Explore Heracles through 10+ example sentences from English, with an explanation of the meaning and related words like hercules or herakles. Ideal for language learners, writers and word enthusiasts.
Heracles in a sentence
Heracles meaning
Son of Zeus and Alcmene, a celebrated hero who possessed exceptional strength. Most famous for his 12 labours performed to redeem himself after killing his family.
Using Heracles
- The main meaning on this page is: Son of Zeus and Alcmene, a celebrated hero who possessed exceptional strength. Most famous for his 12 labours performed to redeem himself after killing his family.
- Useful related words include: hercules, herakles, alcides, mythical being.
- In the example corpus, heracles often appears in combinations such as: of heracles, heracles and, heracles was.
Context around Heracles
- Average sentence length in these examples: 26.5 words
- Position in the sentence: 10 start, 10 middle, 0 end
- Sentence types: 20 statements, 0 questions, 0 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Heracles
- In this selection, "heracles" usually appears near the start of the sentence. The average example has 26.5 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, give, moment, told, ten, servant and request stand out and add context to how "heracles" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include alone with heracles leading cerberus and and warriorship heracles also had. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "heracles" sits close to words such as apes, attainment and braverman, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with heracles
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
The sons are Heracles and Alexander. (6 words)
Heracles and Cerberus are usually alone, with Heracles leading Cerberus. (10 words)
Heracles drew his sword against Medusa, but Hermes told Heracles that the dead are mere "empty phantoms". (17 words)
But upon leaving the underworld, at his first sight of daylight, a frightened Cerberus struggles furiously, and Heracles, with the help of Theseus (who had been held captive by Hades, but released, at Heracles' request) drag Cerberus into the light. (40 words)
At least, that is one option suggested following the discovery in Yavne of a sling bullet made of lead and bearing a Greek inscription reading “Victory for Heracles and Hauron” — a possible attempt at psychological warfare against enemies. (38 words)
Heracles, suspecting Atlas did not intend to return, pretended to agree to Atlas' offer, asking only that Atlas take the sky again for a few minutes so Heracles could rearrange his cloak as padding on his shoulders. (37 words)
Example sentences (20)
Eurystheus decided to give Heracles ten labours, but after completing them, Heracles was cheated by Eurystheus when he added two more, resulting in the Twelve Labors of Heracles.
Among these men was Heracles' servant Hylas who was gathering water while Heracles was out finding some wood to carve a new oar to replace the one that broke.
But upon leaving the underworld, at his first sight of daylight, a frightened Cerberus struggles furiously, and Heracles, with the help of Theseus (who had been held captive by Hades, but released, at Heracles' request) drag Cerberus into the light.
Eurystheus did come out, but the moment Heracles let the hind go, she sprinted back to her mistress, and Heracles departed, saying that Eurystheus had not been quick enough.
Heracles accomplished these tasks, but Eurystheus did not accept the cleansing of the Augean stables because Heracles was going to accept pay for the labor.
Heracles and Cerberus are usually alone, with Heracles leading Cerberus.
Heracles drew his sword against Medusa, but Hermes told Heracles that the dead are mere "empty phantoms".
Heracles, suspecting Atlas did not intend to return, pretended to agree to Atlas' offer, asking only that Atlas take the sky again for a few minutes so Heracles could rearrange his cloak as padding on his shoulders.
However, according to Diodorus, Persphone welcomed Heracles "like a brother" and gave Cerberus "in chains" to Heracles.
In return, Heracles gave her a place to stay in Thebes until the Thebans drove her out in anger, despite Heracles' protests.
It is the first of two surviving plays by Euripides where the family of Heracles are suppliants (the second being Heracles Mad ).
Men Heracles and Iolaus (Fountain mosaic from the Anzio Nymphaeum) As a symbol of masculinity and warriorship, Heracles also had a number of male lovers.
Pausanias also mentions that at Mount Laphystion in Boeotia, that there was a statue of Heracles Charops ("with bright eyes"), where the Boeotians said Heracles brought up Cerberus.
Seneca has Heracles use his lion-skin as shield, and his wooden club, to beat Cerberus into submission, after which Hades and Persephone, quailing on their thrones, let Heracles lead a chained and submissive Cerberus away.
The children of Proteus, besides Eidothea, include Polygonus and Telegonus, who both challenged Heracles at the behest of Hera and were killed, one of Heracles' many successful encounters with representatives of the pre-Olympian world order.
Tricked into thinking it is a love charm, Deianeira applies poison to an article of Heracles' clothing; this poisoned robe causes Heracles to die an excruciating death.
At least, that is one option suggested following the discovery in Yavne of a sling bullet made of lead and bearing a Greek inscription reading “Victory for Heracles and Hauron” — a possible attempt at psychological warfare against enemies.
She aids him in the accomplishment of a feat only matched by Heracles in Greek mythology, the wounding of two immortal gods by a mortal man.
The sons are Heracles and Alexander.
Speaking from his base in Belgium, the former Heracles Almelo forward, said his omission is a clear statement that he must be at his best to always get a national team.
Common combinations with heracles
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- of heracles 16×
- heracles and 11×
- heracles was 9×
- heracles brought 6×
- by heracles 6×
- while heracles 5×
- and heracles 5×
- to heracles 5×
- heracles to 4×
- heracles in 4×