Heracles is another name for the famous Hercules- the love child of Zeus, ruler of the Greek gods, and a mortal woman. This meant that he was super strong but wasnt a full god so had to live on Earth. There are a lot of legends involving him and his heroic deeds....and a disney movie

Heracles was born made mortal by his stepmother, jealous Hera. Hera made him go into a crazed fit, and kill his family, without knowing. He had to perform ten, later made twelve deeds, produced by a frightened king to pay for his terrible deed. Hera was usually jealous of the children resulting in Zeus's many love affairs.

Heracles was sired by Zeus in order to help the gods win the on-coming war against the giants, who were descendents of the titans. It was the Fates who predicted that only someone half god and half mortal would ensure the victory of the Olympians. Zeus discuised himself as the mortal man Amphitreon, and visited Amphitreon's wife, Alcmene. In time, Alcmene gave birth to a baby who was half mortal and half god. Alcmene named the child Heracles, in hope of avoiding the wrath of Zeus' wife Hera (Heracles means "Glory of Hera") but Hera was extremely bitter at Zeus' betrayal, and she sent 2 snakes to strangle baby Heracles in his cradle. But the baby Heracles crushed the snakes to death with his bare hands- this was the first time Heracles showed his great strength. As explained in the previous answers, when Heracles grew up, he inadvertently killed his wife and children, and took up the 12 labours to atone for his crime. With each victory, Heracles became more popular and celebrated by the people of Greece and throughout the world- this infuriated Hera, and she constantly sought out ways to make his tasks more difficult and agonising. Heracles finally succeeded his labours, and had many more adventures and mishaps, before finally being rewarded a place on Mt. Olympus, where Hera finally gave up her feud, and allowed him to marry her daughter, the goddess Hebe.