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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Hercules
Origin:
The origins of this constellation are lost in antiquity. The first
reference to this constellation being the Strong Man (or Hero) may be an
Assyrian written work dating back to 3000 BC.
Information:
Hercules is a spring/summer constellation located between Draco (the Dragon) to the north and Ophiuchus (the Serpent Bearer) to the
south. Described on star maps as a kneeling figure, most people
describe the constellation as a butterfly, bow-tie, or the letter
"K". Hercules is highest for northern observers on August
1 at 9 pm.
Hercules is home to the Great Globular Cluster (M13,
NGC 6205) which can be seen even by the naked-eye in areas of very dark
skies even though it is 22,000 light years away. Many say that M13
is the finest globular cluster in the sky. It is unarguably the
finest in the northern celestial hemisphere. It can be seen as a
fuzzy patch of light slightly brighter than the sky around it with the
naked-eye or binoculars. Even modest-sized telescopes will resolve a
magnificent deep sky object. Not far away, though, is another
excellent globular cluster (M92, NGC 6341) which, while not quite as
spectacular as M13, is not to be missed while exploring Hercules.
Mythology:
Hercules (or Heracles in Greek mythology) was the strongest man to ever
live. The precocious boy was born of Alcmene, a mortal woman, who
was one of Zeus' (Jupiter in Roman mythology) lovers. Hera (Zeus' wife)
hated Hercules and, while he was still in his crib, sent two deadly snakes
to bite and kill Hercules. In his first demonstration of
strength and heroism (albeit for personal benefit), he strangled the two
serpents to death. After Hercules had grown to be a man, he was
driven insane by Hera who killed his family and burned down his house
(some versions of the legend say that Hercules killed his own
children). Later, after Hercules recovered his sanity, he sought the
help from the Oracle of Delphi who told him he must serve his cousin King
Eurystheus of Argos for 12 years.
Hoping to destroy Hercules to gain favor with Hera,
Eurystheus imposed upon him 12 impossible tasks (labors):
1) Kill the Nemean Lion (often said to be Leo, the
Lion) that terrorized the valley of Nemea and could not be killed by
normal means. (Hercules killed the lion by thrusting his fist down its
throat after which he skinned the lion and used the hide to make either a
strong shield or a cloak).
2) Kill the poisonous water-snake Hydra of Lerna,
whose mere breath was deadly to anyone who experienced it. (He killed
Hydra by cutting off the immortal head, but not until after Hera sent Cancer to join the battle against Hercules).
3 & 4) Deliver to Eurystheus the sacred pets of Artemis: the
terrifying Erymanthian boar and the Arcadian stag.
5) Kill the man-eating birds of Lake Stymphalis.
6) In a single day, clean the stables of King Augeas of Elis, which
contained 3,000 oxen and had not been cleaned for 30 years. (Hercules
quickly and successfully cleaned the stables by diverting two rivers to
flood the stables).
7) Capture the white Cretan bull, sire of the Minotaur that haunted
the Labyrinth of
King Minos, and bring it to Mycenaeon -- all the while carrying the bull
on his shoulders
8) Capture the man-eating mares of Diomedes (son of Ares, god of war and a
Thracian king). These horses dined on the flesh of unwary travelers
who made the mistake of accepting Diomedes' apparent hospitality.
The mares were pacified after Hercules fed them the flesh of their
original owner.
9) Take the girdle from Amazon Queen Hippolyte for Eurystheus' daughter
10) Capture Geryon's cattle by killing the three-headed monster Geryon,
Eurytion the giant herdsman of Geryon, and the two-headed herding dog
Orthrus (the last of which he dispatched with the club he is normally
shown to be carrying).
11) Obtain the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. (This he did by
temporarily bearing the weight of the world for Atlas, who went to get the
golden apples for Hercules. Upon returning, Atlas realized he
enjoyed not having to hold the world on his shoulders.
Hercules agreed to take the Titan Atlas' place but asked if Atlas would
mind taking back the pillar just long enough for him to fetch a cushion
for his shoulder. The not-so-bright Titan obliged and Hercules strolled
off, presumably to get the cushion but, it seems, forgot to return.)
12) Descend to the underworld and return Cerberus, the three-headed
hellhound, to its master, Hades. Were it not for his impenetrable
lion skin, Hercules may very well have been killed by the powerful and
deadly hellhound.
Unfortunately for Hera and Eurystheus, the hero
completed them all.
After Hercules completed his service to his cousin
and King, he joined Jason and the
Argonauts to find the Golden Fleece. Hercules was accidentally
poisoned to death by his second wife, Deianara, believing that Hercules
was being unfaithful.
For all his great deeds, Zeus honored his son
Hercules by making him a god and placing him in the sky forever. |
