Zeus once fell in love with the beautiful Alkmene. Her husband Amphitryon had fled Mycenae after killing his uncle and father-in-law Elektryon. Zeus then came to Alkmene in the form of her husband and fathered Hercules Heracles with her. Alkmene abandoned the infant for fear of Hera`s revenge. His half-sister Athena, who later played an important role as the goddess of protection, took him and brought him to Hera. Heracles did not recognize them and suckled him out of pity. Heracles sucked
so much that he inflicted pain on Hera and it pushed him away. The milk splashed across the sky and formed the Milky Way. But with the divine milk Heracles received supernatural powers.
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