Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Jetdogs Studios , Zoom Out Games

The first 12 labours of Hercules game begins by introducing the main characters, Hercules and Megara, who live happily together with their servants. However, Hades abducts Megara, causing Hercules to set out to search for and rescue her. With the help of characters such as Medusa, Cerberus and Chiron, whom he rescues along the way, he fights the Hydra, saves Prometheus from his golden chains and rescues Megara from the Underworld.The second game begins in Thebes with Hercules having the idea of (...)

electronic

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Online

TAGS: Amazons Augean Stables Cerberus Charon Charybdis Chiron / Cheiron Council of the Gods Cretan Bull Hades Harpies Hephaestus Hera Heracles Heraklion Hermes Medusa Megara Minotaur Nemean Lion Norse Mythology Pegasus Poseidon Prometheus Scylla Stymphalian Birds Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Henry Lion Oldie

A Hero Must Be Alone [Герой должен быть один (Geroi dolzhen byt' odin)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The plot of the original myth is thoroughly transformed in order to emphasize topics and motives relevant to contemporary youth culture. At the beginning of the book, we learn that Zeus has a special plan for his newly-conceived child from Alcmene and that this plan is a matter of serious disagreement in the family of gods (or “the Family”, as it is called throughout whole Ach(...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: Russia

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Chiron / Cheiron Cronus / Kronos Deianeira Eurystheus Eurytos Galanthis Giants Gigantomachia Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hestia Hydra Iolaus Iole Iphicles Iphitos of Oechalia Medusa Megara Nessus Perseus Poseidon Salmoneus Thebes Theseus Tiresias Zeus

Rocco Negri, Ian Serraillier

Heracles the Strong

Heracles, the son of a mortal woman and the god, Zeus, was hated by Hera. She inflicted him with madness and he committed a terrible crime. As penance, he served King Eurystheus and was set twelve difficult and dangerous labours to perform.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1970

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Admetus Alcestis Alcmene Alpheus Amazons Amphitryon Apollo Ares Argonauts Artemis' Hind Athena Athens Atlas Augean Stables Centaur(s) Cerberus Charon Chiron / Cheiron Cithaeron (Mount) Creon Deianeira Delphic Oracle Elysian Fields / Elysium Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Garden of Hesperides Geryon Golden Fleece Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hyllus Iolaus Iole Iphicles Ladon Lerna Megara Minos Minyans Mycenae Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Nymphs Orthrus Persephone Pholus Phyleus Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Prometheus Pygmies Stymphalian Birds Stymphalian Lake Styx Tantalus Thebes Theseus Tiresias Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Bernard Evslin

Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults in novel format. The book starts with a list of characters of humans/ non humans and a short explanation of each.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1984

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Atlas Augean Stables Chiron / Cheiron Deianeira Echidna Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hestia Hydra Iole Iphicles Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Thebes Tiresias Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

John Bankston

Hercules

This book is part of a series of eight on different Greek deities. It tells the story of Hercules, half-man, half-god who with his god-given strength was able to overcome great obstacles. However, he was not able to overcome the greatest internal obstacle of his own anger. Starting with the episode of Hercules’ cattle being stolen, Bankston launches into a discussion of myth and the place of the myth of Hercules in the ancient world. Each chapter contains selections of the myths with other(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Admete Admetus Alcmene Amazons Amphitryon Apollo Apollodorus Apotheosis Arcadia Athens Atlas Augeas Cacus Cerberus Chiron / Cheiron Cithaeron (Mount) Constantine Constellations Deianeira Diana Diodorus Siculus Diomedes (of Thrace) Electryon Erginus Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Greece Hera Heracles Hercules Hesperides Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Juno Jupiter Lerna Linus Macedonia Minerva Minos Minyans Nessus Olympians Olympic Games Olympus Oracles Pholus Plato Pluto / Plouton Prometheus Ptolemy Pythia Rome Sparta Thanatos Thebes Titans Virgil Zeus

Tony Bradman , Steve May

Hercules the Hero

In five illustrated chapters, Bradman tells the story of Hercules the Hero. In Chapter One, Trouble with a goddess, we learn of Hercules’ unusual powers and Hera’s enmity towards him. In Chapter Two, Some interesting little jobs, Hercules tackles the Nemean Lion and the Hydra. In Chapter Three, A few busy weeks, Hercules captures the Deer with the Golden Horns and the Brutal Board and cleanses the Augean stables. He shoots down the Bronze Birds of Stymphalos, wrestles with the Great (...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Amazons Atlas Cerberus Charon Eurystheus Geryon Greece Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Thebes Zeus

Georges Moroz

Hercules: The Complete Myths of a Legendary Hero

The book narrates the life of Hercules from his birth, his madness, the twelve labours, his war campaigns (the Trojan War for example) and finally his death and apotheosis. The book is in novel form.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Atlas Creon Deianeira Delphic Oracle Eurystheus Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Megara Nessus Omphale Poseidon Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S06E01–08)

This final, sixth, season of HTLJ has a much shorter run than any prior season with only 8 episodes. With the ancient evil Dahak having been defeated at the end of season 5, these final episodes focused on returning to the original formula of the show (see below and analysis) in order to wrap up the narrative arc of the serial (this is hinted at by the title of the final episode: Full circle). Promotional material for the show referred to this season as "the last Legendary Journey&rdqu(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America

TAGS: Amazons Antigone Aphrodite Ares Creon Gods Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hercules Hero(es) Iolaus Oedipus Tartarus Thebes Titans Zeus

Mark Hess, Kathryn Lasky

Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero

This of Hercules begins with his birth as "Palaemon" and Hera's initial attempt on his life by sending the two serpents to his cradle. After accidentally killing his teacher, Palaemon's mother sends him away. Although he thinks of himself as a monster, Palaemon goes on to make quite a name for himself as a strong warrior, not a monster, and was very happy until Hera tricks him into killing his family. This is when he becomes "Hercules", Hera's glory, and is sent t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Apollo Atlas Augean Stables Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Cretan Bull Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Lydia Megara Minyans Nemean Lion Nessus Olympus Omphale Palaemon Stymphalian Birds Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Dominic Brigstocke, Steve Connelly, William Terence Deary, Chloë Thomas

Horrible Histories (Series)

A sketch show based on the books of the same name by Terry Deary, focussing on many aspects of history not just the Classical areas. Each episode includes parodic songs teaching children about aspects of history, with both live-action and animated sections often working in conjecture to form the full picture of the sketch. Each sketch is accompanied by the narrative character Rattus Rattus who is used as an accuracy marker for the jokes within the series. The show takes a non-linear format (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Achilles Aeschylus Aesop Aesop’s Fables Alexander the Great Antoninus Pius Aphrodite Archimedes Ares Aristotle Artemis Asclepius Athena Athens Avaricum Caesar Caesarion Caligula Cato the Elder Cerberus Claudius (Emperor) Cleopatra VII Constantine Cronus / Kronos Delphic Oracle Diana Diogenes Egypt Gallic Wars Gladiators Graeco-Persian Wars Greek History Hadrian Hannibal Hector Helen Hippocrates Janus Jupiter Marathon Mark Antony Mars Menelaus Mercury Minerva Mithras Neptune Nero Octavian Olympic Games Ouranos / Uranus Paris (Trojan Prince) Plato Pliny the Elder Pluto / Plouton Praetorian Guard Punic Wars Pyrrhus of Epirus Pythagoras Roman Baths Roman History Saturn Scipio Africanus Socrates Sparta Syracuse Theagenes of Thasos Thebes Tiberius Trojan Horse Trojan War Venus Vercingetorix Vesuvius Xerxes Zeus

Wojciech Rzehak, Jacek Siudak

Mythology. Beliefs of the Greeks and Romans [Mitologia. Wierzenia Greków i Rzymian]

A previous version of the entry was published in: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., online: http://omc.obta.al.uw.edu.pl/omc_catalogue. The mythology includes myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The book is formally divided into two parts: 1) Greek myths an(...)

literary

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Aeneas Argonauts Bible Greek Gods Hercules Roman Gods Rome Romulus Thebes Zeus

Eric Freeberg, Diane Namm

Roman Myths

Retelling of classic Roman myths meant for ages 7–9 with one illustration per story. Following the stories, the author includes questions for discussion about each story. The stories in the book:The Oak and the Linden TreePrometheus and IoAtlas and the Eleventh Labor of HerculesRomulus and RemusEscape from TroyThe Golden BoughCupid and PsycheMinerva and ArachneOedipus and the SphinxOtus and Ephialtes(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aeneas Aeolus Amulius Apollo Arachne Atlas Baucis Carthage Cerberus Ceres Charon Crete Cupid Diana Dido Dii Consentes Elysian Fields / Elysium Ephialtes Faustulus Garden of Hesperides Golden Bough Greeks Harpies Heracles Hercules Io Italia Janus Juno Jupiter Lares Lemures Manes Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Numina Numitor (King) Nymphs Oedipus Otus (Giant) Ovid Penates Philemon Prometheus Psyche Remus Rhea Rome Romulus Saturn Sibyl Sphinx Styx Temple of Vesta (Forum Romanum) Thebes Titans Trojan Horse Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Venus Vesta Vulcan

Marc Cerasini , Isidre Mones

Step Into Reading: The Twelve Labors of Hercules

This is an illustrated depiction of Hercules’ labours. The book opens with the infant Hercules and the snakes. Then we see Hercules as a young man who fights others and seeks counsel from the oracle. The book focuses on the 12 labours which also end the book. There is a depiction of each labour separately.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Amazons Athena Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Cretan Bull Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Erymanthian Boar Geryon Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Nemean Lion Oracles Stymphalian Birds Thebes Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Robert Baxter, I. M. Richardson

The Adventures of Hercules

This is a picture book for an older audience. On each page we have a labour of Hercules with a water-color like illustration, thus we have a narration and illustrations of all 12 labours. The language is aimed at young adults rather than small children. The illustration are also not naïve but in a more adult style. The story follows Hercules from his infantry and the killing of the snakes, then we arrive at his adulthood (killing a lion, helping the king of Thebes, and killing his family) a(...)

literary

YEAR: 1983

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Delphi Diomedes’ Mares Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Geryon Hera Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Megara Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Thebes Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld White Bull Zeus

Robert (Bob) Blaisdell, Althea (Thea) Kliros

The Story of Hercules (in Easy-to-Read Type)

Hercules narrates his story, beginning with his birth as the mortal son of a god. He talks of how he was a child prodigy in warfare but failed at learning music. After killing the teacher that belittles him about failing at music, Hercules goes out into the world to learn what he can. After Hera challenges Zeus to prove Hercules is worthy of being immortal, Hercules jumps at the opportunity and completes twelve labours. (...)

literary

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Achilles Admetus Aegean Sea Aeolia Aeolus Aeson Alcestis Alcmene Alcyonian Lake Althaea / Althea Amazons Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Arcadia Ares Argo Argolid Argonauts Athena Atlas Augeas Autolycos Automedusa Black Sea / Pontus Euxinus Calydon Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Chiron / Cheiron Cretan Bull Crete Cronus / Kronos Deianeira Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Echidna Elerion Enceladus Erymanthian Boar Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Gaia / Gaea Geryon Giants Golden Fleece Greece Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hercules Hesione Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hylas Immortality Iolaus Iole Iphicles Ithaca Jason Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nephele Nessus Nymphs Odysseus / Ulysses Olympus Orpheus Pallene Pasiphae Peloponnese Perseus Pholus Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Rhea Stymphalian Birds Telamon Thebes Theiodamas (King) Themiscyra / Themyscira Thespis Tiryns Titans Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

Robert Newman

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at teenage children, in novel format. At the end of the book there is an alphabetic list of characters of humans/non-humans and a short explanation of each.The story begins with Hercules’ birth and Hera tricking Zeus to bless Eurystheus instead of Hercules with the reign over Mycenae. Having realized that he was trapped, Zeus promises that nevertheless “Hercules will perform deeds so glorious that his name will be remembered forever.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1972

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Atlas Augean Stables Chiron / Cheiron Copreus Deianeira Delphi Dodona Eleusinian Mysteries Eurystheus Fate Geryon Gorgon(s) Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hermes Hestia Hydra Iole Iphicles Medusa Megara Meleager Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Omphale Oracles Prophecy Pythia Thebes Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Underworld Zeus

Wisecrack , Jared Bauer, Greg Edwards, Jacob Salamon, Joseph Salvaggio

Thug Notes (series): Homer’s Odyssey / Dante’s Inferno / Oedipus The King / Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Homer’s OdysseyThe video, introduced as “keepin it epic with Homer’s Odyssey,” starts with the briefest possible – and undoubtfully colloquial expression-rich – synopsis of the poem: how Odysseus (presented, as all the other characters, with the use of photographs of ancient sculptures) was absent for 20 years from Ithaca, where his son Telemachus and “sexy wife Penelope,” harassed by “108 shady hustlas,” were waiting for him; how Calyp(...)

ephemeral

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Online

TAGS: Athena Brutus Caesar Homer Katabasis Odysseus / Ulysses Oedipus Penelope Poseidon Roman Republic Sophocles Thebes Tragedy (Ancient) Virgil