Charles E Butler

Almighty Hercules Charles E Butler

So you think you heard all Hercules epic stories. You know of the twelve labors orchestrated by the wicked goddess Hera. The maniacal gods tricked Hercules in to killing his family, and then sentenced him to perform unfeasible feats to cleans his condemnation. Hera persuaded King Eurytheus to give Hercules twelve impossible tasks no man or god could complete. First was the Nemean Lion. It was covered with a hide so tough no blade, spear, or arrow could scratch its skin-yet kill the beast. Hercules choked the roaring giant to death between his mighty arms. The Lemean Hydra proved to be no match either. Hercules found clubbing off the lake monster's nine heads only made the situation worse. Two sprung in its place. The solution was found in reason. He beat the beast first eight mortal heads to pieces and then seared each of its necks with his torch. He lopped off the ninth immortal head killing the monster. Neither Ladon the hundred headed dragon or Atlas's cunning nymphs could stop him in attaining Heperides golden apples. He wrestled the behemoth Cretan bull to the ground. The colossus Erymanthian bore he snared in his net and carried back to Mycenae. Even Hades pet Cerberus who guarded the gates to the underworld was no match for this demigod. The gargantuan three headed dog covered with venomous snake heads and sporting a spiked dragon's tail was beaten into submission by the might hero. These are some of the stories you may know. But there is one that has been lost in the legends of time. Hera's labors were just preparing Hercules to overcome the unconquerable. She had a fiendish secret that was never to be record in the history of the gods. Hercules next task would surmount everything he had achieved before. This last trial does not test just his mind and strength. This will test his very heart!