Pertanyaan

Hercules was a strong brave man. He was the Son of Zeus. Hera, Zeus’s wife hated him so she had always been trying to get rid of him. One day, Hera put Hercules on a spell and made Hercules felt guilty. In desperation, he visited the most powerful wizard, the oracle,and asked for her help. She told him that he must go to his niece, the King and do 12 labors for him. Only then, he could be forgiven for his mistake. So, there he went. The King thought Hercules came to take away his crown. Therefore, he wanted to get rid of him. He set difficult tasks for Hercules to keep him away from the country so that he would not be a possible threat to him, the King. On the 11th task, The King thought that some trees were said to bear golden apples. These trees were said to be in a place called Hesperides. But no one knew the way to Hesperides. So, he asked Hercules to get that three golden apples just to send him away for as long as possible. Hercules set out on the journey. At first he met three maidens during the journey. Hercules asked them the way to Hesperides. They told him to ask the old man of the sea. But they also warned him, “Hold the old man of the sea tightly. Otherwise he will escape. No one else knows the way." Hercules saw the old man. He was sleeping on the shore. He was looking strange. He had long hair and a beard. Hercules walked to him without making any noise. Then he seized him very firmly. The old man tried and tried to get away but he couldn’t. He said to Hercules, “Who are you? What do you want from me?". Hercules replied, “I am Hercules. I just want to know the way to Hesperides." “It is an island. Go along the sea-shore. You will meet a giant. He will show you the way to Hesperides” replied the old man. Hercules continued his journey and met the giant. The giant was very huge and strong. He was sleeping on the shore. He was was angry because Hercules woke him up. Hercules lifted the giant and threw him down. But the giant got up immediately. He had become ten times stronger. Hercules threw him down again and again but each time the giant rose up much stronger. Then, Hercules lifted the giant high up in the air but he did not throw him down. The giant slowly lost all his strength. He now pleaded with Hercules to put him down on the earth. Hercules asked him to tell the way to Hesperides and he told him to meet Atlas. Hercules continued his journey. He, at last, met Atlas. “Why do you want the golden apples?" asked Atlas. “My King has ordered me to get him these three golden apples," said Hercules. “It is a long way from here to that place. Only I can go there. Hold this sky for me. I shall get them for you," said Atlas.Hercules agreed. He held the sky on his shoulders. Atlas walked away. He was back in a short time. He put down the three golden apples at the foot of Hercules. Hercules thanked Atlas. He requested Atlas to take back the sky from him. “Take back the sky!" said Atlas cunningly. “I have held it for a thousand years. I shall come back after another thousand years!" Hercules was astonished at what Atlas told him. But he did not express his astonishment. He recovered his senses and replied, “Oh! In that case, will you please hold the sky for a little while? I shall make a pad for my shoulders to support the sky. Then I shall take back the sky from you." Atlas agreed. Atlas took back the sky from Hercules. Hercules immediately collected the three golden apples. He bid Atlas goodbye with a mischievous smile on his face. The he walked away towards Greece leaving Atlas speechless and surprised. Hercules reached his homeland Greece after many days of travel. He gave the three golden apples to the King. The King was surprised. He was happy but he pretended not to have been satisfied. He thought of another impossible mission and send Hercules away on another perilous adventure. Hercules knew that the his last task would be even harder than before but he agreed to do it anyway. He promised himself he would return so he could finally get what he wanted, forgiveness from the gods for unconciously killing his wife and his son. The lesson we can learn from this story is ….