Homeric Hymn to Heracles the Lion-Hearted (15)

Catalogue ID: 02-olympian-gods/099-homeric-hymn-heracles-15

Cycle: Olympian gods / heroes — Heracles / short Homeric Hymn

Version line: Homeric Hymn XV — birth, labours summary, Olympian seat

Sources: Homeric Hymn to Heracles (15); cf. Hesiod, *Theogony* 943–944, 950–955; Homer, *Odyssey* 11.601–626

Source file: /workspace/greek-myth-catalogue/02-olympian-gods/099-homeric-hymn-heracles-15.md

Characters

Artemis — father
Hebe — wife on Olympus
Heracles — Zeus’s son by Alcmene; labourer; Olympian

Places

Earth and sea — wanderings of the labours
Olympus — present seat with Hebe

Themes

Narrative

The short Homeric Hymn to Heracles celebrates Zeus’s and Alcmene’s son, the greatest by far of men on earth. He wandered lands and seas at Eurystheus’s orders, performing violent deeds, and suffered many things; now he dwells in joy on Olympus with fair-ankled Hebe for wife. The singer hails Heracles and asks his favour. The hymn telescopes the entire Heraclean arc—mortal labour under Eurystheus, then Olympian bliss with Hebe—into cult praise. Catalogue it as the hymn-atom of Heracles’ double status (suffering hero / Olympian), not as a substitute for individual labour entries.