…and that is how Perseus forged his legend with his sword, Prenditus.

That is a wonderful tale, Lady Demiarties. But I still prefer the story of Achilles.

Indeed. Achilles‛s legend will be told for generations. His name and his

tragic tale will echo through eternity.

But not all of our stories end in such tragedy, Prenditus. One of the greatest tales of history begins with a terrible tragedy.

And that makes it better?

Well, Prenditus, what is better than

seeing a hero rise from defeat, and claim his

place in history?

After all, it is not how often you are knocked

down…

The kingdom of Greece – in the time of legends and fables.

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…but how many times you pick yourself up.

You sound like my father, Lady

Demiarties.

Then your father is a wise man, my young pupil, and you are an excellent

student.

You are learning the legends of our history well,

Prenditus.

You know a lot about our gods, but now it is time you learn about

a man – a legend who stands above them all... the greatest warrior of all time.

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It is a tale of incredible courage and patience,

impossible feats of strength, and most important of

all… forgiveness.

Forgiveness? A hero begging for

forgiveness? That does not sound very valiant

to me.

Perhaps redemption is a better word,

my pupil.

This warrior I speak of is known

by many names.

Hercle. Herkales. Hercules. By whatever name he was referred

to, there was none more heroic…

…than Heracles!

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For you to understand the story of Heracles better, we have to go back a little in history and explain his origins.

Heracles was not born like you and I were. His conception was far from conventional. His father was none other than Zeus – the king of the gods, the lord of storms, and the ruler of Mount Olympus. And his mother was Alcmene.

Hera, the queen of gods, was aware of Zeus‛s romantic relationships with other women, but when she heard about his desire for a mortal

named Alcmene, she fi lled with rage.

Zeus was the greatest king and the mightiest god but, as a husband, he was inconsiderate. He was terribly

unfaithful to Hera, his goddess wife.

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Alcmene was a woman of great beauty, who loved her husband, Amphitryon.

If she loved her husband so much, then why was Heracles fathered by Zeus and not Amphitryon?

Well, Zeus – for all his glory – was also a renowned trickster.

To be with Alcmene, Zeus impersonated Amphitryon. Neither of them knew of

Zeus‛s duplicity, and believed that Alcmene was pregnant with Amphitryon‛s child.

We might look at his action as immoral, but the truth is that Zeus was working towards the

greater good of humanity.

Oh, he‛s kicking again. It feels like he

will kick through my stomach. He‛s going

to be strong and healthy. That‛s

good.

For Heracles was sired for a purpose.

You are doing well, Alcmene. The baby

is very healthy. He is fi ne. You are fi ne.

Oh, my baby! My child!

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Their fi rst mistake was to assume he would

give up…

Heracles has it all: a beautiful home, a loving

family, and a reputation as a great soldier who

would stop at nothing to defend his homeland.

Then his origin brings him into the centre of

a vicious plot, where he is hypnotised into

committing the worst crime of all. Devastated

by his actions, he wanders aimlessly, immersed

in depression. He fi nally fi nds some solace

in the fact that he can atone for his sins by

completing ten impossible tasks.

Where other men would give up and consider

themselves defeated, Heracles uses his

courage, strength and intellect to take up the

tasks one by one.

Will he succeed? Or has destiny other plans for

him...