Hercules

Family: divine · Role: hero · First appears: Theseus

Hercules was related to Theseus, “being born of cousins-german.” After he slew Iphitus, he withdrew to Lydia, where he was for a long time a slave to Omphale. Through Theseus, he was purified and initiated at Eleusis; later, the two met with “extreme respect, good-will, and admiration of each other.” When Theseus was held by Aidoneus, Hercules pleaded for his release and secured it.

Iolaus, who assisted Hercules in his labors and fought at his side, was beloved by him. Hercules was the father of Telephus, Macaria, and euclia, and, after Antaeus’s death, Tinga lived with him and bore him Sophax. He also fought Laomedon, whose city he overthrew after an injury to Hercules’s king.

Alexander’s son Hercules was born to Barsine, while Alexander himself was descended from Hercules through Caranus. An inscription dedicated a gymnasium to Titus Quintius Flamininus and Hercules.

Relationship record

Theseus

cousins with Theseus “Besides, they were related, being born of cousins-german.”
with Iphitus (interaction) “after that Hercules fell into misfortune, and, having slain Iphitus, retired to Lydia”
employer: Omphale “and for a long time was there slave to Omphale”
mentor: Theseus “it was by the means of Theseus that Hercules was initiated at Eleusis, and purified before initiation”
friends with Theseus “this interview was honorably performed on each part, with extreme respect, good-will, and admiration of each other.”
servant: Omphale “for a long time was there slave to Omphale”
enemies with Iphitus “having slain Iphitus, retired to Lydia”
with Omphale (interaction) “for a long time was there slave to Omphale”
with Theseus (interaction) “it was by the means of Theseus that Hercules was initiated at Eleusis, and purified before initiation”
with Aidoneus (interaction) “Hercules, passing by the Molossians, was entertained in his way by Aidoneus the king”
with Theseus (interaction) “begged to have Theseus released for his sake, and obtained that favor from the king”

Romulus

child: Telephus “or, by another account, of Telephus, Hercules's son,”

Pelopidas

child: Macaria “Macaria, daughter of Hercules”
courtship with Iolaus “Iolaus, who assisted Hercules in his labors and fought at his side, was beloved of him”

Aristides

child: euclia “she was the daughter of Hercules, by Myrto, the daughter of Menoetius”

Flamininus

with Titus Quintius Flamininus (interaction) “THE PEOPLE DEDICATE THIS GYMNASIUM TO TITUS AND TO HERCULES”

Nicias

enemies with Laomedon “whose city he, for an injury of their king Laomedon, had overthrown”

Sertorius

child: Sophax “Tinga lived with Hercules, and had a son by him called Sophax”
married with Tinga “after the death of Antaeus, his wife Tinga lived with Hercules, and had a son by him called Sophax,”

Eumenes

parent: Barsine “Alexander's first mistress in Asia, by whom he had his son Hercules, was Barsine the daughter of Artabazus”
parent: Alexander “Alexander's first mistress in Asia, by whom he had his son Hercules, was Barsine the daughter of Artabazus”

Alexander

with Alexander (interaction) “Alexander descended from Hercules by Caranus”

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Extracted from the original text of Plutarch's Lives. Made with Rho MD.