Hercules and King Eurystheus
 (How the Labors Began)

Hercules was the grandson of Perseus, born of Alcmene and fathered by Zeus. On the day of Hercule’s birth, Zeus swore an oath that a descendent of Perseus born on that day would eventually rule all of Greece. But Zeus’ wife Hera delayed Hercule’s birth and arranged for Eurystheus, also a descendent of Perseus, to be born that day instead. Hera’s jealously of Hercules didn’t stop there, however. When Hercules was an infant, Hera sent two snakes to his cradle to kill him, but even then Hercules showed his divine birth by killing the snakes. Later in life Hercules killed a messenger sent to his town to collect the annual tribute to the king of his hometown, Orchomenus. This started a war, but with Athena’s help, Hercules defeated Orchomenus, allowing Creon to become king.Creon gave him his daughter Megara in marriage as a reward. But Hera caused Hercules to go mad, and in a fit of insanity, Hercules accidentally killed his wife and children. Grief stricken, Hercules went to the Oracle at Delphi to rid himself of his crime. The Delphi told Hercules that he must spend the next twelve years serving King Eurytheus. It is in these twelve years that Eurystheus imposed the twelve seemingly impossible labors upon Hercules.