Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00 – Season Zero)

Title of the Works: Hercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Amazon WomenHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Lost KingdomHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Circle of FireHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules in the UnderworldHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules in the Maze of the MinotaurThe Hercules: The Legendary Journeys franchise, starring Kevin Sorbo in the titular role, is b(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America

TAGS: Afterlife Alcmene Amazons Ancient Sacrifice Centaur(s) Cerberus Charon Chiron / Cheiron Deianeira Elysian Fields / Elysium Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Immortality Iolaus Katabasis Labyrinth Lydia Minotaur Nessus Omphale Prometheus Sea Monsters Sea-Serpent Styx Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E02): Hercules and the Lost Kingdom

This film’s narrative finds little direct precedent within ancient mythology but draws upon several identifiable themes/tropes for inspiration. After successfully saving a village from a giant, Hercules is approached by a messenger who asks for the hero’s help: his people have been forced out of their home-town, the “lost kingdom” of Troy. Zeus reveals that Hera caused the disappearance of Troy and, in order to find it, Hercules requires the “true compass”. &n(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America

TAGS: Ancient Sacrifice Deianeira Hera Hercules Lydia Omphale Sea-Serpent Troy Zeus

Mark Hess, Kathryn Lasky

Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero

This of Hercules begins with his birth as "Palaemon" and Hera's initial attempt on his life by sending the two serpents to his cradle. After accidentally killing his teacher, Palaemon's mother sends him away. Although he thinks of himself as a monster, Palaemon goes on to make quite a name for himself as a strong warrior, not a monster, and was very happy until Hera tricks him into killing his family. This is when he becomes "Hercules", Hera's glory, and is sent t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Apollo Atlas Augean Stables Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Cretan Bull Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Lydia Megara Minyans Nemean Lion Nessus Olympus Omphale Palaemon Stymphalian Birds Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Solon. The Wise Statesman [Σόλωνας, ο σοφός νομοθέτης (Sólōnas, o sofós nomothétīs)]

Solon is presented, right from the book’s opening page, as a wise and well-travelled individual who set the foundations of Athenian democracy. The city-states of Solon’s time were governed by tyrants. Solon travelled around the world, studying the laws of different places. When he returned to Athens, the book continues, people were distressed that the Megarians had taken over Salamis. After Solon’s motivational speech in the Agora, the Athenians followed his crafty plan to figh(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Agora Areopagus / Areios Pagos Athens Croesus Cyprus Egypt Heliaia Lydia Megara (Polis) Salamis Solon