Hercules: Mythology vs Disney

Hercules is a Disney movie based off a god in Greek Mythology. The movie creates a kid friendly version of a popular Greek mythology tale. There are many similarities and differences to the movie and mythology version and it come down to one’s personal opinion of which one is better.

~Birth Parents

In the popular Disney movie, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Hena, both gods but in the tale he is the sun of Zeus and a mortal woman. In both of these stories, Hercules is always the son of Zeus and always described as loved by his father.

~Transformation into a Hero

In the film, Hercules becomes a god when he risks his life to save Meg, the girl he falls in love with. Once he turns into a god, he wishes to stay mortal and live with Meg. In the mythology tale, Hercules must complete 12 labors in order to become a god. Once he becomes a god he stays one. In both of the stories, Hercules had to perform almost impossible tasks in order to become a god.

~12 Labors

In the myth, in order for Hercules to turn into a god, he must complete 12 labors. When he completes them, he turns into a god and reunites with his father. In the movie, the show some of the labors for example when he kills Hydra. Many are left out and some of the battle mentioned are not what are mentioned in the myth.

~Love intrest

The movie has Hercules fall in love with a girl named Meg, who has a huge role in the movie unlike in the tale. Meg, also known as Megara is Hercules’s first wife which he later kills by Hena’s orders. Megara is not an important character except for her death. In both stories, Meg acts as a mortal love interest and dies in both, except Hercules saves her life in the movie.

~Muses and Titans

In the Disney movie, the muses lead us through the story and sing many of the songs. There were 5 of them in the movie but in the myth, there were 9, all daughters of Zeus. The Titans were the antagonists of the movie version of Hercules but but in mythology, they were kind and predecessors to the gods.

~Pegasus

In the film, when Hercules is born Zeus gives him a present made out of clouds. The clouds turn into a horse with wings and a horn named Pegasus. He follows Hercules in all his adventures and helps him out along the way. In the tale, Pegasus is Hercules friend but does not follow him on any adventures.

Sources:

Fanpop, Inc. “Walt Disney-Figuren Photo: Walt Disney Screencaps — Hercules & Pegasus.” Fanpop, de.fanpop.com/clubs/walt-disney-characters/images/36420496/title/walt-disney-screencaps-hercules-pegasus-photo.

Parada, Carlos. “The Original Hercules and Disney’s.” Hecate — Greek Mythology Link, www.maicar.com/GML/DisneyHercules.html.