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Herakles Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Herakles Quizzes, Trivia

Herakles Trivia

Herakles Trivia Quizzes

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Considered by many to be the greatest Greek hero, Herakles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Strong, confident, and tormented by Hera, Herakles embarked on many adventures. What do you know about his life and exploits?
18 Herakles quizzes and 217 Herakles trivia questions.
1.
  How Is That Possible?   top quiz  
Ordering Quiz
 12 Qns
The Twelve Tasks of Heracles
The Greek hero Heracles had to complete twelve tasks as atonement for killing his wife and children. These tasks seemed impossible - yet he managed it, despite the odds. Can you put them in the order he did them?
Easier, 12 Qns, Kankurette, Sep 15 23
Easier
Kankurette gold member
Sep 15 23
287 plays
2.
  The Labors of Herakles   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Herakles (or Hercules, as he is known to the Romans) was one of the great problem solvers of Greek Myth. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable series of twelve tasks, he nevertheless completed them and emerged a legend.
Average, 15 Qns, kevinatilusa, Aug 03 23
Average
kevinatilusa
Aug 03 23
6615 plays
3.
  Hercules: The Myth and the Movie   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Welcome to the Hercules Quiz! This quiz was made to compare actual mythology to the popular Disney movie "Hercules". Enjoy!
Average, 15 Qns, athena6557, Jun 07 13
Average
athena6557
4106 plays
4.
  The Laboring Hercules   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Hercules was ordered by King Eurystheus to complete ten labors as punishment for killing his own family. The ten labors became twelve when Hercules was disqualified in two of them. How much do you know about these labors?
Average, 10 Qns, Joepetz, May 13 17
Average
Joepetz gold member
1498 plays
5.
  The Labors of Hercules    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The legendary Greek hero is the last mortal son of the Greek god, Zeus. Hercules is best known for his strength, and for the labors that he performed. How much do you know about those labors? And why was he asked to perform them?
Tough, 15 Qns, JuniorTheJaws, Jun 04 21
Tough
JuniorTheJaws gold member
Jun 04 21
2696 plays
6.
  Who Wants to be a Legendary Hero   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
So who wants to be a legendary hero? Our first contestant will be Hercules. Follow him as he performs his tasks on his way to becoming "A Legendary Hero". Here is the host with the most, Eurystheus!
Average, 10 Qns, makebeleaffan, Mar 29 11
Average
makebeleaffan
3915 plays
7.
  Heroic Labors Not Involving Childbirth   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Herakles (or Hercules) is a Greek hero born of the god Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Hercules performed twelve labors but achieved only ten by himself. The "individual labors" are described here. (Hercules is the spelling used in this quiz.)
Average, 10 Qns, Jinxgirl, Sep 10 20
Average
Jinxgirl
Sep 10 20
436 plays
8.
Ten of the twelve labors dealt with animals. Well, not quite the usual species. As every job is done better with a happy song, I added music to it. Link the song to the task!
Average, 10 Qns, heidi66, May 11 17
Average
heidi66 gold member
365 plays
9.
  The Life of Herakles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Undoubtedly, the greatest hero of the ancient Greek mythology was Herakles. This quiz tests your knowledge on his life and wondrous adventures and actions. Good luck and have fun!
Average, 10 Qns, Tulkas_Astaldo, Feb 26 08
Average
Tulkas_Astaldo
823 plays
10.
  His Labours    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The famous hero/demi-god Herakles(Hercules in Roman). How well do you know his famous twelve labours? This quiz will help you find out.
Average, 15 Qns, animefreak1124, Jul 01 08
Average
animefreak1124
612 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Whom did Herakles ask for advice on how to capture the Erymanthian Boar?

From Quiz "His Labours"




11.
  The Women In Heracles' Life    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Few things are more exciting as a 'script' for an adventure story than the Life and Works of good old Heracles, the man who fought his way to immortality. But what about the women in his life?
Average, 20 Qns, flem-ish, Jul 29 23
Average
flem-ish
Jul 29 23
1582 plays
12.
  Heracles's Labors    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
One of the things Heracles, who is better known by his Roman name Hercules, is most well known for is his twelve labors. This quiz involves questions about ten of them.
Tough, 10 Qns, Buddy1, Apr 11 14
Tough
Buddy1 gold member
672 plays
13.
  Heracles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A rather tough quiz on general knowledge about Heracles(=Hercules).
Average, 10 Qns, tee-hee-me, Mar 26 08
Average
tee-hee-me
3064 plays
14.
  Herculean Tasks   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Hercules (Herakles) performed 12 tasks on the orders of king Eurystheus. Your task is to identify 10 of them.
Average, 10 Qns, gme24, Oct 07 16
Average
gme24 gold member
285 plays
15.
  Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #2: Heracles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the famous Heracles, but be warned, the questions in this quiz are not for those who have only skimmed the surface of Greek mythology. Note: Most of the information of this quiz came from Morford's "Classical Mythology." Enjoy!
Difficult, 10 Qns, athena6557, Jul 03 07
Difficult
athena6557
863 plays
16.
  The Book of Life of Herakles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Herakles's life contains more than the Labors. It was a struggle against Fate from the beginning to the end. This quiz only touches part of the life and times of the legendary hero. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, DeepHistory, May 26 15
Average
DeepHistory gold member
389 plays
17.
  Forget Disney - the truth about 'Herc'    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Walt Disney company has produced many excellent and enthralling filmic adaptations of famous tales, but loves to deviate from the originals. How well do you know the REAL Herc?
Average, 10 Qns, alkmene, Nov 26 14
Average
alkmene
2021 plays
18.
  Hats off to Heracles!    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Heracles was the brightest star in the galaxy of Greek legendary heroes. For him, nothing was impossible. Take this fun quiz to find out more about the Twelve Labors of Heracles. Enjoy!
Average, 15 Qns, Shravan1, Jan 26 17
Average
Shravan1
471 plays

Herakles Trivia Questions

1. Hercules' first labor was to slay the Nemean Lion, which he completed. Afterward, how did Hercules skin the defeated lion, according to legend?

From Quiz
The Laboring Hercules

Answer: With the lion's claws

After defeating the Nemean Lion, Hercules tried to skin the lion for its pelt with a knife. However, the knife was useless. The legend goes that the goddess Athena told Hercules to try using the claws of the lion. That worked and Hercules wore the lion's pelt for protection. Different legends give different methods on how Hercules killed the lion. One says he shot it in the mouth while another says he beat it with a club and then strangled it.

2. Heracles's first labor was to slay the Nemean lion. A boy said that if Heracles was to complete this labor within a certain time limit, a ram would be sacrificed to Zeus. How long was this time limit?

From Quiz Heracles's Labors

Answer: 30 days

The Nemean lion was believed to lure warriors to its cave. The warrior would see a woman, then when the warrior was close enough, it transformed back into the Nemean lion and killed the warrior. One version of the events stated that a boy came up to Heracles and said that if he was to slay the lion within thirty days, a ram would be sacrificed to Zeus. If Heracles took longer than thirty days, or if Heracles died in the process, the boy would be sacrificed to Zeus. Heracles was able to complete this labor on the thirtieth day. As a result of completing this labor, Heracles was forbidden to enter the city of Mycenae and anytime Eurystheus wished to talk with Heracles, it would be through a messenger and never face-to-face, since he feared Heracles.

3. Why did Herakles have to undertake the twelve labours?

From Quiz His Labours

Answer: as a punishment

The Oracle at Delphi forced Herakles to undertake the tasks as penance for killing his wife, Megara, and the three children that they had together. His rage was caused by Hera; the labours were given to him by King Eurystheus.

4. What was Heracles's birth name?

From Quiz Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #2: Heracles

Answer: Alcides

Heracles was in fact named Alcides, after his adopted grandfather, when he was born (Thersimachus and Creontidas were two of his sons by Megara.) He was later given the name Heracles, "glory of Hera," meaning that he would gain fame through Hera's hatred of him.

5. In the movie, Philoctetes is portrayed as Hercules's satyr trainer. Who is he in actuality?

From Quiz Hercules: The Myth and the Movie

Answer: The man who lit Hercules's funeral pyre, to whom he gave his bow and arrows

Zeus was actually Hercules' father. Hercules did have a half-brother on his mother's side whom he saved from snakes, but his name was Iphicles.

6. What happened after Hercules married Megara?

From Quiz Forget Disney - the truth about 'Herc'

Answer: he later kills her and their children

Hercules was famously unlucky in love, according to myth. He loved and lost several times and was ultimately killed by his second wife, Deineira, who mistakenly believed Nessus's dying claims that his blood on a 'love-shirt' would make Hercules love her forever. Achilles got the arrow in his heel.

7. Who was Heracles the bastard son of?

From Quiz The Women In Heracles' Life

Answer: Zeus and Alcmene

Hephaistos = Vulcanus. Aphrodite = Venus. Alcmene was a royal princess who lived with her husband Amphitryon at Thebes. Zeus disguised himself as Amphitryon and slept with Alcmene. When Amphitryon came home, he noticed his wife was quite surprised. He saw that as an indication that she had been unfaithful to him. Fortunately, Zeus himself came and explained what had happened. Alcmene gave birth to two children: Heracles, Zeus' son, and Ifikles, Amphitryon's.

8. Who is Heracles' mother?

From Quiz Heracles

Answer: Alcmene

The Romans called Heracles 'Hercules'.

9. Heracles used a golden sword to defeat the hydra for his second labor. Who gave Heracles this sword?

From Quiz Heracles's Labors

Answer: Athena

The hydra Heracles was to slay was raised by Hera to kill Heracles. It also possessed an immortal head, although only one of its heads was actually immortal. Heracles was able to defeat this head by killing it with a golden sword given to him by Athena. While he was defeating the hydra, Hera also sent a crab to stop Heracles from completing the task; however, Heracles was able to easily defeat the crab. After defeating the hydra, Heracles dipped the sword into its poisonous blood. Prior to defeating the hydra (when Heracles was thinking of ways to defeat it), his nephew came up with the idea of using a firebrand on the stumps of the hydra after each head was decapitated so that it could not regrow. Because Heracles was to perform each labor alone, Eurystheus declared this labor void.

10. Who helped Herakles kill the Lernaean Hydra?

From Quiz The Life of Herakles

Answer: Iolaus

Iolaus was Herakles' nephew. He helped his uncle kill the Lernaean Hydra. With a torch he cauterized all its necks when Herakles cut them. If he hadn't done this, it would be impossible for Herakles to kill the beast, because from every cut neck two new heads sprang up.

11. What king persuaded Heracles to sleep with each of the king's 50 daughters?

From Quiz Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #2: Heracles

Answer: Thespius

Thespius of Boetia offered Heracles his fifty daughters as a prize for killing a lion which was ravaging his kingdom. Stories differ whether he slept with them all in one night or on fifty different nights, but most accounts agree that each of them bore him a son. These daughters are usually referred to as the Thespiades.

12. In the movie, the three fates share only one eye. What actual mythological threesome of women shared the same eye, and also the same tooth?

From Quiz Hercules: The Myth and the Movie

Answer: The Graeae

The Graeae were the trio of women whom Perseus met on his way to kill Medusa. Their names were Alarm, Dread, and Horror. The Gorgons were their sisters, two were immortal, and the third, Medusa, was slain by Perseus. The Graces were daughters of Zeus and Eurynome; they were goddesses of beauty and happiness. The Furies were a triad of women who inflicted vigilante justice upon all wrongdoers.

13. For Hercules' first labor, King Eurystheus told him to bring back the skin of an animal that had been terrorizing the people who lived in the hills of Nemea. From which animal did Hercules have to retrieve the skin and bring it to Eurystheus?

From Quiz The Labors of Hercules

Answer: A lion

Orthus, who is the offspring of Echidna, half-woman/half-serpent, and Typhon, a fire-breathing giant covered with dragons and serpents, and Chimaera spawned the Nemean lion, which was Hercules' first labor, and the Lernean Hydra, which Hercules disposed of for his second labor. King Eurystheus sent Hercules forth to slay the invincible terror that was plaguing the countryside of Nemea, and told Hercules that he wanted the skin of the Nemean lion. During his travels to Nemea, Hercules entered the town of Cleonae, and came upon Molorchus, a workman that hired himself to anyone who could pay him. He would perform tasks for them that they ordinarily could not do for themselves. As Hercules and Molorchus talked, the workman offered to sacrifice a small animal so that Hercules would have a successful hunt for the elusive predator. Hercules asked Molorchus to hold off on the sacrifice for thirty days, and when he was successful they would sacrifice the small animal in honor of Zeus, and Molorchus agreed. Hercules soon left the workman's lodgings and traveled to Nemea, where he searched and found the vicious lion, and discovered that his arrows posed no threat to the lion. After he herded the lion into its cave dwelling and discovered two entrances, Hercules blocked one entrance with a large rock that he rolled down from a nearby cliff. Now the lion only had one entrance, Hercules entered the cave and cornered the mighty beast. Rather than use his club, which he knew would be of little or no help to him, he grabbed the lion by its legs and proceeded to wrestle the animal into a position for strangulation, and after what felt like hours to him, the vicious beast was no more. Hercules picked up the lion, and draped him over his shoulders, and brought the lion back to Cleonae, where he found Molorchus. On the thirtieth day, Molorchus and Hercules sacrificed a small animal in Zeus' name. It was at Molorchus' home that Hercules skinned the lion that had been terrorizing Nemea. He then proceed back to Mycenae, to give the skin to Eurystheus, but the King of Mycenae was now terrified of Hercules. Eurystheus thought that he would never return from killing the mighty beast, and refused to allow him to enter Mycenae. Eurystheus was so petrified of Hercules and his strength, that he had an oversized jar made, and buried it half way in the earth. He climbed into the jar, and sent forth his orders to Hercules through a messenger, and would only emerge from the enormous jar when Hercules left each time for his labors.

14. Most of the labors Herakles engaged in were at the risk of injury or even death. Why then did he agree to participate in them?

From Quiz The Labors of Herakles

Answer: As punishment for the murder of his wife and children

When Herakles was born Zeus boasted of his fatherhood, an action which rather annoyed Hera (as did most of Zeus's infidelities). Hera then tried to kill Herakles by sending snakes to kill him in his crib (which failed -- the baby Herakles strangled the serpents). Her attempt at murder having failed, she attempted to disgrace Herakles by driving him mad and making him kill his first wife Megara, his children, the children of his half brother Iphicles, and even the King of Thebes. When Herakles regained his sanity he consulted the Oracle at Delphi, who told him that as punishment he must go to Tiryns and perform whatever tasks his cousin Eurystheus imposed on him.

15. Very good, Hercules! Your next task is to go to the Swamps of Lerna to seek out a many-headed beast and kill it. What name is given to this beast?

From Quiz Who Wants to be a Legendary Hero

Answer: Hydra

Game playing hint: If you chop a head off the Hydra, two more grow in its place so you need a partner. In Hercules' case, his nephew Iolaus was there and when Hercules chopped off a head, Iolaus would sear the wound shut with a torch so the head would not grow back. And when Hercules chopped off the final head that was supposedly immortal, he buried it deep beneath a rock.

16. Though Heracles was not Hera's son at all, but rather an illustration of her husband's infidelity, his name linked him with Zeus's wife. What did it mean?

From Quiz The Women In Heracles' Life

Answer: Ironically enough, it meant 'Hera's glory'

Hera would forgive indeed, but only after a lot of suffering. At the very moment that the funeral pyre of Heracles was about to be ignited, last-minute negotiations between Hera and Zeus led to a happy end: Athena was allowed to save her half-brother and take him up to Mt Olympus.

17. Who did Hera send to delay the birth of Heracles?

From Quiz Heracles

Answer: Eileithyia

Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth, and she sat outside Alcmene's bedroom with crossed fingers to prevent Heracles's birth. Galanthis tricked her by shouting that the child was born. Eileithyia was so startled she forgot the charm and Alcmene delivered Heracles.

18. For his third task, Hercules was ordered to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a deer with golden antlers. Who did the Ceryneian Hind belong to?

From Quiz The Laboring Hercules

Answer: Artemis

Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt and is commonly associated with deer. Hercules was ordered to capture the Ceryneian Hind because he had already proved his strength by slaying two beasts. The Ceryneian Hind was said to be so fast it could outrun an arrow. In one version of the myth, Hercules captures the hind with Artemis' help. After Hercules brought the hind to King Eurystheus, he released the deer and it returned to Artemis, much to the king's chagrin as he wanted the Ceryneian Hind for himself.

19. What name was Herakles given by his parents?

From Quiz The Book of Life of Herakles

Answer: Alcides

He took the name Herakles later. "Herakles" means "the glory of Hera", and the name was taken as a futile attempt to appease the goddess.

20. Heracles's third labor was to capture the Ceryneian Hind. Eurystheus had hoped that doing this would upset which Greek goddess?

From Quiz Heracles's Labors

Answer: Artemis

The Ceryneian Hind was so fast it could outrun an arrow. Accounts vary on how this task was accomplished. One story states that Heracles managed to shoot it when the hind was asleep. Another says that Artemis came to Heracles and told him to not slay the hind but tell Eurystheus that he had. Another story says that Heracles shot it between the forelegs. The reason behind assigning this labor to Heracles was that Eurystheus believed that Artemis would be upset. Instead, Artemis was understanding and let Heracles take the hind to Eurystheus as long as it was returned afterwards.

21. For the first of the Twelve Heroic Labors, King Eurystheus sent me to hunt down the fearsome Nemean lion and bring back its pelt. This lion was no ordinary lion, but I was no ordinary man either. What weapon did I use to kill the beast?

From Quiz Hats off to Heracles!

Answer: my hands

The Nemean lion was indeed a formidable enemy, because its skin was totally invulnerable to the attack of arrows and other such weapons. I walked right into the lion's cave, and using sheer force, I somehow managed to strangle the beast. Incidentally, when Eurystheus beheld me coming back to the kingdom with the lion's hide wrapped around me as a cloak, he was so terrified that he ran and hid himself in an underground hole!

22. What was the name of Herakles' half brother?

From Quiz The Life of Herakles

Answer: Iphicles

Iphicles was Herakles' half-brother. He was the son of Alcmene, who was Herakles' mother, and Amphitryon, the king of Tiryns. Of course, Herakles' father was not Amphitryon but Zeus. Iphicles' son was Iolaus.

23. What king of Orchomenus was slain by Heracles for imposing tribute on his native city of Thebes?

From Quiz Important Heroes in Greek Mythology #2: Heracles

Answer: Erginus

On his way back to Thebes after slaying the lion, Heracles encountered the emissaries of Erginus, the king of Orchomenus. They informed him that Thebes, after losing a war started because of the death of Erginus's father Clymenus at Theban hands, was forced to pay a tribute of 100 oxen per year for a period of 20 years. Heracles was so enraged by this that he cut off the ears and noses of the messengers and sent them back to Erginus. Then, with the help of the Thebans, he succeeded in killing Erginus and burning down his palace, then proceeding to demand tribute, twice that required of the Thebans, of the city of Orchomenus.

24. Hercules was actually the main character's Roman name, although the Greek names for the other gods were used. What was his Greek name?

From Quiz Hercules: The Myth and the Movie

Answer: Herakles

Although his name was originally Alcides, it was changed by the oracle at Delphi to Heracles which, when translated, means "Glory of Hera."

25. How should the Disney Hercules's name in fact be spelt?

From Quiz Forget Disney - the truth about 'Herc'

Answer: Herakles

If the title character is the son of Zeus (which he is in the cartoon), then he is the Greek hero Herakles, and not the Roman hero Hercules.

26. Excellent Hercules! Now for your next task I need you to capture the Cerynitian Hind. The Cerynitian Hind was sacred to which goddess?

From Quiz Who Wants to be a Legendary Hero

Answer: Artemis

Game playing hint: Since the hind was sacred to Artemis, drawing blood would not do so you must find a way of stopping it without drawing blood. What Hercules did was to fire an arrow between the tendons and bones of the two forelegs thereby pinning it down without drawing blood.

27. How did Hera try to kill Heracles when he was still a baby?

From Quiz The Women In Heracles' Life

Answer: She sent snakes into his crib, but baby boy Heracles gripped and strangled them

The Nemean lion appeared in the first Labour ... a lot later!

28. What did Hera send to kill Heracles when he was 8-10 months old?

From Quiz Heracles

Answer: two snakes

According to some writers Amphitryon put the snakes in the cradle to find out which of his two sons was not his own.

29. Early in his life, Herakles married Megara, the daughter of an important King of Thebes. Who was he?

From Quiz The Book of Life of Herakles

Answer: Creon

Creon was a well-known figure of myth and appeared prominently in two tragedies by Sophocles: "Oedipus the King" and "Antigone". In the latter, he was the primary antagonist, as he defied the unwritten laws of the gods and placed his own decrees above them.

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