Page "Heracles" Paragraph 2

A major factor in the well-known tragedies surrounding Heracles is the hatred that the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, had for him.

A full account of Heracles must render it clear why Heracles was so tormented by Hera, when there were many illegitimate offspring sired by Zeus.

Heracles was the son of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman Alcmene.

Zeus made love to her after disguising himself as her husband, Amphitryon, home early from war ( Amphitryon did return later the same night, and Alcmene became pregnant with his son at the same time, a case of heteropaternal superfecundation, where a woman carries twins sired by different fathers ).

Thus, Heracles ' very existence proved at least one of Zeus ' many illicit affairs, and Hera often conspired against Zeus ' mortal offspring as revenge for her husband's infidelities.

His twin mortal brother, son of Amphitryon, was Iphicles, father of Heracles ' charioteer Iolaus.