Original subtitles

>> male narrator: HE IS THE

GREATEST ACTION HERO

IN MYTHOLOGY.

[beast wailing]

HIS NAME IS HERCULES,

A MAN TORMENTED BY A HORRIFYING

SIN, DRIVEN TO TAKE ON 12

IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGES IN A QUEST

FOR REDEMPTION.

TO US, IT IS MYTH.

BUT TO THE ANCIENTS,

IT WAS REALITY,

A LEGEND BASED ON AN ACTUAL

WARRIOR FILLED WITH HIDDEN

CODES ABOUT THE REAL WORLD.

THIS IS THE TRUTH BEHIND THE

MYTH OF HERCULES.

Captioning by CaptionMax

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IN A STRANGE AND UNFAMILIAR

WORLD, SOMETHING STIRS JUST

BELOW THE WATERLINE.

[water splashes, beast growls]

IT BREAKS THE SURFACE...

A GIANT SERPENT WITH NOT ONE

BUT NINE DRAGON-LIKE HEADS.

IT SPEWS POISONOUS VAPORS...

[beast roaring]

AND THEN EATS ITS VICTIMS ALIVE.

BUT TODAY THE MONSTER HAS MET

ITS MATCH...

THE STRONGEST HERO WHO EVER

LIVED, MYTHOLOGY'S IDEAL MAN:

HERCULES.

HE IS THE MOST POPULAR HERO

IN HISTORY,

A HALF-GOD, HALF-MORTAL

WITH SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH

WHO IS DESTINED TO RID THE GREEK

WORLD OF EVIL.

BUT THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING

OF HIS STORY.

>> HERCULES WAS SOMETHING

SPECIAL, AND AT THE SAME TIME,

EXTREMELY ORDINARY.

HE WAS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

HE WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE

BABE RUTH IN AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY.

HE WAS A WOMANIZER.

HE WAS A HEAVY DRINKER.

AND HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY

ATHLETE.

HE WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A GOD,

BUT HE WAS VERY DEFINITELY

A HUMAN BEING.

>> TODAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK

HEROES HAVE SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH;

THEY GET THE GIRL; THEY HAVE

SUPERHUMAN POWERS; CAN FLY

THROUGH THE AIR.

IT'S A DIFFERENT CONCEPTION

IN THE GREEK WORLD.

A HERO IS SOMEONE WHO HAS

SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH, BUT SOMEONE

THAT HAS TO SUFFER.

AND HERCULES IS THE CONSUMMATE

HERO IN GREEK SOCIETY.

HE'S DESTINED TO SUFFER

MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.

>> narrator: IN HIS MYTH,

HERCULES CONFRONTS A LEGION

OF TERRIFYING ENEMIES

AND ENDURES SUFFERING ON A SCALE

NO HUMAN HAS EVER KNOWN.

[bird cries]

HIS STORY BEGINS WITH ZEUS,

THE SEX-CRAZED KING OF THE GODS,

HAVING AN ILLICIT AFFAIR.

>> HERCULES IS THE SON OF ZEUS

AND A MORTAL WOMAN NAMED

ALCMENE.

>> CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY IS LOADED

WITH STORIES OF GODS WHO

IMPREGNATE MORTAL WOMEN

AND GIVE BIRTH TO GODS

OR DEMIGODS.

>> SO THIS DEMIGOD IDEA MEANS

THAT THIS PERSON HAS SOME

FEATURES THAT ARE VERY GODLY,

SOME DIVINE POWERS, BUT AT THE

SAME TIME, HE'S MORTAL.

HE CAN DIE.

I SUSPECT THAT THE GREEKS

INVENTED THIS IDEA BECAUSE THEY

WANTED TO REACH THE GODS

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, TO CREATE

IMAGES OF THEMSELVES THAT ARE

CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE GODS.

>> narrator: HERCULES WOULD GROW

UP TO BE GREECE'S MODEL HERO.

BUT HE HAS ONE POWERFUL ENEMY

WHO WANTS TO SEE HIM DESTROYED--

ZEUS' WIFE, THE GODDESS HERA.

>> SHE'S THE QUEEN OF THE

GODDESSES, AND SHE HAS WONDERFUL

BEAUTY.

SHE'S SUPREMELY INTELLIGENT.

SHE'S MIGHTY.

BUT SHE'S ALSO EXCEEDINGLY

JEALOUS, BECAUSE ZEUS IS ALWAYS

RUNNING AFTER OTHER WOMEN.

>> narrator: ZEUS FATHERS

COUNTLESS CHILDREN WITH A

VARIETY OF MORTAL WOMEN.

AND HERA HATES THEM ALL.

BUT SHE DECIDES IT IS HERCULES

WHO MUST PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE

FOR THE SINS COMMITTED BY ZEUS.

>> HERA'S HATRED OF HERCULES

IS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY

IRRATIONAL.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF SHE KNEW

THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHALLENGE

HER FAVOR IN HEAVEN IN SOME WAY.

SHE KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING

ABOUT HERCULES THAT WAS

DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER

CHILDREN, AND MAYBE SHE FELT

THREATENED BY THIS.

BUT EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE,

HE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN PAYING

FOR THIS HATRED OF HERS.

>> narrator: ONE NIGHT, WHILE

HERCULES IS STILL A BABY, HERA

SENDS TWO POISONOUS SNAKES

INTO HIS NURSERY.

[woman shouts]

>> HE'S GOT ONE SNAKE IN EACH

HAND, AND HE'S SQUEEZING

THEM TO DEATH.

LITTLE TINY INFANT SQUEEZING TO

DEATH THESE TWO GIANT SERPENTS.

EVERYONE KNEW AT THAT POINT THAT

THERE WAS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT

DIFFERENT ABOUT HERCULES.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS

WHY HERA WILL HATE HIM, BECAUSE

SHE CANNOT KILL HIM.

SHE CAN MAKE HIS LIFE WRETCHED,

BUT SHE CANNOT KILL HIM, BECAUSE

DESTINY SAYS HE WILL BECOME

IMMORTAL, AND EVEN A GOD HAS TO

OBEY DESTINY.

>> narrator: BUT HERA IS JUST

GETTING STARTED.

HER VENDETTA AGAINST HERCULES

WILL DETERMINE THE COURSE

OF HIS LIFE FROM THE CRADLE

TO THE GRAVE.

SO GOES THE MYTH.

BUT WHAT IS THE LINK TO REALITY?

FEBRUARY 2004: IN A GREEK TOWN

CALLED THEBES, ARCHEOLOGISTS

DISCOVER STUNNING EVIDENCE THAT

SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE STORY

OF HERCULES' BIRTH.

THEY UNCOVER A BURIED TEMPLE

BENEATH AN ORDINARY RESIDENTIAL

LOT.

IN ITS CENTER ARE THE REMAINS

OF AN ALTAR.

AROUND THE ALTAR ARE HUNDREDS

OF CERAMIC VASES AND SMALL

STATUES.

THEY ALL PORTRAY ONE THING,

HERCULES.

AFTER THE DISCOVERY, RESEARCHERS

LINKED THE FINDINGS TO

A 2,500-YEAR-OLD TEXT THAT

DESCRIBES A MYSTERIOUS HOUSE

OF HERCULES AT THEBES, JUST

OUTSIDE THE GATES OF THE ANCIENT

CITY.

THE DESCRIPTION AND THE SITE

MATCH PERFECTLY.

BUT THERE'S MORE.

THE ANCIENT TEXT SAYS THAT THIS

SHRINE WAS ERECTED ON THE

PRECISE SPOT OF HERCULES' BIRTH.

COULD THE HERO HAVE BEEN REAL?

THE HUNT FOR CLUES LEADS BACK

TO THE MYTH.

AS THE STORY CONTINUES,

HERCULES COMES OF AGE, A MAN-GOD

STRADDLING TWO WORLDS,

THE HUMAN AND THE SUPERNATURAL.

>> HE IS TOO STRONG TO BE

A HUMAN.

HE'S SORT OF LIKE A GOD TRAPPED

IN A HUMAN'S BODY.

OFTEN, HE ACCIDENTALLY DOES

BAD THINGS TO PEOPLE AROUND HIM.

LIKE, HE ACCIDENTALLY

KILLS PEOPLE.

HE ACCIDENTALLY DAMAGES

PROPERTY.

HE CAN'T REALLY CONTROL HIMSELF.

>> narrator: THIS SUPERHUMAN

STRENGTH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE

FOR HERCULES TO BLEND INTO GREEK

SOCIETY.

>> HE WAS UNABLE TO FORM

EMOTIONAL CONTACTS WITH ANYONE.

IN FACT, THERE SEEMS TO HAVE

BEEN A KIND OF SCHIZOPHRENIC

QUALITY TO HIS MAKEUP.

HE WAS HALF HUMAN AND HALF

DIVINE, AND YET HE HAD A FATHER

WHO WOULD NOT PROTECT HIM

FROM THE TERRIBLE TRIALS AND

TRIBULATIONS THAT HERA INFLICTED

UPON HIM.

HE WAS LEFT ALONE, SUSPENDED

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH

AND HAVING NOWHERE TO GO.

>> narrator: DESPERATE FOR SOME

SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY, HERCULES

MARRIES A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS

WHO BEARS HIM TWO SONS.

BUT HIS DOMESTIC BLISS

IS SHORT-LIVED.

HIS NEMESIS, HERA, SOON RETURNS,

DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE

HE NEVER KNOWS HAPPINESS.

THIS TIME, SHE'LL TRANSFORM HIM

FROM FAMILY MAN TO MURDERER

BY DRIVING HIM MAD.

>> SHE SENDS MADNESS TO HIM

AS HE SLEEPS, AND HE,

IN HIS MADNESS, BELIEVES THAT

HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN

ARE HIS ENEMIES.

>> narrator: IN THE DEAD OF

NIGHT, HERCULES COMMITS AN

UNSPEAKABLE HORROR.

>> WHEN HERCULES WAKES UP FROM

THIS MADNESS, FROM THIS RAVENOUS

MADNESS...

>> [roaring]

>> HE FINDS HIMSELF COVERED

IN THE BLOOD OF HIS OWN FAMILY.

>> HE DOESN'T REALLY EVEN KNOW

THAT HE'S THE ONE THAT DID IT.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, HE HAS THE

BLOODSTAINS ON HIM.

IT IS THE PHYSICAL MARK OF

GUILT, AND THIS IS THE GUILT

HE MUST BEAR.

AND IT'S FROM THIS HORRIBLE

INCIDENT THAT THE REST OF

HERCULES' STORY UNFOLDS.

>> narrator: THE STRONGEST MAN

ON EARTH HAS SLAUGHTERED

HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

WHEN HIS BLIND RAGE SUBSIDES,

IT IS REPLACED WITH INTENSE

REMORSE, A HORRIBLE ANGUISH

THAT WILL PLAGUE HIM FOREVER.

THE ANCIENT GREEKS CALL THIS

A "BLOOD GUILT."

>> IN ANTIQUITY, A BLOOD GUILT

WAS UNDERSTOOD TO BE A KIND OF

CURSE THAT CLUNG TO YOU

FROM THE BLOOD OF THE PERSON

WHOSE MURDER YOU WERE

INVOLVED IN.

>> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE

A KIND OF CHRISTIAN PENANCE,

WHERE YOU DO CERTAIN GOOD ACTS

ON THE EARTH IN ORDER TO MAKE UP

FOR BAD THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT

HAVE DONE.

>> FROM HERE ON, HE'S GOING TO

HAVE TO TRY TO GET RID OF THIS

STAIN OF BLOOD GUILT FROM THIS

HORRIBLE ACT.

THIS IS THE VERY PIVOT

OF HERCULES' WHOLE LIFE.

>> narrator: TO PURIFY HIS SOUL,

HERCULES WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE

THE MOST EXCRUCIATING SERIES

OF CHALLENGES EVER CONFRONTED

BY MAN OR THE GODS.

IT IS A JOURNEY THAT WILL TAKE

HIM ACROSS THE GREEK WORLD

AND BEYOND AND LEAVE A TRAIL

OF REAL EVIDENCE THAT SHEDS NEW

LIGHT ON THE TRUTH BEHIND

THE MYTH.

>> narrator: MYTHOLOGY SUPERHERO

HERCULES HAS JUST BUTCHERED HIS

WIFE AND CHILDREN UNDER A SPELL

CAST BY HIS STEPMOTHER, HERA.

NOW THE STRONGEST MAN ON EARTH

MUST ATONE FOR HIS CRIME.

BUT HE IS LOST, DISORIENTED.

FOR GUIDANCE, HE SEEKS OUT

ANCIENT GREECE'S GREATEST

PROPHETESS.

>> HERCULES' CRIME IS SO GREAT

THAT ONLY ONE, THE MOST POWERFUL

RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY OF HIS TIME,

COULD HELP HIM SOLVE IT,

AND THAT'S THE ORACLE OF DELPHI.

>> narrator: DELPHI: ITS SACRED

TEMPLE PLAYS A KEY PART IN MANY

GREEK MYTHS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST A MYTHICAL

PLACE.

RUINS OF THE ORACLE TEMPLE CAN

STILL BE FOUND IN THE MOUNTAINS

OF CENTRAL GREECE.

2,500 YEARS AGO, A PRIESTESS

STOOD HERE IN A TRANCE-LIKE

STATE AS MYSTERIOUS VAPORS ROSE

UP AROUND HER.

SHE SPOKE IN RIDDLES AND

SUPPOSEDLY CHANNELED THE WORD

OF THE GODS.

>> IT WAS A DIRECT PHONE LINE

UP TO HEAVEN TO ASK THE ANSWER

TO ANYTHING YOU WANTED.

>> narrator: A NEW DISCOVERY MAY

REVEAL WHERE THE ORACLE'S POWERS

ORIGINATED.

A RECENT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

HAS SHOWN THAT THE DELPHI TEMPLE

SITS PRECISELY ON THE

INTERSECTION OF TWO FAULT LINES.

THIS MAY EXPLAIN THE MAGICAL

VAPORS THAT SURROUNDED

THE PROPHETESS.

>> THE NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS

THAT MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH

AROUND THESE FAULTS MIGHT

ACTUALLY HAVE RELEASED ETHYLENE

GAS THAT WOULD HAVE LEAKED

THROUGH THESE CRACKS IN THE

EARTH.

PEOPLE WHO BREATHE A LOT

OF ETHYLENE WILL FALL INTO

A TRANCE THAT SOUNDS ALMOST

EXACTLY LIKE WHAT THE ORACLE

AT DELPHI EXPERIENCED.

SO BASICALLY, THE ORACLE

AT DELPHI WAS A STONER THAT

EVERYONE IN ANCIENT GREEK

SOCIETY TRUSTED A LOT.

>> narrator: AT DELPHI,

THE ORACLE TELLS HERCULES THAT

ONLY A TERRIBLE PENANCE CAN

ABSOLVE HIM OF HIS CRIMES.

TO RECEIVE THAT PENANCE,

HE MUST GO TO HIS COUSIN

AND ARCHRIVAL KING EURYSTHEUS.

BUT IT'S A TRICK.

HERA IS USING THE ORACLE

AND KING EURYSTHEUS

TO CRUSH HERCULES.

>> HERA WILL PURSUE HIM WITH

EVERYTHING SHE HAS.

HERA WILL BE HIS IMPLACABLE

ENEMY, AND THE DANGERS,

THE ENEMIES, SHE WILL PUT

IN HIS WAY, WILL NOT CEASE.

>> narrator: EURYSTHEUS ASSIGNS

HERCULES 12 CHALLENGES,

ALL DESIGNED BY HERA.

THEY WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN

AS THE LABORS OF HERCULES.

IN THEM, THE HERO IS CHALLENGED

TO RID THE GREEK WORLD

OF ITS GREATEST EVILS,

TO CONFRONT ITS MOST SAVAGE

BEASTS, FORCES OF NATURE,

EVIL TYRANTS, AND MONSTERS.

NO MAN COULD BE EXPECTED

TO SURVIVE EVEN ONE OF THESE

CHALLENGES.

BUT HERCULES MUST OVERCOME 12.

>> THESE LABORS SERVE A

FUNCTION.

THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO

REMOVE THE POLLUTION FROM HAVING

KILLED HIS FAMILY.

>> HE WILL NEED TO PURIFY

HIMSELF, TO PURIFY HIS HANDS,

TO PURIFY HIS SOUL LATER ON,

OF THE GRIEVOUS CRIME

HE HAS COMMITTED.

>> IT SEEMS A LITTLE UNFAIR

TO US, BECAUSE THE ACTS THAT

HE'S DOING PENANCE FOR WEREN'T

REALLY HIS FAULT.

HE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OF THE MADNESS SENT TO HIM

BY HIS STEPMOTHER, HERA.

IN THE GREEK MIND, IT DIDN'T

REALLY MATTER THAT IT WASN'T

HIS FAULT.

HE STILL NEEDED TO PERFORM

THESE ACTS TO WASH AWAY THE

STAIN OF THESE VIOLENT ACTS

THAT HE COMMITTED.

>> narrator: THE QUEST FOR

REDEMPTION BEGINS WITH THE FIRST

LABOR: TO KILL A SAVAGE BEAST

THAT SYMBOLIZES MANKIND'S

ANIMAL INSTINCTS,

THE LION OF NEMEA.

[lion snarling]

>> THE PROBLEM FOR HERCULES IS,

EVEN THOUGH HE'S A MAGNIFICENT

ARCHER, THE LION'S SKIN

IS IMPERVIOUS TO HIS ARROWS.

[lion growling]

[lion snarling]

SO IT'S ONLY THROUGH BRUTE

STRENGTH THAT HE MANAGES TO

OVERCOME THE LION.

AND WHEN HE DOES, HE SKINS

THE LION AND HE ADOPTS IT

AS HIS OWN ARMOR THAT HE BEGINS

WEARING, SO FROM THEN ON,

HERCULES IS ALWAYS DEPICTED

WEARING THE LION SKIN WHICH

PROTECTS HIM FROM HARM.

>> narrator: KING EURYSTHEUS

IS STUNNED.

HE THOUGHT HERCULES' FIRST LABOR

WOULD BE HIS LAST.

NOW HE LAYS OUT A SERIES OF EVEN

MORE MONSTROUS CHALLENGES SURE

TO PUT AN END TO THE HERO.

A THEME BECOMES EVIDENT

IN THESE EARLY LABORS.

IT'S MAN VERSUS NATURE.

>> THE ANCIENT GREEKS VIEWED

NATURE AS A SCARY PLACE.

THEY WANTED TO LIVE IN HARMONY

WITH IT, BUT NATURE WAS A BITCH

THAT, IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH,

WOULD KILL YOU,

AND THAT WAS THEIR VIEW.

THEY DID NOT HAVE A ROMANTIC

VIEW OF NATURE.

>> THERE ARE A FEW GREAT

HEROES--HERCULES IS PROMINENT

AMONG THEM--WHO CAN TAME NATURE,

WHO CAN ACTUALLY BRING IT

UNDER CONTROL, AND THIS IS THE

MARK OF A TRULY GREAT HERO,

TO BRING THIS UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

TO HEED.

>> narrator: THE SECOND LABOR

CHALLENGES HERCULES TO KILL

ANOTHER MONSTROUS FREAK

OF NATURE, THE DREADED

NINE-HEADED HYDRA,

A POISON-SPITTING SERPENT

THAT DEVOURS MEN IN ONE BITE.

HERCULES DRAWS HIS SWORD

AND ATTACKS.

[monster wailing]

HE SLICES THROUGH ONE OF THE

HYDRA'S NECKS...

[monster wailing]

THEN ANOTHER, DECAPITATING

THE MONSTER ONE HEAD AT A TIME.

BUT AS SOON AS EACH HEAD

IS CUT OFF, TWO MORE GROW

IN ITS PLACE.

THIS REPRESENTS THE HUMAN LUST

FOR PLEASURE, WHICH THE GREEKS

BELIEVED TO BE UNKILLABLE.

>> THE MORE YOU ATTACK IT,

THE MORE YOU CUT ITS HEADS OFF,

THE MORE HEADS YOU HAVE TO DEAL

WITH.

>> narrator: HERCULES NEEDS

A NEW STRATEGY.

AGAINST THIS ENEMY, HIS SUCCESS

HINGES ON MORE THAN MUSCLE.

HERCULES GRABS A TORCH

AND SCORCHES THE SKIN

OF THE BEAST.

>> HE COMES UP WITH THE IDEA

OF BURNING OFF THE STUMPS

TO CAUTERIZE THE NECK SO THAT

THE HEAD CAN'T GROW BACK

IN THERE.

>> narrator: WITH A FINAL

THRUST, HERCULES SEVERS THE LAST

HEAD FROM THE BODY.

IT IS A STUNNING TRIUMPH

OF MAN OVER MONSTER.

>> SO AFTER HE'S SLAIN THE

HYDRA, HERCULES DIPS HIS ARROWS

INTO THE BLOOD OF THE HYDRA,

AND FROM THEN ON, HE HAS POISON

ARROWS.

OUR WORD "TOXIC," MEANING

POISONOUS, COMES FROM THE GREEK

WORD TOXON, WHICH IS A BOW

THAT YOU FIRE ARROWS WITH.

AND SO TOXIKOS IN GREEK

SIMPLY MEANS

"RELATING TO THE BOW."

SO IT'S A STRANGE WORD IN

ENGLISH, BECAUSE IT PRESERVES

THE LEGEND OF HERCULES

INSIDE THE WORD.

>> narrator: TWO LABORS

CONQUERED.

LIKE A FIGHTER IN TRAINING,

HERCULES IS HONING THE SKILLS

NECESSARY TO SURVIVE IN A

HOSTILE WORLD: PHYSICAL

STRENGTH, MENTAL TOUGHNESS,

AND RELENTLESS ENDURANCE.

>> IN THESE LABORS, HERCULES

IS OVERCOMING EVIL, AND HE COMES

AS AN AVENGER AND A BRINGER

OF JUSTICE.

>> narrator: IN HIS NEXT TWO

LABORS, HERCULES CONQUERS

ANOTHER PAIR OF NATURE'S MOST

FORMIDABLE BEASTS:

THE GOLDEN STAG OF ARTEMIS,

AN ANIMAL SO FAST IT COULD

OUTRUN AN ARROW IN FLIGHT;

AND A VICIOUS MAN-EATING BOAR,

A MONSTER HERCULES MANAGES

TO CAPTURE ALIVE.

[boar wails]

>> EURYSTHEUS, WHO SET HIM THESE

TASKS, NEVER EXPECTED ANY OF

THEM TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.

SO WE START TO SEE HERCULES

AS THE PROTOTYPICAL SUPERHUMAN.

HE SEEMS UNSTOPPABLE AT THIS

POINT.

>> narrator: TO BREAK THE HERO'S

MOMENTUM, KING EURYSTHEUS TRIES

CHANGING TACTICS.

HE INTRODUCES A DIFFERENT KIND

OF NATURAL OBSTACLE...

RAW SEWAGE.

FOR HIS FIFTH LABOR, HERCULES

MUST TAKE ON A DIRTY JOB THAT

SYMBOLIZES THE FOUL SIDE

OF HUMAN NATURE.

HE MUST CLEAN OUT A MASSIVE

COMPLEX OF MANURE-FILLED

STABLES.

>> NOW, THIS LABOR IS DIFFERENT

FROM THE OTHERS BECAUSE IT

INVOLVES MENIAL LABOR IN A WAY

THAT HERCULES HADN'T REALLY

SUBMITTED TO BEFORE.

IN THE EARLIER LABORS, HE HAS TO

SLAY BEASTS THAT ARE RAVAGING

THE COUNTRYSIDE AND HE'S TRYING

TO PROTECT HUMAN BEINGS OR TO

PROMOTE CIVILIZATION.

BUT IN THIS ONE, IT'S SIMPLY

A MATTER OF CLEANING DUNG

OUT OF A STABLE THAT HASN'T BEEN

CLEANED IN MANY YEARS.

AND HE HAS ONE DAY TO ACCOMPLISH

THE TASK.

[water babbling]

>> narrator: HERCULES NOTICES

THAT THESE REPULSIVE STABLES

LIE BETWEEN TWO POWERFUL RIVERS,

AND HE GETS AN IDEA.

>> WHAT HE DOES IS, USING HIS

GREAT STRENGTH, HE DIVERTS TWO

DIFFERENT RIVERS AND HAVE THEM

FLOOD INTO THE STABLES AND FLUSH

EVERYTHING OUT.

>> narrator: ONE LABOR AT A

TIME, HERCULES IS MAKING AMENDS

FOR KILLING HIS FAMILY.

SO FAR, HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF

GREATER THAN ANY OBSTACLE THAT

HERA AND HER PUPPET KING,

EURYSTHEUS, HAVE DREAMED UP.

AND WITH EACH STRUGGLE, HE IS

ONLY GETTING STRONGER.

TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS, HIS

SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF SUCH

OVERWHELMING ODDS WAS AN

INSPIRING STORY.

BUT COULD IT HAVE BEEN MORE

THAN JUST A STORY?

INTRIGUING HISTORICAL CLUES

SUGGEST HERCULES WAS NOT A MYTH

BUT A REAL HERO.

>> narrator: HERCULES IS

MYTHOLOGY'S ULTIMATE SUPERHERO.

THE COMBINATION OF STRENGTH

AND SUFFERING IN THE SAME

CHARACTER MADE HIM RELATABLE

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE ANCIENT

WORLD.

THEY SAW IN HERCULES A HERO

TO BE BOTH PITIED AND ADMIRED,

SOMEONE WHOSE TRAGIC STORY WAS

CONNECTED TO THEIR OWN REALITY.

>> MISREFLECT HISTORICAL EVENTS

THAT HAVE LONG SINCE BEEN

PASSED, SO THEY ARE A KIND OF

CODE AND AN ANCIENT HISTORY

THAT GETS PASSED DOWN FROM

GENERATION TO GENERATION.

>> [shouting]

>> THE STORIES OF HERCULES COME

TOGETHER FROM PEOPLE GETTING

TOGETHER IN DIFFERENT CULTURES

AND SHARING THEIR OWN TALES

OF LOCAL HEROES THAT THEY KNOW

WHO'D OVERCOME GREAT

DIFFICULTIES.

AND AS THEY SHARE THESE STORIES,

THEY START TO REALIZE, "WAIT

A MINUTE; OUR STRONGMAN SEEMS

TO BE A LITTLE BIT LIKE YOUR

STRONGMAN."

AND THEN THE TRADITIONS ALL

WEAVE TOGETHER.

>> narrator: IN ANCIENT GREECE,

HERCULES WAS THE MODEL

FOR THE IDEAL MAN.

BUT DID HE ACTUALLY EXIST?

>> IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE THAT

BEHIND EACH OF THESE GREAT GREEK

HEROES, THERE IS SOME SINGLE

HISTORICAL FIGURE, BUT HISTORY

HAS FRUSTRATED ALL OF OUR

ATTEMPTS TO FIND AND LOCATE

THE ACTUAL PERSONS.

>> narrator: SOME VERSIONS

OF THE HERCULES MYTH SAY HIS

FAMILY CAME FROM A GREEK

SETTLEMENT CALLED TIRYNS.

AND ANCIENT SOURCES SUGGEST

IT WAS ONCE HOME TO A REAL

WARRIOR WHO WAS RENOWNED

FOR HIS GREAT STRENGTH AND EVEN

THOUGHT TO HAVE A DIRECT

CONNECTION TO THE GODS.

THIS WARRIOR, WHOSE NAME IS LOST

TO HISTORY, SERVED THE RULER

OF A POWERFUL KINGDOM CALLED

MYCENAE.

IN THE MYTH, HERCULES ALSO

SERVES THE KING OF MYCENAE,

HIS COUSIN EURYSTHEUS,

WHO ASSIGNS HIM THE 12 LABORS.

IS THIS COINCIDENCE

OR SOMETHING MORE?

OTHER CLUES ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND

THE MYTH CAN BE FOUND AT ONE

OF GREECE'S MOST LEGENDARY

SITES.

THIS IS OLYMPIA.

IN THE YEAR 776 B.C., THE FIRST

OLYMPIC GAMES WERE HELD HERE.

>> THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF GAMES

AROUND THE GREEK WORLD, BUT THE

OLYMPICS WERE THE FINEST

AND THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS.

IF YOU WON AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES,

IT WAS BEING ELEVATED, IN A WAY,

AMONGST MEN.

AND IT WAS AS CLOSE AS A MORTAL

COULD GET TO THE GODS.

>> narrator: THERE ARE STRIKING

PARALLELS BETWEEN THE CHALLENGES

HERCULES FACED IN HIS LABORS

AND THOSE OF THE GAMES.

BOTH WERE FEATS OF STRENGTH

AND ENDURANCE THAT ONLY THE MOST

DISCIPLINED ATHLETE COULD

ACHIEVE.

BUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN

HERCULES AND THE OLYMPICS

MAY RUN DEEPER.

>> HERCULES REPORTEDLY FOUNDED

THE OLYMPIC GAMES AFTER ONE OF

HIS LABORS, SO THE LABORS

ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED

WITH THE ORIGINAL FOUNDATION

OF THE GAMES.

THESE ARE THE REMAINS OF THE

STADIUM AT OLYMPIA.

ITS TRACK MEASURES 600 FEET.

ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS,

THAT'S 600 OF HERCULES' OWN

FEET.

>> ACCORDING TO LEGEND, HERCULES

HIMSELF PACED OUT THE STADION,

WHICH WAS 600 STEPS, AND IT'S

192.27 METERS, SO HISTORIANS

HAVE DEDUCED THAT HERCULES' FEET

WERE ACTUALLY 12.6 INCHES LONG.

>> narrator: THAT'S A SIZE 13

SHOE.

MORE TRACES OF HERCULES CAN ALSO

BE SEEN IN THE MAIN TEMPLE HERE.

RELIEFS SALVAGED FROM THE

EXTERIOR WALLS DEPICT HIS

12 LABORS.

>> HE WAS REVERED BY ALL

ATHLETES, AND ONE MEASURED ONE'S

SELF UP AGAINST HERCULES.

WELL, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT

TO THE GREEKS NEVER TO

SURRENDER, SO MANY ATHLETES DIED

RATHER THAN GIVE UP.

>> narrator: IN THE MYTH, IT IS

THIS SAME PERSEVERANCE THAT

SUSTAINS HERCULES.

>> HERCULES' MESSAGE IS ALWAYS

ONE OF, "KEEP GOING AND YOU'LL

EVENTUALLY SUCCEED.

NO MATTER HOW TOUGH THINGS SEEM,

SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE."

>> narrator: IN HIS SIXTH LABOR,

HERCULES MUST FACE A FLOCK OF

FEROCIOUS MAN-EATING BIRDS

WHO SYMBOLIZE MANKIND'S

UNREACHABLE GOALS.

HE DRIVES THEM OFF WITH HIS

POISONOUS ARROWS AND REACHES

AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE,

THE HALFWAY MARK IN HIS

12 LABORS.

BUT SIX MORE CHALLENGES STILL

REMAIN, AND EACH ONE WILL ONLY

GET TOUGHER.

HIS STEPMOTHER, HERA, WILL MAKE

SURE OF IT.

>> AS THE LABORS GO ON, THEY

BECOME MORE AND MORE EXTREME,

AND THEY MAKE HIM GO TO FURTHER

AND FURTHER AND MORE MYSTICAL

PLACES.

>> narrator: THE NEXT THREE

LABORS WILL TAKE HERCULES BEYOND

GREECE FOR THE FIRST TIME

AND PIT HIM AGAINST POWERFUL

FOREIGN ENEMIES.

STORIES LIKE THESE RESONATED

WITH THE ANCIENT GREEKS IN AN

AGE WHEN THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO

EXPAND THEIR EMPIRE.

>> THE GREEKS, PRESSED BY LAND

HUNGER, ARE BEGINNING TO

COLONIZE AS FAR OUT AS THE SOUTH

OF FRANCE, AND THEY'RE SENDING

COLONIES THROUGHOUT

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

AND REPORTS ARE COMING BACK

ABOUT VARIOUS MONSTERS OR

VARIOUS THINGS.

>> narrator: FOR HIS SEVENTH

LABOR, HERCULES TRAVELS TO THE

ISLAND NATION OF CRETE TO FIND

AND CAPTURE THE PRIZED BULL

OF THE KING, MINOS.

THE BULL IS A CODE FOR CRETE'S

DOMINANCE OVER MAINLAND GREECE

AT THE TIME WHEN THE MYTH

WAS CREATED.

>> IN THE LATE BRONZE AGE,

CRETE REALLY WAS THE MOST

IMPORTANT POWER IN THAT PART

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

THE PLACES THAT, IN THE

CLASSICAL PERIOD, LIKE ATHENS

AND SPARTA, WHICH WOULD HAVE

A LOT OF IMPORTANCE AND WOULD

REALLY BECOME THE MOST

SIGNIFICANT POWERS, REALLY

WEREN'T ANYTHING VERY IMPORTANT

AT ALL.

IN FACT, THEY HAD TO PAY TRIBUTE

TO CRETE, BECAUSE IT WAS THE

MAJOR POWER IN THE REGION.

>> narrator: IN THE MYTH,

HERCULES IS ABOUT TO CHANGE

THAT.

HE TRACKS DOWN KING MINOS' BULL,

WRESTLES IT INTO SUBMISSION,

AND SAILS IT BACK HOME.

NO LONGER WILL GREECE ANSWER

TO CRETE.

SEVEN LABORS DOWN.

WITH HIS CONQUEST OF THE CRETAN

BULL, HERCULES HAS WON HIS WAR

AGAINST NATURE.

NOW IT WILL BE MAN VERSUS MAN.

>> IN THE EARLIER LABORS,

HERCULES WAS PERFORMING SERVICES

THAT BENEFITED MANKIND,

RIDDING THEM OF PESTS AND BEASTS

AND THESE OTHER VARIOUS THINGS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE START TO

SEE A DARKER SIDE OF HERCULES.

AND IT MAYBE FORESHADOWS

THINGS TO COME.

>> narrator: IN HIS NEXT SET

OF LABORS, HERCULES CONFRONTS

TWO FOREIGN RULERS WHO POSE

A THREAT TO GREECE.

FIRST HE TARGETS DIOMEDES,

THE TYRANNICAL KING OF BISTONIA.

DIOMEDES HAS TRAINED HIS HORSES

TO EAT THE FLESH OF HIS ENEMIES.

HERCULES MAKES HIM THEIR NEXT

MEAL.

[horses growling and chomping]

THIS LABOR SENT A POWERFUL

MESSAGE TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS,

THAT THE EVIL YOU CREATE

WILL ULTIMATELY DESTROY YOU.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST LABOR WHERE

HERCULES ACTUALLY KILLS SOMEONE.

THIS IS THE PIVOTAL MOMENT

FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT HE'S

HE'S ACTUALLY DRAWN HUMAN BLOOD.

>> narrator: THE KILLING SPREE

CONTINUES IN HIS NEXT LABOR

WHEN HERCULES SLAYS THE AMAZONS,

A FEROCIOUS TRIBE OF FEMALE

WARRIORS, AFTER STEALING THE

BELT OF THEIR LEADER, HIPPOLYTA.

WITH THAT, HERCULES HAS

COMPLETED 9 OF HIS 12 LABORS.

HIS BRAVERY, STRENGTH, AND

STAMINA HAVE CARRIED HIM THROUGH

THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE SERIES

OF TASKS EVER ATTEMPTED.

[beast snarling]

BUT THE FINAL BATTLES WILL PROVE

TO BE THE HARDEST.

THEY WILL TAKE HERCULES BEYOND

THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE KNOWN

WORLD, THROUGH TERRITORY NO

GREEK HAS EVER SEEN, IN SEARCH

OF A REALM WITH INTRIGUING

PARALLELS TO THE BIBLICAL

GARDEN OF EDEN.

>> narrator: THE MYTHICAL HERO

HERCULES HAS ENDURED NINE

DAUNTING LABORS IN A QUEST

TO ATONE FOR THE CRIME

OF KILLING HIS FAMILY.

EVERY CHALLENGE REPRESENTS

A TOUGHER TEST OF HIS STRENGTH,

STAMINA, AND RESOLVE.

>> IN HIS LABORS, THERE'S KIND

OF A CRESCENDO OF DIFFICULTY.

THAT HERCULES IS ABLE TO

OVERCOME EVEN HARDER AND HARDER

LABORS SHOWS HIM TO BE

INCREDIBLY POWERFUL IN A WAY

THAT NO OTHER ANCIENT HERO

IS ABLE TO DO.

>> narrator: BUT AS THE

CHALLENGES GO ON, IT BECOMES

CLEAR THAT NO AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL

PAIN CAN EASE HIS MENTAL

ANGUISH.

HERCULES IS A PRISONER

OF HIS OWN GUILT.

>> NO MATTER HOW MANY LABORS

HE PERFORMED, NO MATTER HOW MUCH

HEROISM HE EXHIBITED, NO MATTER

HOW EXTRAORDINARY HIS PHYSICAL

STRENGTHS WERE, INSIDE OF HIM,

THERE WAS NO PEACE.

THERE WAS NO SATISFACTION.

>> narrator: THREE MORE TESTS

REMAINED FOR HERCULES.

THEY WILL TAKE HIM TO THE EDGE

OF THE EARTH AND INTO AN ABYSS

OF DEATH.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT

HERCULES CONTINUALLY HAS TO GO

FURTHER AND FURTHER AFIELD

FROM GREECE.

THE FURTHER YOU GO OUT INTO

THE UNKNOWN, YOU ACTUALLY CROSS

THE PLANE BETWEEN MORTAL WORLD

AND IMMORTAL WORLD.

>> narrator: IN HIS TENTH LABOR,

HERCULES SETS OFF TO CAPTURE

THE CATTLE OF THE GERYON,

A VICIOUS MONSTER WITH THREE

SETS OF LEGS, THREE HEADS,

AND A LETHAL PEDIGREE.

>> HE'S ACTUALLY THE GRANDSON

OF MEDUSA, SO HE, TOO, IS A KIND

OF SEMI-MONSTROUS FIGURE.

AND HE'S NOT GOING TO LET THESE

CATTLE GO WITHOUT A FIGHT.

>> narrator: BUT DESTROYING

THE GERYON IS ONLY HALF

OF THE CHALLENGE.

THE OTHER HALF IS GETTING THERE.

TO REACH THE GERYON, HERCULES

MUST VENTURE BEYOND

THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA INTO THE

ATLANTIC OCEAN.

BUT ONE MASSIVE OBSTACLE STANDS

IN HIS WAY: A MOUNTAIN RANGE

THAT JOINS EUROPE AND AFRICA

INTO ONE CONTINENT AND SEALS OFF

THE SEA FROM THE OCEAN.

HERCULES DECIDES NOT TO GO

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN.

HE GOES THROUGH IT.

HE SPLITS THE MOUNTAIN IN TWO

WITH ONE BLOW FROM HIS SWORD.

THIS PART OF THE MYTH WAS

CREATED TO EXPLAIN HOW THE

ATLANTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN

WERE JOINED.

THE CLIFFS ON EACH SIDE

ARE FOREVER LINKED TO HERCULES.

>> THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR

ARE KNOWN TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS

AS THE PILLARS OF HERCULES.

AND NO ONE COULD GO

BEYOND THERE.

NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS BEYOND

THERE.

>> narrator: TO THE PEOPLE

OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, THE

PILLARS OF HERCULES WERE NOT

JUST A GATEWAY INTO AN

UNEXPLORED OCEAN.

THEY WERE A PORTAL BETWEEN

REALITY AND MYTH.

>> FOR A GREEK TO TALK ABOUT

SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE PILLARS

OF HERCULES IS KIND OF LIKE YOU

AND I TALKING ABOUT SOMEWHERE

OVER THE RAINBOW.

AND THAT HERCULES HAS ACTUALLY

GONE THERE AND COME BACK WOULD

HAVE ONLY ADDED TO HIS

REPUTATION.

>> narrator: ALL ANCIENT SAILORS

BOUND FOR THE ATLANTIC HAD TO

SAIL BETWEEN THE PILLARS

OF HERCULES.

AND ONE RECENT DISCOVERY

SUGGESTS THERE WERE MANY WHO

DROPPED ANCHOR HERE TO PAY

RESPECTS TO THE HERO HIMSELF.

IN A CAVE ON THE ROCK OF

GIBRALTAR, ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE

TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS

BELIEVED TO BE LINKED

TO HERCULES.

>> SO WE TOOK SAMPLES AND SENT

THEM AWAY FOR RADIOCARBON

DATING, AND THEY'RE ALL PERFECT

MATCHES WITHIN EACH OTHER,

AND THEY ALL SEEM TO POINT TO

A PERIOD OF ABOUT 400 YEARS,

FROM ABOUT 800 B.C. TO ABOUT

400 B.C.

THESE WERE OBJECTS THAT WERE

BEING PLACED VERY SPECIFICALLY

FOR A PARTICULAR REASON.

AND WE'RE QUITE CONFIDENT THAT

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A BIG

SHRINE.

>> narrator: EXPERTS BELIEVE

GREEK SAILORS CAME TO THE SHRINE

TO PRAY FOR THEIR LIVES AS THEY

PREPARED TO FOLLOW HERCULES

INTO THE UNKNOWN.

THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT,

IF ANYTHING, LAY BEYOND

THE PILLARS.

IN THE MYTH, HERCULES FACES

THE SAME UNCERTAINTY AS HE

CROSSES THIS THRESHOLD INTO

THE UNKNOWN.

BEYOND THE PILLARS,

THE THREE-HEADED GERYON AND HIS

CATTLE AWAIT.

THE MONSTER COMES OUT FIGHTING,

HURLING HUGE BOULDERS DOWN

THE MOUNTAIN AT HERCULES.

BUT HERCULES HAS A SECRET

WEAPON: ARROWS DIPPED IN THE

POISONOUS VENOM OF AN EARLIER

CONQUEST, THE HYDRA.

HE TAKES AIM AND FIRES.

THE GERYON FALLS DEAD.

[cattle lowing]

AND HERCULES CLAIMS HIS CATTLE.

TEN LABORS DOWN.

NEXT, HERCULES MUST GO TO

THE EDGE OF THE WORLD TO STEAL

GOLDEN APPLES FROM A GARDEN

GUARDED BY A DRAGON

WITH 100 HEADS.

APPLES, A GARDEN,

AND A DANGEROUS SERPENT:

THIS LABOR PARALLELS THE

BIBLICAL STORY OF ADAM AND EVE.

>> THERE ARE EARLY CHRISTIANS

WHO MADE A COMPARISON BETWEEN

THE APPLE OF THE HESPERIDES

AND THE TREE OF LIFE

IN THE GARDEN.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS,

DEALING WITH ANCIENT MATERIAL,

IS THAT THESE FOLKS TALK

TO EACH OTHER AND THEY KNEW

EACH OTHER'S STORIES.

>> narrator: IN THE HERCULES

STORY, THERE'S A DEADLY TWIST.

THE APPLES HE SEEKS BELONG

TO HIS ENEMY, THE GODDESS HERA.

>> NOT ONLY DO THESE APPLES

BELONG TO HERA, BUT THEY ARE

SIGNS OF HER SACRED MARRIAGE

TO ZEUS.

APPLES AND MARRIAGE ARE VERY

COMMONLY COMBINED

IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY.

>> narrator: HERCULES WANDERS

FOR YEARS IN SEARCH OF HERA'S

APPLES WITH NO LUCK.

FINALLY, HE REACHES THE END

OF THE WORLD AND MEETS A GOD

WITH A HEAVY BURDEN TO BEAR...

ATLAS.

>> ATLAS WAS ONE OF THE TITANS,

AND HIS JOB IS THAT HE NEEDS TO

CARRY ON HIS SHOULDERS

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD.

LITERALLY, HE BEARS THE WORLD

ON HIS SHOULDERS.

>> narrator: THIS MODERN-DAY

PHRASE, "TO CARRY THE WORLD

ON YOUR SHOULDERS," IS DERIVED

DIRECTLY FROM THE MYTH OF ATLAS.

HERCULES IS EXHAUSTED AND LOST.

BUT ATLAS KNOWS WHERE THE GOLDEN

APPLES ARE.

SO HERCULES VOLUNTEERS TO HOLD

THE WORLD WHILE HE RETRIEVES

THEM.

ATLAS EVENTUALLY RETURNS

WITH THE APPLES,

BUT THERE'S A CATCH.

HE TELLS HERCULES THAT HE

DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THE EARTH

AND SKY BACK.

>> ATLAS OF COURSE SAYS,

"THANKS VERY MUCH.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RID

OF THAT FOR A LONG TIME,"

AND IS ABOUT TO WALK AWAY.

HERCULES SAYS, "OH, YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M REALLY SORRY.

DO YOU MIND--COULD YOU JUST TAKE

IT BACK FOR JUST A SECOND?

I'M GONNA PAD MY SHOULDERS

WITH MY LION SKIN."

ATLAS TAKES THE WORLD BACK,

AND HERCULES WALKS AWAY.

>> narrator: HERCULES HAS

AVENGED HERA BY STEALING

HER PRECIOUS APPLES.

NOW HE IS ONE CHALLENGE AWAY

FROM WINNING HIS FREEDOM.

AND IT WILL SEND HIM TO A PLACE

NO MORTAL HAS RETURNED FROM

ALIVE...

THE LAND OF THE DEAD: HADES.

>> narrator: HERCULES HAS

CONFRONTED 11 OF THE TOUGHEST

CHALLENGES EVER ATTEMPTED

BY MAN OR THE GODS.

HE'S FOUGHT WILD BEASTS,

EVIL KINGS,

HIDEOUS MONSTERS,

AND CROSSED OVER TO AN UNKNOWN

WORLD IN A RELENTLESS QUEST

TO MAKE AMENDS FOR KILLING

HIS FAMILY.

>> HERCULES SPENDS HIS LIFE

TOILING, TRYING TO GET RID

OF A GUILT THAT HE DOESN'T

REALLY FEEL LIKE HE HAS EARNED,

ALWAYS SUFFERING,

ALWAYS ENDURING.

>> narrator: NOW ONE LAST TEST

REMAINS.

FOR HIS 12TH AND FINAL LABOR,

HERCULES MUST FIND HIS WAY

TO THE MYSTERIOUS UNDERWORLD

OF THE DEAD...

HADES.

THERE, HE MUST CAPTURE CERBERUS,

THE THREE-HEADED GUARD DOG

AT THE GATES.

[dog barking]

>> HERCULES' FINAL LABOR

IS BY FAR THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS.

HUMANS HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING

LIKE THIS BEFORE.

HEROES COULDN'T TYPICALLY GO

TO THE UNDERWORLD.

>> narrator: HADES, MASTER

OF DEATH, IS THE KEEPER OF ALL

HUMAN SOULS.

AND CERBERUS IS HIS ENFORCER.

>> NOW, THE DOG ISN'T SO MUCH

TO KEEP YOU, THE LIVING,

FROM GOING IN, 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE

CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO THAT,

THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.

IT'S TO KEEP THE DEAD

FROM COMING OUT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS

YOU HAVE IN MOST ANCIENT

CIVILIZATIONS IS THE FEAR

THAT IF SOMEONE DIES, THEY MAY

NOT REALIZE THEY'RE DEAD

AND COME BACK TO YOU.

>> narrator: HERCULES TRIES

A DIPLOMATIC APPROACH

WITH HADES.

HE ASKS FOR PERMISSION TO TAKE

HIS GUARD DOG UP TO EARTH.

HADES AGREES...ON ONE CONDITION.

HERCULES MUST OVERPOWER THE

BEAST WITH NOTHING

BUT HIS FISTS.

THIS IS THE FINAL MOMENT

OF TRUTH.

[dog growling]

HERCULES WRESTLES THE DOG

TO THE GROUND...

[dog snarling]

AND BEATS IT INTO SUBMISSION.

[dog whining and whimpering]

>> THE FACT THAT HE WAS ABLE

TO BRING CERBERUS BACK FROM HELL

IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT,

BECAUSE WHAT IT WAS SHOWING WAS

THAT A GREEK HERO COULD GO IN

AND BREAK THE CYCLE

OF LIFE AND DEATH.

>> narrator: AT LAST, HERCULES

HAS COMPLETED HIS PENANCE.

HE HAS CONQUERED EVERY OBSTACLE

THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN HIS PATH

AND ENDURED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL

TORMENT BEYOND MEASURE.

BY ALL RIGHTS, HE SHOULD FINALLY

BE AT PEACE.

>> HERCULES IS SOMEONE WHO

STRUGGLES, WHO OVERCOMES.

HE SUFFERS, BUT HE ALWAYS

GETS BACK UP.

AND THERE'S SOME VAGUE PROMISE

THAT LIFE IS GONNA BE BETTER

FOR HIM AFTER THIS ADVENTURE

IS COMPLETED,

BUT OF COURSE IT NEVER IS.

>> narrator: HERA HOLDS AN

UNDYING GRUDGE AGAINST HERCULES

FOR BEING ZEUS' ILLEGITIMATE

SON.

THERE IS ONLY ONE ESCAPE

FROM HER CURSE...

DEATH.

HE BUILDS A HUGE FUNERAL PYRE.

HIS LIFE ON EARTH ENDS

JUST AS HE ENDURED IT...

IN TORMENT.

>> HE WANTS TO HAVE A HEROIC

DEATH, THE PROPER DEATH

OF A HERO.

HE WANTS TO BURN

ON A FUNERAL PYRE.

WELL, WHEN THIS HAPPENS,

IT SEEMS TO BE THE FINAL

CLEANSING.

WHAT BURNS AWAY IS NOT HERCULES.

WHAT BURNS AWAY IS HIS MORTAL

FLESH, AND THIS RELEASES

HIS SOUL SO THAT HE HIMSELF

ASCENDS TO THE HEAVENS.

>> narrator: IN DEATH, HERCULES

IS FINALLY REDEEMED.

ZEUS, THE KING OF GODS, BELIEVES

HIS SON HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH.

HE INVITES HIM TO JOIN

THE IMMORTALS ON MOUNT OLYMPUS.

AND HIS NEMESIS, HERA,

FINALLY RELENTS.

>> AND WHAT WE SEE HERE,

I THINK, IS THAT HERCULES

IS THE HERO OF HEROES.

HE'S THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT.

AND AT THE VERY END OF IT ALL,

ZEUS SAYS, "OKAY, HERCULES,

YOU'VE SUFFERED ENOUGH,

AND YOU'RE SO GREAT,

I'M ACTUALLY GONNA GO AHEAD

AND JUST MAKE YOU A GOD."

HERCULES IS FINALLY GONNA GET

A KIND OF REWARD THAT WILL LAST

FOREVER.

THE SUFFERING'S FINALLY OVER.

>> narrator: IN THE END,

HERCULES IS RESURRECTED

AND JOINS HIS FATHER IN THE

ETERNAL KINGDOM.

IT IS AN ENDING WITH AN EERIE

SIMILARITY TO ANOTHER DIVINE

MORTAL, JESUS CHRIST.

>> HERCULES' FINAL ACT

IS ONE OF SELF-SACRIFICE.

AND AGAIN THERE'S AN INTERESTING

CHRISTIAN PARALLEL WITH THE HERO

WHO HAS TO SUFFER TO OBTAIN

IMMORTALITY.

AND WHEN HE LIGHTS HIMSELF

ON FIRE, IT BURNS AWAY ALL

THE MORTALITY, AND ALL THAT'S

LEFT IS HIS ESSENCE, AND THAT'S

WHAT ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN.

>> narrator: THIS IS THE MYTH

OF HERCULES, A TIMELESS STORY

OF STRENGTH, SUFFERING,

AND REDEMPTION.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF STORY

PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR.

>> BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS

EXPERIENCED TROUBLE AND TOIL

AND SUFFERING IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY'VE ALL FACED MONUMENTAL

TASKS THAT THEY DON'T THINK

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE.

>> AND THEY WANT TO HEAR A STORY

OF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH

SUCH THINGS BUT HAS STILL

GOTTEN THROUGH AND MADE IT

IN TO THE END.

>> THAT HERCULES CAN ACHIEVE

SUCCESS AT THE END POINTS OUT

TO US THAT THERE'S A KIND OF

ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESS,

NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT

OUR LIFE MIGHT SEEM.