Disney's feature film Hercules tells the story of the eponymous character trying to prove himself a hero so he can rejoin his family in Olympus. The movie is loosely based on Greek mythology, particularly the myth of Hercules - with a big emphasis on the word loosely.

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Due to the very rich yet rather violent and adult content of Greek mythology, the story naturally had to be adapted and considerably softened for consistency and family-friendly viewing. So as a result, there are fewer Muses, Hades has a much bigger part, and Meg does not face a horrible end. But would the movie have benefited from being mythologically correct?

Hera Would Be The Villain

Zeus and Hera smiling in Disney's Hercules

In the movie, Hera is Hercules' loving and caring mother. This could not be farther from the truth. In the original myth, Hera is not only not Hercules' mother, but his adversary. She was always infuriated by  Zeus' many infidelities and would often take vengeance on his half-mortal children, Hercules included.

Whilst she was a shrewd jealous goddess in the original myths, it is not only hard to imagine the motherly Hera from the film as a Disney villain but to imagine her replacing an unforgettable villain like Hades.

Hades Would Be Upstaged By His Dog

Hades walking by the three-headed dog Cerberus in Disney's Hercules

So if Hera was the villain, where would that leave Hades? In contrast to the hot-headed, fast-talking Lord of the Underworld in the movie, Hades is a rather passive character in mythology as a whole, let alone in the myth of Hercules.

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If Hades were in the mythologically accurate version of the movie, he would have a small part in the twelfth labor, where Hercules has to capture his monstrous three-headed hound Cerberus. In fact, in the mythologically correct version, Cerberus would most likely have more screen time than Hades!

Hercules' Adoptive Mother Would Be His Real Mother

Hercules with his adoptive parents in Disney's Hercules

Be it adoptive or blood, Hercules would still have an adoring mother figure in the mortal Alcmene. In mythology, Zeus was notorious for seducing mortals. One of these mortals was Alcmene, whom Zeus approached disguised as her husband Amphitryon, and the result of the affair was Hercules.

Of course, adultery is not appropriate for a movie that is meant to be watched by all ages so this is one of the elements that needed to be adapted for the movie. Instead, the infant Hercules is found and lovingly adopted by Alcmene and Amphitryon.

There Would Be Nine Muses

The singing muses in Disney's Hercules

One of the most notable aspects of Hercules are the Muses - five women who act as the narrators in the style of a Greek chorus and a gospel choir. Whilst the film only depicted five Muses - Calliope, Clio, Melponene, Terpsicore, and Thalia - there were actually nine Muses altogether in Greek mythology.

Erato, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, and Urania did not make it into the film. Whilst this was most likely done to avoid having too many characters, who can deny that more singing Muses would have been just as fun?

Hercules Could Die Earlier In The Movie

The centaur Nessus harassing Meg in Disney's Hercules

Hercules first encounters Meg being harassed by the centaur Nessus, whom Hercules promptly defeats. If true to the myth, Nessus would ultimately have had a bigger impact on the story. As in the movie, Hercules defeats Nessus for harassing his wife (not Meg) by shooting him with a poisoned arrow.

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As revenge, Nessus persuades Hercules's wife to make him put on a poisoned tunic... and she does, ultimately killing the mighty hero. If Nessus had done this in the movie, Hades would most likely be comfortably ruling Olympus unopposed.

There Would Be No Pegasus

Hercules and Pegasus ride through Thebes in Disney's Hercules

All Disney protagonists need a lovable sidekick, and Hercules' sidekick was Pegasus, the winged horse. Created as a gift by Zeus, Pegasus remained a loyal and helpful sidekick to Hercules throughout the movie and was always on hand to assist him in battle. Pegasus is not even mentioned in the original myth of Hercules.

In fact, Pegasus is associated with the lesser-known Greek hero Bellerophon. Hercules could have done well with Pegasus' loyalty and help in the myth, as he did in the movie.

Phil Would Be Out Of A Job

Phil with his hands in his waist, looking angry in Hercules

Thanks to a memorable performance by Danny DeVito, it is hard to forget Philoctetes, the grouchy satyr who trained many heroes before begrudgingly training Hercules. But in the mythologically correct version, it would not be a satyr teaching Hercules but a centaur. In Greek myth, the renowned trainer of heroes was a centaur named Chiron.

Chiron was wise, patient, caring, and skilled in many things from archery to the arts. Whilst Chiron would have been 'cooler', he would perhaps not have been as funny or memorable as Phil.

Meg Would Meet An Unfortunate End

Meg annoyed with centaur in Disney's Hercules

Megara, or Meg, is not only Hercules' love interest in the film but Hades' unwilling minion. She sacrifices herself to save Hercules and dies from her injuries although her actions at first are rather despicable. Whilst a distraught Hercules brings her back from the dead, Meg's fate in the original myth is not so happy.

In the original myth, Hera causes Hercules to briefly go mad and he ends up killing Meg and their children. It is a good thing that they did not go down this path for the movie - Meg is one of Disney's most underrated female leads and has some of the best one-liners.

The Hydra Would Not Be The First 'Boss Level'

Hercules riding Pegasus against the multi-headed Hydra in Disney's Hercules

The first challenge Hercules faces after hero training is fighting the Hydra, a large reptilian beast that sprouts extra heads when decapitated. If the film were to follow the myth, the Hydra would have been his second challenge.

His first challenge would have been facing the Nemean Lion but a lion does not quite have the same impact as a giant multi-headed monster. To give credit to the film, some of the Twelve Labors are featured in the 'Zero to Hero' montage, including the Nemean Lion.

The Movie Would Not Be Called 'Hercules'

Hercules pointing his bow and arrow in Disney's Hercules

If the movie were to be mythologically accurate, it wouldn't even be called Hercules! Despite the fact that the movie is based on and features Greek mythology, Hercules is his Roman name.

His Greek name, and what the title of the movie would be, is Heracles. Although Heracles is the original name, the name Hercules has been more popularly used and recognized by Western art and literature for centuries. Considering this, the name Heracles would not have attracted audiences as easily nor is it as open for nicknames like 'Jerkules'.

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