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We begin in Heracles' hometown of Thebes. He's a total stud, a global hero, and the most popular mortal known to man.
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For some reason, Heracles' hometown of Thebes has to pay homage every year to Erginus, the king of the Minyans. This really frosts Heracles' cookie. One day, he comes across some Minyans in the road, and he cuts off their ears, noses, and hands. Hearing of this, the King of the Minyans is enraged and declares war on Heracles and the people of Thebes. Heracles obliterates them.
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This causes Heracles to behave in some seriously un-hero-like ways. He kills his own children. You could argue that he kind of refuses his role of "hero" by behaving in such a heinous way.
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Heracles goes to the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle tells him he can atone or make up for his horrible crimes by serving King Eurystheus of Argos.
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Heracles goes to the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle tells him he can atone or make up for his horrible crimes by serving King Eurystheus of Argos.
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Heracles offers to serve King Eurystheus of Argos in order to atone for the crimes he has committed. King Eurystheus tells him he must successfully complete 12 labors. Heracles agrees.
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Heracles tackles the 12 labors perfectly. He does so with the help of certain gods and allies, and he encounters several enemies and foes along the way.
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For his twelve and last labor, Heracles must go to Erytheia, literally the edge of the world. He must sail across the Atlantic Ocean to do this. The Greeks believed that there really was an edge of the world, and Heracles was totally not scared to travel there.
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King Eurystheus tells Heracles that two of the labors weren't completed in a satisfactory way, because Heracles had help with them. So, King Eurystheus commands Heracles to complete two additional labors. Heracles says, "bring it." After successfully capturing the Golden Apples of Hesperides, Heracles' final task is the most difficult and terrifying one.
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After completing these twelve labors, Heracles is finally able to atone for the murder of his children. His guilty conscience is wiped clean.
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Some say that Heracles is made immortal after completing these twelve labors. Others say he is granted immortality a little later on.
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Regardless of when he was made immortal, one thing is certain: Heracles eventually becomes a real god.
