After completing these tasks, he was renamed Heracles. There, Apollo told him to serve Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns, for twelve years, as a penance (Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.4.12).ĭuring his time at Tiryns, Alcaeus was tasked to perform the Twelve Labours for which he became understandably famous. When he regained his wits, he was distraught by what he had done and sought out the Oracle at Delphi for advice. She drove him mad and caused him to murder his wife, Megara, and their two children. Zeus’ wife, Hera, was jealous and sought to destroy Alcaeus. Alcmene herself was a descendant of the hero Perseus, who was also a child of Zeus and a mortal woman. He was originally given the name Alcaeus or Alcides. He was the son of Zeus by Alcmene, a mortal woman.
Of all the Greek heroes, the greatest is no doubt Heracles.
