Hercules (/ˈhɜːrkjʊˌliːz/, US: /-kjə-/)[2] is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Greek hero's iconography and myths for their literature and art under the name Hercules. In later Western art and literature and in popular culture, Hercules is more commonly used than Heracles as the name of the hero. Hercules is a multifaceted figure with contradictory characteristics, which enabled later artists and writers to pick and choose how to represent him.
He is also the titular protagonist of Disney's 1997 animated feature film of the same name. The son of Zeus and Hera, Hercules was abducted from Mount Olympus and turned mortal by his evil uncle Hades, though he maintained his extraordinary strength. With the help of Pegasus and Philoctetes, Hercules sets out on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, a strong young man going from klutzy "zero" to prove himself a true hero and reclaim his place among the gods. Despite his incomparable power and fame throughout Ancient Greece, the mighty Hercules initially believed being a hero would simply be battling monsters and rescuing damsels. It wouldn't be until his chance encounter with the femme fatale Megara that Hercules would come to understand the true measure of a hero. He battled a series of monsters sent by Hades, but what made him a real hero is his self-sacrifice.