Hercules
From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
Hercules (Greek name: Heracles) is a hero from Greek and Roman mythology, one of the most famous mythological figures. He is the son of Zeus (king of the gods) and the mortal woman Alcmene. Known for his immense strength, courage, and endurance. Best remembered for the Twelve Labors of Hercules, a series of nearly impossible tasks he was forced to perform as penance, including slaying the Nemean lion, capturing Cerberus, and cleaning the Augean stables.
In the Sherlock Holmes stories
A Scandal in Bohemia (1891)
- Dr. Watson described the King of Bohemia as "less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules." (SCAN 134).
The Resident Patient (1893)
- Dr. Percy Trevelyan described one the The Worthingdon Gang as "a tall young man, surprisingly handsome, with a dark, fierce face, and the limbs and chest of a Hercules." (RESI 119).
