Mythologis
The Hercules Book: The Greatest Greek Hero and His Twelve Labours

Greek Mythology

The Hercules Book: The Greatest Greek Hero and His Twelve Labours

The Twelve Labours, the Madness and the Road to Olympus

The complete story of Hercules, the greatest hero of Greek myth. The hatred of Hera, the madness that destroyed his family, all twelve labours from the Nemean Lion to Cerberus, and the death and apotheosis that carried a mortal to Olympus.

180 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • All twelve labours, fully told
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The Son of Zeus and the Wrath of Hera
  2. 02The Serpents in the Cradle
  3. 03Madness and the Murder of His Children
  4. 04The Labours Begin: The Nemean Lion
  5. 05The Hydra and the Hind
  6. 06The Boar, the Stables and the Birds
  7. 07The Bull, the Mares and the Belt of the Amazon
  8. 08The Cattle, the Apples and the Descent for Cerberus
  9. 09The Hero Between Labours: Wars and Allies
  10. 10The Shirt of Nessus and the Death of Hercules
  11. 11From Funeral Pyre to the Gods of Olympus

About this book

About this Greek mythology guide

Strangled snakes in his cradle, cleaned the unclean stables, dragged Cerberus into daylight. The complete story of Hercules and his twelve labours.

He strangled serpents in his cradle, and that was only the beginning of what Hera would send against him. Hercules, the son of Zeus by a mortal woman, was the strongest man who ever lived, and the most tormented, a hero whose greatest deeds were penance for a crime that was not entirely his fault.

This is the complete story of Hercules. The jealousy of Hera and the snakes in the cradle; the madness that drove him to murder his own children; the twelve labours imposed in expiation, from the Nemean Lion and the Hydra to the cleaning of the Augean stables and the dragging of Cerberus out of hell; the wars and loves between the labours; the poisoned shirt that killed him; and the funeral pyre from which he rose to join the gods.

The book follows Hercules through Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Sophocles and Ovid, sorting the labours and their many variants into one clear account. Every chapter cites where it comes from.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Why Hera hated Hercules from the cradle, and the snakes she sent
  • The madness that drove him to kill his own children
  • All twelve labours, from the Nemean Lion to the capture of Cerberus
  • The hero between the labours: the wars, the loves and the allies
  • The poisoned shirt of Nessus and the agony of his death
  • The mortal hero who burned on a pyre and rose to Olympus

Greek mythology book at a glance

TraditionGreek mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length180 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Greek mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Greek mythology guide

Questions about the Greek mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is this Hercules or Heracles?

Both names belong to the same hero: Heracles in Greek, Hercules in Latin. The book uses the familiar Roman name and draws on the Greek sources.

Does it cover all twelve labours?

Yes, each labour has its place, with the variants explained where the ancient sources disagree on the order or the details.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 180 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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