21st December: Hercules

Hercules was honoured on this date in Ancient Rome. Although he was originally a Greek hero, the Romans revered him, too. Here are some facts.

1. Hercules was the son of Zeus and a human woman, Alcmene.
2. Zeus's wife Hera was understandably not happy about her husband playing away with the humans, and in a fit of jealousy, tried to have Hercules killed when he was a baby. She sent two Snakes to kill him in his crib, but a hero from the start, he strangled them both.
3. Hera continued to hound Hercules into adulthood. She succeeded in sending him mad, which resulted in Hercules killing his wife and six sons. When he regained his senses and realised what he'd done, he sought a way to atone for his actions. This is how the twelve labours came about - The Oracle told him he would have to serve his cousin, King Eurystheus, for twelve years and perform any task the king set him. Hercules wasn't happy about having to do this, but he did it, knowing Zeus would be angry with him if he didn't.
4. The twelve labours were: Slay the Nemean Lion; Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra; Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis; Capture the Erymanthian Boar; Clean the Augean stables in a single day; Slay the Stymphalian Birds; Capture the Cretan Bull; Steal the Mares of Diomedes; Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon; Steal the Apples of the Hesperides and Capture and bring back Cerberus.
5. When he wasn't busy with all that, Hercules performed other tasks which have been depicted in art, including: Killing a fire-breathing Cacus; Holding up the world for Atlas; Wrestling with Achelous; Fighting the giant Antaeus; Retrieving Alcestis from the underworld and Freeing Prometheus.
6. He was made a god when he died, as a reward for helping the Olympians in their epic battle against the Giants. He was granted a home on Mount Olympus and a goddess for a wife - but only the part of him that was the son of Zeus. The human aspect of him which came from his mother was sent to the Underworld.
7. Hercules is usually depicted in art as a strong, muscular and tanned man, often wearing a lion's skin and carrying a gnarled club.
8. Because of the number of children he had, and his foiling of Hera as a young child, Hercules was revered as a god of childbirth!
9. Mark Antony considered him a personal patron god, as did the emperor Commodus.
10. His name was used as a swear word in Ancient Rome. Hercule! or Mehercle! was a common oath in Classical Latin.

Superheroes getting together for Christmas. What could possibly go wrong? My latest novel. Only £5! Even less for the kindle!

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

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