Twelve Labours of Hercules by Robert Newman

Illustrated by Charles Keeping

150 Pages, Paperback

195 x 128 x 10mm (L x W x T)

Condition: Very Good (Has very small/minor signs of wear). First owner's details are penned in on fly-leaf, but is otherwise clean and vibrant.

Genres: Classics / Mythology / Greek Mythology / Ancient History

The pursuit of union with his beloved necessitates for Heracles a series of twelve arduous trials, a testament to the complex interplay of fate and volition.

Heracles, scion of Zeus, is esteemed as the foremost hero of Hellas. Yet, divine lineage alone does not forge a hero. This narrative explores the genesis of heroism, and the apotheosis of a mortal to divinity.

Prior to Heracles' birth, Zeus, sovereign of the gods, proclaims his son's destined sovereignty over Mycenae. However, Hera, consumed by jealous rage, manipulates Zeus, thwarting Heracles' royal inheritance. Zeus, in response, decrees that his son shall perform deeds of such resplendence that his name shall endure through the ages. Yet, Hera's machinations continually impede Heracles' path. To expiate the consequences of Hera's enmity, Heracles is compelled to undertake twelve labors, imposed by Eurystheus, the usurper of his birthright and ruler of Mycenae.

Heracles resolves to complete these labors, driven by his desire to wed the princess he loves. Conversely, Eurystheus, fueled by resentment of Heracles' renown, seeks to render these tasks insurmountable. While Heracles possesses confidence in his abilities, the trials threaten to exact a grievous toll upon all that he holds dear, raising the question of what price true heroism demands. Are the labors merely physical challenges, or a metaphor of the internal struggle of man to overcome his own limitations and the limitations placed upon him by the world? Does the favor of the gods truly grant one an easy path, or does it merely set the stage for greater challenges?