Why Did Heracles (Hercules) K-ll His Own Family? The Myth Explained Through Art

Why did Heracles — the greatest hero of Greek mythology — slay his own wife and children with his bare hands? This is the tragic myth of the madness of Heracles (Hercules), told through classical paintings, ancient vases, and Roman mosaics.

Cursed by Hera’s endless hatred since his birth, Heracles was struck with a madness he could not control — and in his rage, he destroyed the family he loved most. This short explores his descent into fury, the horror of what he’d done, and how his twelve legendary labors were born from an act of penance.

🖼️ Artworks featured in this video:
0:00 — Pompeo Batoni, “The Infant Hercules Strangling Serpents in His Cradle” (1743)
0:07 — Peter Paul Rubens, “Juno and Argus” (c. 1611)
0:20 — Farnese Hercules, Roman marble copy (Naples Archaeological Museum)
0:26 — Krater with the Madness of Heracles, Asteas (Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid)
0:35 — Alessandro Turchi (l’Orbetto), “Hercules Slaying the Children of Megara”
0:42 — Krater with the Madness of Heracles, Asteas (Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid)
0:52 — Pompeo Batoni, “Hercules at the Crossroads” (1742–43)
1:00 — Roman mosaic, “The Twelve Labours of Hercules” (Llíria, 3rd century AD, Madrid)

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