Hercules: His 12 Quests Like Perseus, Hercules was required to perform the miracu-lous. But instead of having to bring only one mission to a successful close, Hercules was ordered to complete twelve great tasks, which are often referred to in literature as "the labors of Hercules." This is how the challenge came about. Hercules was the son of Jupiter and Alcmene, daughter of the king of Mycenae. When Hercules was born, Juno in a jealous anger …showed first 75 words of 1856 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1856 total…was a centaur, half man and half horse. He offered to carry Deianira across, but he tried to kidnap her. Hercules shot the centaur and retrieved his bride. Before his death, however, Nessus told Deianira his blood would forever preserve Hercules' love. Later, when Hercules fell in love with another, Deianira gave Hercules a shirt that had been steeped in Nessus' blood. Hercules died in agony but was carried off to be with the immortals.