Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Robert Graves

This is a dryly humorous children's anthology of myth by Robert Graves, better known for his earlier mythography work The Greek Myths. It tells key Greek myths, with a focus on the personalities of the key gods who it introduces in the opening chapter. There are no illustrations. The stories included are:The Palace of Olympus (introduction to the different gods),Other Gods and Goddesses,Demeter's Lost Daughter,The Titans,The Underworld of Tartarus,The Birth of Hermes,Orpheus,Deucalion(...)

literary

YEAR: 1960

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Admetus Alcestis Amphitrite Apollo Artemis Athena Hades Hera Heracles Hermes Marsyas Omphale Persephone Pirithous / Perithous Poseidon Theseus Zeus

Janusz Towpik, Jadwiga Żylińska

Heracles’ Story [Opowieść o Heraklesie]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.This story is an adaptation of the Heracles’ myth covering selected stories from ancient sources. Among them, the story of the Twelve Labours and a few other stories were originally interpreted by Żylińska. For instance, th(...)

literary

YEAR: 1973

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Amazons Artemis Athena Atlas Augeas Centaur(s) Chiron / Cheiron Creon Demeter Dionysus / Dionysos Hera Heracles Hippolyta Omphale Persephone Zeus

Georges Moroz

Hercules: The Complete Myths of a Legendary Hero

The book narrates the life of Hercules from his birth, his madness, the twelve labours, his war campaigns (the war against Troy, for example) and finally his death and apotheosis. The book is in novel form.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Atlas Creon Deianeira Delphic Oracle Eurystheus Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Megara Nessus Omphale Poseidon Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

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

Ryan Madison

Hercules’ First Six Tasks: Short Stories Teens to Young Adult

In this installment we have a part of Hercules’ adventures mixed with other historical figures such as Alexander the Great. There is no decisive chronological development for the narrative. Hercules receives different tasks from Zeus and on the way he meets all kind of people, such as the mysterious King Phillip, the king of his home-land; he also meets Helen and Alexander, and Oedipus’ family.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Alcmene Alexander the Great Antigone Augean Stables Deianeira Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Hades Helen Helios Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Nemean Lion Oedipus Omphale Sphinx Stymphalian Birds Thespius Zeus

Jose Alfonso Ocampo Ruiz , Martin Powell

The Adventures of Hercules

In five comic book chapters, Martin Powell tells the story of Hercules and his adventures through the medium of a comic. With a page-length section ‘About Hercules’ prefacing the comic, the story is focussed on the retelling of Hercules’ adventures by a sixth-century Ithacan man to his grandchildren. The first chapter, entitled ‘Son of Zeus,’ details the vanquishing of the seemingly invulnerable Nemean Lion by Hercules and then the subsequent second labour, the(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Artemis Cretan Bull Deianeira Eurystheus Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Iphitos of Oechalia Nemean Lion Nessus Olympus Omphale Pholus Zeus

Robert Newman

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at teenage children, in novel format. At the end of the book there is an alphabetic list of characters of humans/non-humans and a short explanation of each.The story begins with Hercules’ birth and Hera tricking Zeus to bless Eurystheus instead of Hercules with the reign over Mycenae. Having realized that he was trapped, Zeus promises that nevertheless “Hercules will perform deeds so glorious that his name will be remembered forever.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1972

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Atlas Augean Stables Chiron / Cheiron Copreus Deianeira Delphi Dodona Eleusinian Mysteries Eurystheus Fate Geryon Gorgon(s) Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hermes Hestia Hydra Iole Iphicles Medusa Megara Meleager Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Omphale Oracles Prophecy Pythia Thebes Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Underworld Zeus

Christina Balit, James Riordan

The Twelve Labours of Hercules

A picture book retelling of the story of Hercules’ life and the twelve labors he performed, aimed at younger readers and readers interested in visual storytelling. Text is accompanied by opulent pictures.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Admete Alcmene Alpheus Amazons Argonauts Artemis Athena Atlas Augean Stables Augeas Cacus Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Chiron / Cheiron Colchis Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes’ Mares Dionysus / Dionysos Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Eurytos Geryon Geryon's Cattle Golden Fleece Hades Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hyllus Iolaus Iole Iphitos of Oechalia Jason Ladon Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nereid(s) Nereus Nessus Nymphs Olympus Omphale Peneus Perseus Pollux Poseidon Stymphalian Birds Styx Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld White Bull Zeus