with his wife Echidna.
• He restored King Jason to the throne of Argos and Corinth. [65]
• He helped stop a group of Titans from taking over Mount Olympus . [44]
• He founded the Olympic Games. [66]
• He rescued Typhon and Echidna's newborn son Obstetrius from Bluth and Hera's Archers .
• He trapped the immortal Callisto . [67]

Marriage to Serena and aftermath [ ]

Hercules met his second love, Serena when he went to Ceryneia to rescue the last of the Golden Hinds . At the time he didn't realize that Serena was, in fact, the Golden Hind in human form, although he suspected and found out soon afterwards. Regardless, Hercules fell in love with her, ending his adventures to settle down in Ceryneia. [68]

After settling down and marrying the now-human Serena, she was viciously murdered by the god Strife, framing Hercules in the process. Despite his name being cleared, Hercules still blamed himself for the entire affair and left Ceryneia, travelling by himself once more. [69] During this time, he helped free the mad King Augeus from the influence of Hera . [70]

With the help of Autolycus and the Kronos Stone , Hercules was able to restore Serena to life by changing the past. He restored her mortality and she would later meet and fall in love with another man. Feeling closure, Hercules left to journey once more with Iolaus. [48] [71]

Hercules performed many feats during this time, including:

• Witnessing the destruction of Atlantis [72]
• Destroying the monster Arachne [73]
• Discovering the Strange Reality [74]

He was wrongfully put on trial for involuntary manslaughter and sedition ("encouraging rebellion, denying the authority of the government and undermining the authority of the Olympian Gods") in Athens and found not guilty. [75] He was also briefly turned into a pig by Discord [10] and negotiated an agreement between his brother King Iphicles and Trojan War veterans. [76]

The banishment of Hera [ ]

Following his mother's death, Hercules was approached by Zeus to live on Mount Olympus. He accepted it, before finding out that it was all part of a ploy in picking sides in a war against Hera. Although deceived at first, he later used his powers to defeat Hera and send her down into the Abyss of Tartarus .

Following her banishment, he asked Zeus to lift the order of protection on him, making him fully vulnerable to any direct attacks by other Gods. [77]

Although remaining in Greece for a short time, Hercules and Iolaus soon left for Sumeria when he was approached by an emissary of King Gilgamesh . He journeyed to Sumeria on the pretense that he would help them fight back against their "petty Gods," but soon discovered he was being used as a tool by Dahak, who killed his friend Iolaus in search of a "warrior heart." [78]

After the death of Iolaus [ ]

After Iolaus' death, Hercules immediately ventured into the Sumerian Land of the Dead in an attempt to restore him. This turned out to be impossible and Hercules was resolved to a universe without his friend. [79]

Using the ship of now-Queen Nebula , Hercules sailed to the end of the known world, in the land of Eire where he came across the Druids and the Celts who believed him to be their "Chosen One." He was able to stop the menace of the demigoddess Morrigan by making her the Druid of Justice. [31] He then helped the Celts fight off an attempted invasion by Julius Caesar . [80]

Hercules sailed west from Eire and landed in the Norseland. Although he was at first merely a pawn in Loki (and Dahak)'s scheme, he was able to prevent, or at least postpone, Ragnarok from destroying the Earth. [81] [82]

After a brief return to Eire, Hercules and Morrigan traveled back to Sumeria when there was word that Iolaus was not dead. There, he discovered that Dahak had possessed Iolaus' body and they were unable to free the malevolent entity from him before he fled to Greece. [83] Once in Greece, Hercules had to fight off an entire civilization of Dahak followers (including his stepfather Jason) in order to capture Dahak, secure him, and exorcise him with the help of immortal priest Zarathustra . [84] He was able to accomplish this all and Iolaus' spirit ascended into Heaven . [85]

With Iolaus redeemed and ascended, Morrigan leaving [19] and Nebula returning to Sumeria, Hercules was once again alone in his adventures. He helped stop an active volcano with the Amazon Ephiny [86] before he was responsible for restoring the Olympians to the Earth after they had hid from Dahak in the Strange Universe's Earth. [87]

It was in the Reality Nexus Point that Hercules met once more with Iolaus' counterpart, Iolaus II . This Iolaus left with Hercules back into his reality. Hercules talked Iolaus II into remaining partners with stories of his universe's Iolaus. [12]

Along with Iolaus II, Hercules briefly served as headmaster at the Academy before turning over the reigns permanently to Jason. [27] He restored Nautica to her rightful place "warming the sea," [88] and even ventured all the way to Brittania to help pry it from the harsh rule of a time-lost King Arthur . [89]

Although Iolaus II left the land to live as a merman with Nautica, Hercules wouldn't be alone for long. [90] The regular universe's Iolaus returned from Heaven, temporarily, to warn Hercules that the time of the Apocalypse was occurring. Iolaus and Hercules, with unlikely help from Ares, were able to stop the archangel Michael from unleashing the Four Horsemen and destroying the Earth. [91]

Return of Iolaus and later adventures [ ]

For disrupting the apocalypse, Iolaus was stripped of being a Guardian of the Light and consequently restored as a full human being alongside Hercules, who was more than happy at the situation. [91]

Together, Hercules and the restored Iolaus continued doing what they did best. They:

• Stopped a tactic by the Devil to corrupt them with the release of Xerxos . [92]
• Foiled Deimos ' plan to restore the Kronos Stone. [93]
• Deposed Creon from his rule on Thebes and placed Antigone as its rightful Queen. [94]
• Destroyed the Strygoia Vlad and their rule over Dacia . [95]
• Foiled Ramses plan to use the Necronomicon and take over Egypt. [96]

One of Hercules' major feats in this era, was his destroying of the Titans ( Atlas , Helios and Oceanus ) that were inadvertently unleashed by the young God, Evander . During this crisis, Hera was restored to Olympus, but gave up her anger at Hercules, ending their long feud and promising a more harmonious Olympus from now on. He and Iolaus briefly retired following the incident, but changed their minds a couple minutes later. [97]

Hercules in The Twilight of the Gods [ ]

Zeus is warned by fates that the baby Xena will have will bring about the destruction of the Greek gods, causing the king of the Gods to try to kill the baby. Hercules who was looking for Xena and Gabrielle, to congratulate him on the pregnancy, ends up having to fight the Proxidicae , soldiers in Zeus' secret guard, who reveal they are out to kill Xena and her unborn child. Willing to prevent Zeus from killing Xena's baby, Hercules initially tries to convince his father to give up, but Zeus is adamant, wanting to ensure his survival.

Hercules then with no alternative, decides to go after the only remaining object capable of killing a God, Rib of Kronos , being surprisingly helped by Hera, who prevents Ares from killing Hercules and reveals that he also wants to protect Xena's baby, claiming that his war with Hercules was long over. Although suspicious and still holding a grudge, for Hera having killed his family, Hercules accepts his help.

After finding the Rib of Kronos, Hercules and Hera are attacked by Zeus, who Hera decides to fight so that Hercules returns to Xena, to help her and Gabrielle to fight the Proxidicae.

Without knowing that Zeus disintegrated Hera, Hercules fights his own father, while Gabrielle helps Xena to give birth, however the hero ends up being no match for the King of the Gods, who manages to subdue him and proceed to eliminate Xena and her child. When Zeus is about to strike Xena, Hercules appears and grabbing Rib of Kronos, impaling Zeus with it, killing his own father.

Visibly shaken by that, Hercules tells Zeus that he didn't need to end up like that, with Zeus claiming Hercules that he never disappointed him, especially at that moment, waiting for him to take his place, so finally looking, for Hercules' pain. After Zeus' death, and the birth of Xena's baby, Hercules, still sad, is comforted by Xena and Gabrielle, while enjoying with both of them, Xena's baby, whose name is Eva.

Hercules, though he no longer appears, probably continued to help people with problems in Greece and did not take Zeus' place on Olympus, as Olympian tradition demanded, with Athena taking command of Olympus. It is not known for certain whether of their own accord or on account of the other Gods being against it, since they still wanted to end Xena's baby, most likely it was a little of both, although Gods like Ares and Discord, probably not they tried to retaliate against Hercules, now that Zeus was no longer alive, perhaps because dealing with Xena and his daughter was the priority.

Hercules was present when Iolaus died at the age of 100. [5]

Hercules in the modern era [ ]

Hercules lived on through the centuries not aging or dying: it is not known if this was a natural side-effect of being a son of Zeus and a powerful Half-God or if he had immortality all along.

He was still around in the late 20th century , when he adopted the identity of actor " Kevin Sorbo ." As Sorbo, he held behind-the-scenes control over the production of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys , making it reflect the reality of the Age of Heroes. [32] [5]

Even as Sorbo, Hercules continued his heroic activities, saving a multitude of Los Angelinos during a devastating earthquake [32] and saving much of the Renaissance Pictures staff during an attack at Camp WannaChucka . [5]

Throughout the centuries, Hercules's rivalry with Ares endured.

Relationships [ ]

Friendship and romance [ ].

Hercules' personality was seen as congenial and he maintained many close friendships, and a few romantic relationships, over his journeys throughout the ancient Earth.

His closest sister was Aphrodite [13] [70] [88] His closest God friend was Hephaestus , who also had made his magical gauntlets [88] [98] [93]

His closest friendship was with Iolaus; who he considered a part of his own family. [33]

As a fellow Corinthian, Iolaus was acquainted with Hercules from their youth. As adolescents, Hercules and Iolaus trained together, vowing to both die as "battlefield heroes." [1]

Shortly after, they grew apart and Iolaus became a member of a gang of thieves. It was while he was a thief that Iolaus decided to join Hercules in attending Cheiron's Academy. Many of Hercules' adventures while attending the Academy were at Iolaus and Jason's side. [7]

Sometime shortly after their Academy days, Iolaus perished in a fight with the Amazons of Gargarencia. This was the first major loss in Hercules' life and it affected him tremendously. Combined with the death of Amazon Queen Hippolyta, Hercules was able to convince Zeus that the entire affair was the result of Hera and the events were wiped from history (using the Amazon's special blue candle to actually go back in time), restoring Iolaus. [1]

When Hercules grew distraught over family life, it only took a visit from Iolaus to lift his spirits, something which eased Deianeira. Despite them both having families, they would still occasionally have adventures, such as investigating the minotaur , Gryphus. [38]

Iolaus attempted to put Hercules on the right path after his family was killed. Although he managed to get Hercules to help people once more, most of their early adventuring were apart. [50] [20]

The first major hurdle of their friendship came when the Warrior Princess, Xena, was able to coerce Iolaus into fighting Hercules in a ploy to kill him. She nearly succeeded, but they vowed never to let it happen again. [58]

After the Xena incident, they paired up together more, both serving as gladiators [57] and fighting against a plot of Ares [54] , before focusing their attention on stopping Xena's army . [59]

When Iolaus was arrested on a false charge of thievery and sentenced to death , Hercules did all he could to get him found innocent, even going so far as to catch the elusive King of Thieves, the actual culprit. [60] Hercules even went so far as to return Iolaus from the dead after he was killed by a second Enforcer of Hera. [6]

Iolaus would return the favor, preventing a time-travelling Callisto from murdering an unborn Hercules. [43]

After Iolaus's ritualistic death in Sumeria, Hercules was unable to restore Iolaus' soul and set out on a journey to the ends of the Earth. [79] When Dahak possessed Iolaus' body and soul, it heavily affected Hercules, who didn't want to see any harm done to his friend. [83] With the help of the priest Zarathustra, and Iolaus' warrior spirit, Hercules was able to exorcise Dahak from his friend and watched painfully as Iolaus ascended to Heaven as a Guardian of the Light. [85]

Iolaus's ascension was still tough on Hercules, although he was helped by the presence of Iolaus II. [12]

Iolaus would return to Hercules to warn him about the upcoming Apocalypse and was consequently returned to mortal form, (when he 'violated' the rules for being a Guardian of Light, his 'punishment' was that he would return to earth and carry on as a mortal) once again journeying alongside his best friend. [91]

Deianeira [ ]

Hercules' first wife, Deianeira, helped him restore fire to the Earth. [49]

Together, they married and started a family. They raised three children, Aeson, Klonus, and Ilea. They worked with their stablemaster, Nessus , who was madly in love with Deianeira. When Iole asked for Hercules' help, Nessus used the opportunity to convince Deianeira that he would leave her and persuaded her to give him a cursed cloak, that threw Hercules into the Underworld (she was told it would make him stay in love with her). Because of the despair she felt for having supposedly killed her husband, Deianeira threw herself off of a cliff. She was restored to mortal life when Hercules convinced Hades that her death was unnatural. [11]

They continued their familial bliss until Deianeira and their children were killed by Hera in her ongoing vengeance against Hercules. [50] Hercules was deeply affected by Deianeira's death. He would "talk" to her while walking near his old home [56] , his love for her, years later, broke the jealousy spell given to him by Cupid [13] and her name brought back his memories after he suffered from temporary memory loss. [17]

Unlike mortal men, Hercules was able to visit Deianeira and his family in the Underworld, something he did on at least three occassions. [63] [6] The last occurrence was to announce his intention to re-marry, something which she did not take very well at first. But she attended his wedding to Serena in spirit; with the children. [8]

Hercules' second wife was Serena, the last of the Golden Hinds. When he first met her, in mortal form, she claimed to be a healer and follower of Ares. He persuaded her to heal Iolaus, who was sick after being hit with a hind's blood arrow. He fell in love with Serena, even after he discovered she was a Golden Hind. [68]

Together, they were able to free her from the influence of Ares, with both of them becoming full-fledged mortal beings. They married with Iolaus in attendance. [8]

Unfortunately, their wedded bliss did not last after she was killed by Strife. This second tragedy in Hercules' life also took its toll on him. He was mad at Zeus for not reversing the death himself [69] and both Dahak and Sin would use her image to torture Hercules in later situations. [79] [92]

With the help of the Kronos Stone, Hercules was able to reverse Serena's death, with the unfortunate side effect of her marrying another man . Getting some closure, Hercules left her alone with her new family along with her being unfamiliar with him. [48]

Awkwardly, Hercules would meet Serena once more, during the events surrounding the second Iolaus's marriage to Nautica. [90]

Hercules, Iolaus, and Jason

Perhaps Hercules most powerful friend, at least in their younger days, Jason was the Prince and later King of Corinth and Argos. He first met Hercules after he enrolled as a common cadet at Cheiron's Academy. It was on Jason's legendary trip to find the Golden Fleece that Hercules first gained a measure of fame. [7]

At the Academy, Jason was often accompanied by Hercules and Iolaus in their training and vacations. They both participated in the Corinthian Games. [37] Through Jason, Hercules met some of the most powerful Kings and rulers in ancient Greece, such as Leeseus of Athens. [15] Through Hercules, Jason met some of the mythical Gods and Goddesses of Olympus, such as Hephaestus, god of fire. [22]

Even after his coronation, Jason kept in touch with his Academy pals. [99] He would lose touch with Hercules over the years as both men settled down with families. Parallel to each other, they both lost their families due to the machinations of Hera, except Jason dove into alcoholism while Hercules became more of a hero. [65]

With Hercules and Iolaus' help, Jason was restored to royal stature. He would later give up his throne to marry Hercules' mother, Alcmene, making him family, and friend, to the mighty hero. [23] He testified for the defense in Hercules' Athenian trial. [75]

Due to their friendship, Jason was the only one in Greece able to break free from Dahak's spell and aide Hercules in exorcising Iolaus. [84]

Hercules' faith in Jason's ability to rule ultimately helped him to; make the decision to appoint Jason his successor as headmaster at Cheiron's Academy. [27]

Other romantic relationships [ ]

Hercules and Nemesis

Hercules received teasing from his friends for being a virgin well into his late teens. ( HTLJ : " Medea Culpa ")

While at the Academy, Hercules met a woman named Yvenna, whom he fell in love with. She accompanied him, Jason, and Iolas in their quest to find the Golden Fleece, but was killed in a fight with the giant guarding it, Talos . Hercules later journeyed to her home village to free her people from slavery as a tribute to her memory. [7] Later, he went on his first blind date, with a woman named Tara. A being named Galatea , created by Hephaestus as his date, fell in love with Hercules for a brief period, causing much dismay. [22] Other romances during his academy days included Cyane [100] and Eurydice. [16]

Shortly after his Academy days, he had a relationship with Medea, which nearly broke up his friendship with Jason. [18]

Hercules believed that the Amazon Queen Hippolyta might be his soul mate, but he never pursued her. [1] Princess Deianeira of Troy attempted to start a relationship with Hercules, but he shunned her, urging her to rule her people. [4] While married to his wife Deianeira, Iole attempted to seduce Hercules, despite being in a relationship with Lycastus . [11]

After his family's death, King Thespius sent his fifty daughters to Hercules in the hopes that he would impregnate them. He tried to ditch them at every turn. [51] Although he hoped Salmoneus would keep the daughters at bay, they later attempted to seduce Hercules again at his mother's wedding. [23]

Nemesis, a goddess who worked as Hera's enforcer, was another close relationship of Hercules', having met her in his youth. [20] Due to her feelings for Hercules, Hera made Nemesis a mortal. Although Hercules wanted to remain with the now-mortal Nemesis, she wished to remain alone and let Hercules continue his adventures. [62] She returned with a baby some time later and told Hercules it was his, although it turned out to be Ares'. [101]

Xena's friendship with Hercules bordered on the romantic side. She held strong feelings of love for Hercules after he helped redeem her, so much that she cried at having to go on her own journey. Hercules one time even considered that Xena was his soul mate. [59] Gabrielle believed that Hercules and Xena would've been a good relationship. [102]

Hercules fell madly in love with Psyche after being hit by one of Cupid's arrows, but was able to shrug it off with memories of his love for Deianeira. [13]

Atalanta had unrequited love for Hercules, so much so that she created a double with help of Hephaestus. [103]

Morrigan, like Hercules, was a Half-God. She was originally a nemesis of Hercules during his journey to Eire when he was shaken by the death of Iolaus and had lost faith in himself [79] , but he was able to redeem her, installing her as the Druid of Justice. [31] He freed her from Kernunnos ' influence before sailing off briefly to the Norselands. [80] She accompanied Hercules on his journey back to Sumeria and Greece, fighting against Dahak's influence. It was in Cyprus that she left him. She decided that if they remained in Greece, she would be unable to fulfill her duties as a Druid, and if they lived in Eire, he wouldn't be able to be the Greeks' hero. She would later return from Eire and explain her reasoning to a saddened Hercules. [19] Hercules again fought alongside Morrigan on a journey to Brittania, not as romantic partners, but as good friends. [89]

Powers and Abilities [ ]

As a demi-god and the son of Zeus, Hercules possessed great powers and his powers are much more potent than other demi-gods; due to him being a direct child of the king of the Olympians.

• Divine force: His primary power was his superhuman strength. Depending on the situation, he had the strength of ten, twenty, a hundred, even a thousand men. [20] [18] [101] [104] [9] He was known as the "Strongest Man in the World" and he lived up to this title many times.
• Rivaling with the Gods: Although a half-god or demigod, his strength was equal or superior to several Gods that allowed him to rival them in hand to hand combat. In a confrontation with Hades he was able to make the God of the Underworld bleed. He can easily manhandle gods or goddess who are physically smaller than him such as Strife , Deimos , and Discord , and fight gods or goddesses that are expert combatants such as Ares and Callisto with him winning.
• Superhuman Jump: Hercules could make leaps of tens of meters.
• Superhuman Stamina: Hercules could run and perform other activities without getting tired easily, Iolaus complained of getting tired when they ran, he wanted Hercules to be mortal to know what fatigue is. He kept his physical fitness even without eating for three days.
• Superhuman Resistance: Hercules was able to withstand damage that could easily kill humans; such as brute force impacts, blows from beings with superhuman strength, heavy objects and falls from great heights. He possessed a high immunity to disease, poison, viruses and magic, and was able to withstand almost any attack. [81] [82] [72] [17] [84] Hercules struggled with his mortal side throughout much of his life as a god-like strongman and attacks did seem to hurt him, thought not as severe as ordinary human beings.
• Superhuman Regeneration: Hercules was able to recover from severe damage in a short period of time, cuts and bruises in a matter of minutes, impalements and fractures in a matter of a few hours or days. With the arrest of Prometheus, humanity lost its ability to recover, but being Half-God Hercules wasn't affected. He was highly tolerant to alcoholic beverages, large amounts were needed to make him drunk.
• Divine Perception: Due to being half-god; when nearby Olympians were invisible, inaudible and intangible to mortals, Hercules was able to see, hear and touch them. Although some Gods were able to mask their presence from Hercules, it required extra effort on their part. There may be an element of practice required for this sense, as Hercules was unable to detect the presence of Gods when he was younger, and Xena , after enough exposure to them, was able to sense the presence of Ares and Aphrodite even though she had no divine ancestry.
• Spiritual Perception: Hades granted this power to Hercules so that he could interact with the ghost of Timuron in order to take King Sisyphus to the underworld, apparently this power was only available for that occasion.
• Superhuman Reflexes: In several episodes Hercules has been seen dodging arrows, and other objects or being able to catch them before hitting or hitting other people.
• Superhuman Agility: Hercules demonstrates the ability of perfect balance and/or body coordination to a point far superior to that of a normal human being in Earth's gravity. Wrong way climbed a mountain without accessories, to escape the fans who were chasing him, he even walked on top of a clothesline.
• Superhuman Aim: Armed with incredible precision, he could deliver extraordinary shots and throws that might be considered impossible for the average person, whether in combat or out of it. He could hit very small targets and/or incredibly large distances, calculate the trajectory of targets to hit them on the move, and use the environment to ricochet their shots and hit multiple targets.
• Precognitive Dreams: Hercules was able to predict possible futures through dreams.
• Intuitive Aptitude: Callisto said he would have to be as smart as he is strong to solve a temporal riddle, the requirement for passage through the Labyrinth of the Gods to the Tree of Life , which he accomplished. [67] Iolaus had noted he was always right, prompting Hercules to say it was a "Half-God thing," with Iolaus using the same reasoning regarding Hercules' obscure knowledge. [105] [73] [91] [96] Hercules even believed the Earth to be round and devised a heliocentric model as a self-proclaimed genius. [42] [78] [97] He was talented in smithing, forging a knife with the help of Iolaus, whom deemed it perfect. [58]
• Telepathy: When Hercules was trapped between the worlds he was able to communicate with Iolaus through thoughts.
• Superhuman Speed: Hercules learned, from the Druids, how to tap into the natural power of Eire to gain superhuman speed, however this power has a restriction, it is only available while he is in Irish territory. [31] [80]
• Astral Projection: Hercules demonstrated this ability quite unintentionally when he lent his body so that the young Timuron who died before their wedding night could consummate the marriage. It was also when he completed the last test set by Mabon as he lowered his heart rate and his spirit was able to project itself above the lake.
• Sonic Scream: When confronted the Sumerian Underworld God Dumuzi and he said that Iolaus' soul was lost forever, in despair at not being able to bring his friend back Hercules screamed Iolaus' name, and the sound waves broke the pool where the souls were trapped.
• Talk to Animals: When Discordia stole Artemis' bow and shot Hercules he turned into a pig and in this form he could talk to other animals.
• Immunity to the stoppage of time: On two occasions in the series, where time was frozen Hercules proved to be immune to time stoppage, the first was Autolicus using Kronos' Stone to stop time, but he kept active, the same happened when Ares stopped time to kill the cast of the series.
• Photographic Memory: Hercules under the pseudonym of actor Kevin Sorbo was able to describe to the production team with vividness of detail the ancient Germanic territories.
• Superhuman Longevity: Hercules was always uncertain as to whether he could be killed like a mortal man, as this was impossible to test. His own father, Zeus, told him that; he was mortal; but it is clear that; Zeus was not telling the truth or wasn't sure himself. [11] [63] [64] It seems; with his existence; into the 20th Century and not aging for over five thousand years he had immortality all along. [32] [5] It took the hind's blood dagger , used to kill some of the other Gods, to kill Hercules's strange reality evil counterpart, the Sovereign . [87]
• He possessed great superhuman dexterity and accuracy with anything he did whether it was shooting a bow and arrow, catching an arrow, fighting, fishing, playing a guitar or dancing [66] [106] [63] [103] [70] [12] [97] Blindness did not really deter these abilities either, as Hercules honed his senses by learning to fight blind-folded. [55] [7]
• His wisdom, charms and passion was known far and wide, which Hercules attributed to his mortal mother Alcmene rather than Zeus. [20] [90] [93] [9]

Abilities [ ]

• Training: Chiron and Ceridian Academy
• Combat Skill and Combat Strategy
• Tactical Analysis: Development of plans and plans, being trained in leadership
• Armed and Unarmed Combat Proficiency: Is proficient in armed and unarmed combat
• Hand-to-hand combat
• Master of ancient and modern martial arts, having been trained for millennia, she is a warrior with very diverse training.
• Melee fighting techniques;
• Archery fighting techniques;
• Fighting Techniques with Unarmed Attack;
• Fighting Techniques with War Tactics;
• Fighting Techniques with Mounted Combat;
• and is also trained in all the skills of armed and unarmed fighting of ancient Greece;
• Notions of First Aid, Medicinal Plants and Aesculapius' Divine Help;

Godhood [ ]

Hercules gained full Godhood on two occasions. The first was as a young man, shortly after his days at the Academy. He was given ambrosia by the God Apollo, but his Godhood was disapproved of by Zeus. He later had his Half-God status returned after he realized how cruel and uncaring some of the Gods could be. [9] As a full God, Hercules was indestructible and extremely powerful and strong as only someone like Zeus could overpower him. He also possessed healing, regeneration, conjuring, telekinesis, magical shielding, invisibility, teleportation, and fire throwing powers. [77]

It was likely during this time that Hercules and the other Gods mocked Proteus . [107]

Shortly after Hercules' mother's death, he was granted Godhood by Zeus, to have him on his side and in order to assist in a war against Hera. But he got rid of his full power after banishing Hera, in order to return to his Half-God self "how the Fates working for Zeus made (him)". [9] [77]

Mortality [ ]

Hercules gave up the powers granted to him by his divine blood on one occasion. [8] When he wished to marry Serena, who was under Ares protection, Hercules gave up his powers and had a tough time adjusting to mortal life. His supernatural strength and powers were returned by Zeus after he discovered Ares reneged on his bargain to make sure Hercules didn't have a happy marriage. [69]

Cyrus and Oi-Lan , two former slaves freed; by Hercules, promised to name their first son after him. [56]

Tales of Hercules were told even in his own time. They would be used to inspire heroes as late as the 18th century [108] and would even help inspire the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys . [32]

Gallery [ ]

As portrayed by kevin sorbo [ ].

As Portrayed by Ian Bohen [ ]

As Portrayed by Ryan Gosling [ ]

Other portrayals [ ]

Costume Designs [ ]

Background Information [ ]

• As a young man he was portrayed by Ian Bohen in flashback appearances for Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and the Young Hercules film. Ryan Gosling took over the role for the Young Hercules series.
• Jacques Dupeyroux and Peter Malloch portrayed younger versions of Hercules in Hercules and the Amazon Women .
• An uncredited pig played Hercules in " Porkules "
• Unlike Xena , no actors portrayed Hercules in a body-swapping incident.
• Hercules is the only one of the main characters in HTLJ and XTWP (others being Iolaus , Xena , and Gabrielle ) that has never died once.
• He is the only demigod or half-god to ever gained godhood and becomes a full god, twice in the franchise. He is also the only mortal or half-mortal character to give up godhood.
• "Hercules" in fact the Roman version of the Greek Herakles . In modern times, the Roman version is more recognizable. Other characters following this convention are Bacchus , Cupid , Discord , Fortune , and Ulysses .
• In Greek mythology, Herakles was regarded as the greatest hero of all, and was outright worshipped as a God by some Greeks, to the scandal of others. His name means "Hera's glory", a desperate attempt to placate the goddess's wrath. One version holds that his powers weren't the inherent result of his divine parentage, but the result of Hera briefly nursing him from her own breast as a baby. The same incident led to the creation and naming of the Milky Way in the heavens, and gave us the word "galaxy" (from the Greek word for "milky").
• In Roman mythology, Hercules's story was much the same, but the Romans had no qualms about worshipping him. The later emperors of Rome strongly identified with him as a patron.
• Tales of Herakles date back to oral traditions from at least the 8th century BCE, purportedly relating events that occurred somewhere between the 12th and 10th centuries BCE. Most Xenaverse productions are eventually established as taking place in a fantastical version of the 1st century BCE.
• In the unrelated Greek myth-laden continuity of the videogame series God Of War, Kevin Sorbo voices the protagonist Kratos' half-brother, Hercules, perhaps as an in-joke. This version of the character is full of bluster, gigantic, armored with empowering artifacts and thoroughly under the thumb of the Gods Of Olympus, with even Hera being able to manipulate him against another hated step-son. When this Hercules faces Kratos, the vicious warrior offers to allow Hercules to depart unharmed, something nearly unheard of in the series, possibly owing to the havoc being Zeus's son inflicted on both their lives. When this is refused, Hercules meets the sort of brutal end most of Kratos' opponents do.
• Unsurprisingly for a late 20th-century production, Hercules is portrayed as being heterosexual, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as a whole contains little subtext . The mythological Herakles would be considered bisexual or pansexual today, as many mythographers relate that his male lovers were "beyond counting".
• In 2010, SyFy announced the project "Legendary" in which the actor Kevin Sorbo plays a fictional version of himself, approached by a fan to use the strength of his famous character in fighting mythological creatures that threaten Los Angeles. Unfortunately the project was dropped.
• Lead actor Kevin Sorbo himself said in an interview how his character's inconsistencies annoyed him, but he just followed the script, so I don't know if these discrepancies were due to low budget, Hercules' own restraint or more likely carelessness of writers, it is strange that Hercules can compete with beings with supernatural strength, such as Gods, giants, exterminators and even after successive blows to the head he maintains consciousness, not to mention that most of the time it comes out unscathed from rock collapses, and is rendered unconscious by a blow to the head caused by a mortal who technically would not have the strength to violate his semi-divine durability.

Notable kills [ ]

• Janus the Warlock
• Blue Priest

Appearances [ ]

Hercules has more appearances than any other character in the Xenaverse with 169 canonical appearances across three shows and six movies (not counting the animated one). He has appeared in a total of eight seasons across three shows. A full list of appearances can be found here .

Mentions and References [ ]

Hercules: the legendary journeys [ ].

• " Love Takes a Holiday " (mentioned)
• " The Lost City " (mentioned)

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Hercules and the Amazon Women
• ↑ YH : " The Treasure of Zeus: Part 1 "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Regrets... I've Had a Few "
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hercules and the Lost Kingdom
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 HTLJ : " For Those of You Just Joining Us "
• ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 HTLJ : " Not Fade Away "
• ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 Young Hercules
• ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 HTLJ : " When a Man Loves a Woman "
• ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 HTLJ : " Top God "
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 HTLJ : " Porkules "
• ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Hercules in the Underworld
• ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 HTLJ : " Just Passing Through "
• ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 HTLJ : " The Green-Eyed Monster "
• ↑ XWP comic : " The Marriage of Hercules and Xena "
• ↑ 15.0 15.1 YH : " Amazon Grace "
• ↑ 16.0 16.1 YH : " Lure of the Lyre "
• ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 HTLJ : " Prince Hercules "
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 HTLJ : " Medea Culpa "
• ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 HTLJ : " We'll Always Have Cyprus "
• ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 HTLJ : " Pride Comes Before a Brawl "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Heedless Hearts "
• ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 YH : " Cyrano de Hercules "
• ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 HTLJ : " The Wedding of Alcmene "
• ↑ 24.0 24.1 RPG : Secrets of the Ancient World
• ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 HTLJ : " The Apple "
• ↑ XWP novel : Go Quest, Young Man
• ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 HTLJ : " The Academy "
• ↑ 28.0 28.1 XWP comic : " Revenge of the Gorgons "
• ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 XWP : " God Fearing Child "
• ↑ XWP comic : " The Way We Were "
• ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 HTLJ : " Resurrection "
• ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 HTLJ : " Yes, Virginia, There is a Hercules "
• ↑ 33.0 33.1 HTLJ : " What's in a Name? "
• ↑ 34.0 34.1 HTLJ : " Ares "
• ↑ YH : " Lure of the Lyre "
• ↑ 36.0 36.1 XWP : " Punch Lines "
• ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 YH : " Winner Take All "
• ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur
• ↑ YH : " Down and Out in Academy Hills "
• ↑ 40.0 40.1 YH : " Mommy Dearests "
• ↑ 41.0 41.1 XWP : " Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts "
• ↑ 42.0 42.1 HTLJ : " Armageddon Now "
• ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 HTLJ : " Armageddon Now Part 2 "
• ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mt. Olympus
• ↑ HTLJ : " Centaur Mentor Journey "
• ↑ Young Hercules
• ↑ HTLJ : " Twilight "
• ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 HTLJ : " The End of the Beginning "
• ↑ 49.0 49.1 Hercules and the Circle of Fire
• ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 HTLJ : " The Wrong Path "
• ↑ 51.0 51.1 HTLJ : " Eye of the Beholder "
• ↑ HTLJ : " The Road to Calydon "
• ↑ HTLJ : " The Festival of Dionysus "
• ↑ 54.0 54.1 HTLJ : " The Vanishing Dead "
• ↑ 55.0 55.1 HTLJ : " As Darkness Falls "
• ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 HTLJ : " The March to Freedom "
• ↑ 57.0 57.1 HTLJ : " Gladiator "
• ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 HTLJ : " The Warrior Princess "
• ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 HTLJ : " Unchained Heart "
• ↑ 60.0 60.1 HTLJ : " The King of Thieves "
• ↑ HTLJ : " The Mother of All Monsters "
• ↑ 62.0 62.1 HTLJ : " The Enforcer "
• ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 63.3 HTLJ : " The Other Side "
• ↑ 64.0 64.1 HTLJ : " Highway to Hades "
• ↑ 65.0 65.1 HTLJ : " Once a Hero "
• ↑ 66.0 66.1 HTLJ : " Let the Games Begin "
• ↑ 67.0 67.1 HTLJ : " Surprise "
• ↑ 68.0 68.1 HTLJ : " Encounter "
• ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 HTLJ : " Judgment Day "
• ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 HTLJ : " Reign of Terror "
• ↑ HTLJ : " War Bride "
• ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 HTLJ : " Atlantis "
• ↑ 73.0 73.1 HTLJ : " Web of Desire "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Stranger in a Strange World "
• ↑ 75.0 75.1 HTLJ : " Hercules on Trial "
• ↑ HTLJ : " War Wounds "
• ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.3 77.4 HTLJ : " Reunions "
• ↑ 78.0 78.1 HTLJ : " Faith "
• ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 HTLJ : " Descent "
• ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 HTLJ : " Render Unto Caesar "
• ↑ 81.0 81.1 HTLJ : " Norse By Norsevest "
• ↑ 82.0 82.1 HTLJ : " Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge "
• ↑ 83.0 83.1 HTLJ : " Darkness Rising "
• ↑ 84.0 84.1 84.2 HTLJ : " Let There Be Light "
• ↑ 85.0 85.1 HTLJ : " Redemption "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Sky High "
• ↑ 87.0 87.1 HTLJ : " Stranger and Stranger "
• ↑ 88.0 88.1 88.2 HTLJ : " Love on the Rocks "
• ↑ 89.0 89.1 HTLJ : " Once Upon a Future King "
• ↑ 90.0 90.1 90.2 HTLJ : " My Best Girl's Wedding "
• ↑ 91.0 91.1 91.2 91.3 HTLJ : " Revelations "
• ↑ 92.0 92.1 HTLJ : " Be Deviled "
• ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 HTLJ : " Love, Amazon Style "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Rebel With a Cause "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Darkness Visible "
• ↑ 96.0 96.1 HTLJ : " City of the Dead "
• ↑ 97.0 97.1 97.2 HTLJ : " Full Circle "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Love Takes a Holiday "
• ↑ YH : " The Head That Wears the Crown "
• ↑ YH : " Girl Trouble "
• ↑ 101.0 101.1 HTLJ : " Two Men and a Baby "
• ↑ 102.0 102.1 XWP : " Prometheus "
• ↑ 103.0 103.1 HTLJ : " If I Had a Hammer "
• ↑ HTLJ : " A Rock and a Hard Place "
• ↑ HTLJ : " The Sword of Veracity "
• ↑ 106.0 106.1 HTLJ : " ...And Fancy Free "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Protean Challenge "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Les Contemptibles "
• ↑ HTLJ : " All That Glitters "
• ↑ HTLJ : " The Fire Down Below "
• ↑ HTLJ : " Beanstalks and Bad Eggs "
• ↑ Promotional Image

External links [ ]

• Heracles at Wikipedia
• Hercules at Wikipedia
• Hercules from Disney Wikia
• Hercules from Disney's Hercules Wikia
• Hercules from Riordan Wikia
• Hercules from God of War Wikia
• Hercules from Immortalspedia Wikia
• Hercules from DC Wikia
• Hercules from Marvel Wikia
• Hercules' Song Go The Distance from Heroism Wikia
• Hercules from Disney Fan Fiction Wikia
• Hercules from Atlantis Wikia
• Hercules from Marvel: Avengers Allience Wikia
• Hercules from Mythic Warriors Wikia
• Hercules from Kingdom Hearts Unlimited Wikia
• Hercules from Greek Myth Wikia
• Hercules from Heroes Wikia
• Hercules from Villains Wikia
• Heracles from  Unnatural World Wikia

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Episode list

Hercules: the legendary journeys.

S3.E1 ∙ Mercenary

S3.E2 ∙ Doomsday

S3.E3 ∙ Love Takes a Holiday

S3.E4 ∙ Mummy Dearest

S3.E5 ∙ Not Fade Away

S3.E6 ∙ Monster Child in the Promised Land

S3.E7 ∙ The Green-Eyed Monster

S3.E8 ∙ Prince Hercules

S3.E9 ∙ A Star to Guide Them

S3.E10 ∙ The Lady and the Dragon

S3.E11 ∙ Long Live the King

S3.E12 ∙ Surprise

S3.E13 ∙ Encounter

S3.E14 ∙ When a Man Loves a Woman

S3.E15 ∙ Judgment Day

S3.E16 ∙ The Lost City

S3.E17 ∙ Les Contemptibles

S3.E18 ∙ Reign of Terror

S3.E19 ∙ The End of the Beginning

S3.E20 ∙ War Bride

S3.E21 ∙ A Rock and a Hard Place

S3.E22 ∙ Atlantis

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Ferry through the fjord, Albania

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High ride on the bus, Montenegro-Croatia

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Cycling adventures on Norway’s Lofoten Islands

The mountains of the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Arctic Circle are ideal for exploring by bike as you pass between them rather than over them. I’ve never seen such striking serrated peaks from a bicycle – and with such little effort. Bridges linking the islands add to the interest. I started at Svolvær and finished at the southern tip of the archipelago at Å, the prettiest of the villages, all with red wooden houses and, invariably, racks of cod hanging out to dry. You can put your bike on the bus for the return journey. Paul Kirkwood

Readers' tips: send a tip for a chance to win a £200 voucher for a Coolstays break

Guardian Travel readers' tips

Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage

White night delight on a Scandi ferry ride

One leisurely romantic trip I enjoyed last summer was an open-air deck passage across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Stockholm. Even better, the route is part of Interrail, so there is 30% off the €95 one-way fare on Tallink ferries. I was lucky enough to take it in June, so watched the sun set at 3am, and then rise a couple of hours later. This time in Scandinavia is known as “white nights”. To be on the water watching the setting sun cast its rays on the waves and the moonlight play with the ripples as a ship glides towards its destination, land lights twinkling in the distance, is magical. I wanted the 17-hour journey to go slower, not faster! Ann

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To Tropea, Italy, on the Coast of the Gods line

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