Hercules

heard them lowing (as thunderclouds), and broke into the cave killing Cacus. The Latins then erected the shrine of Jupiter Inventor (“ the finder”), whom Sabines called Sancus (‘the strong” —see Etruskans): for Héraklés was also known to the Greeks as Alexi-kakos, an averter of evil. There were many gods and heroes who bore the name Héraklés. Diodorus speaks of 3, Cicero of 6, and otbers of 43 in all. But the legend of the Theban hero is the best known. He was the son of Zeus (“sky”), by Alkméné (“the brightening one”), wife of Ampbhitrudn (“the very trusting”), king of Tiruns, an exile at Thebes, in Greece. The daylight ceased for three days and nights when Héraklés was begotten. The jealous Héré, sitting cro -legged at the gate, prolonged the mother’s labour, so that Eur us the us, the enemy of Héraklés, was born before him, and became a cruel king who imposed “12 labours” on the sun-hero, by permi ion of Zeus; till at length on Mt Cita in Euboia the flaming pyre was kindled, in which Heéraklés sacrificed himself, after he had worn the poisoned garment of Ne os the kentaur (see Kentaur) or cloud. Héraklés, like Akbilleus and other heroes, is also wounded in the foot (see Heel), and so loses power (see Rivers of Life, i, p. 461, fig. 178). The basis of the myths of Hercules is found in the Babylonian legend of the 12 labours of Gilgamas; and it compares with those of Samson, and with episodes in the Vedik myths of Indra. When he died, Juno (Héré) was reconciled, and his new life begins in Hades where he weds Heébé, the emblem of spring. 257