Research activity for kids
Hercules was the son of Zeus but he was a demigod, which means even though his dad was a god, his mom was a mortal (a normal human). So Hercules was half god, half man.
Hercules only found this out when he was already grown up.
- Do you think it will be a shock if you had to find out that you are a demigod and you have special powers?
- What power would you like to have and what would you with it? (Hopefully something that you can use for good)
Hera, who was Zeus' wife, was very upset when she heard about Hercules and she wanted to kill him. She even send snakes into his crib when he was a baby, but luckily even before Hercules knew he was a demigod, he was very strong and he crushed the snakes.
Hercules had many adventures on Earth and even though Zeus wanted to keep him save and let him stay on earth, he was too big and strong and eventually his parents had to tell him the truth.
The nymphs gave him a choice to have an easy life or to have an extraordinary glorious life and he chose the last one. But in order to get this very special life, he had to do 12 tasks which actually seemed impossible.
The 12 tasks were the following
Slay the Nemean Lion.
Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra.
Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis.
Capture the Erymanthian Boar.
Clean the Augean stables in a single day.
Slay the Stymphalian Birds.
Capture the Cretan Bull.
Steal the Mares of Diomedes.
Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.
Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.
Steal the apples of the Hesperides
Capture and bring back Cerberus.
Now these words may makes no sense to you at all, unless you have read a lot about the Greek gods before
- Find a video or a picture and information on each of these tasks. Use your own research skills and you will also find some info here.
- Say which one you think was the most difficult.
- If you had to choose one, which one would it be and why?
- Watch the story of of Hercules' adventures and his tasks from nr 2-6 and answer the questions that follows
If you are done with all your research and answers you can sit back, relax and watch the Hercules movie
