The myth saved by Xenophon narrates that incident, when Hercules, seated at a crossroads, saw two beautiful girls passing by. Hercules' adoptive father, Amphitryonas, who was raised to teach him the art of the sailor, taught him the art of armor, Alykus the fight, Evritos the bow, Centaur Chiron the Sciences, and Linus. He was born in Thebes and was the son of Zeus and Alcmene When Hercules was born, Hera, Zeus' wife, who was jealous of him for his infidelities, sent two snakes to his cradle, but the infant strangled them.
Hercules or Alcaeus or Alcides were ancient mythical heroes, regarded as the greatest of the Greek heroes.