Scholars of classical myth and legend are tempted to assume Hercules was originally a mortal man of Mycenaen times whose reputation for strength and courage won him legendary status.
    However, these scholars have never met Hercules the God - one of the most awesome of Olympian deities.

Hercules is best remembered for his 12 heroic 'labours' during which he faced the fierce Nemean Lion, the many headed Hydra; the Erymanthian boar; the golden-antlered hind of Keryneia and the Stymphalian Birds. He had to clean the Stables of Augeias, which were so bad they required redirecting a river to sluice them out. 
    Hercules' seventh labour was to catch the Cretan Bull; eighth was to coral the human flesh-eating Horses of Diomedes; ninth was to combat the Amazons and capture one of their Girdles; tenth was a long trip to defeat the monster Geryon; eleventh was the most difficult task of all - to enter Hades' Underworld and bring back Kerberos; and finally, Hercules' ultimate labour - to find and bring back the golden apples of the Hesperides.

As amazing as these tales are, there is an element of truth in the idea, for Hercules is the Olympian hard man; called in by various deities to work for them when his particular skills are needed. 

Encounters with Hercules tend to be bruising. Most times team-members are hauled for miles overland to see what Hercules has to show. They are tests of endurance. 
    Hercules chooses to appear as a male in his mid 30s. He is very tall and muscular - massive bulging biceps - he has dark eyes and dark shoulder length hair, clean-shaven and brown skinned, but not African black. More golden brown. Most times he appears bare-chested. His voice booms, in fact Hercules is altogether overwhelmingly awesome...

"I am the mighty and well-known God Hercules. Thank you for honouring me today. Many mortals have learnt about me at an early age, mostly legends. Yet there is some truth. Now some are realising that I am a God who deserves to be honoured. 
    It angered me that a mortal should have named an animal after me. I am a God, the dog is not. It is not the dog's fault. It is the man's. Some Gods or Goddesses may not mind but I DO!
    You shake when you see me. I mean you no harm. I am not cruel but I am strong. No God, whoever they are, is stronger than me. Never forget this. My strength is enormous. My powers even larger. You will be a stronger mortal after meeting me.   
    I Hercules have to make tests, yet because I know my own strength, I will be gentle."
    'Good,' thought our team-member on first encounter: 
    '...With two fingers of one hand he picked me up by the hand and I dangled. Then he threw me over his shoulder like a sack of coal. I struggled against his grip as he climbed a mountain - it took just six strides - and when we reached the summit he threw me with such force I felt I was flying for miles, but before I hit the ground he was there and caught me. 

"Today is important. It is the day I was created, so I celebrate."

He took a few more huge strides and we were at a building, a cone pyramid shape. It was huge and green coloured. We went inside and he put me down, then began to shrink to a slightly smaller size once inside - to 4 metres tall.
    "This is my home, where I dwell. The Gods and Goddesses that are here have come to celebrate with me."
    I looked around. I recognised some, they were mostly the 'tough' Gods and Goddesses. I saw Ares and Athena, Hecate and Pan, Kyron and Larnatus. And some of the most fierce deities - Chimaera, Charybdis and Scylla and even the Devourer. They seemed so huge and fearsome I felt VERY nervous, very scared. But Hercules thrust a goblet in my hands and said: "Drink!" I took one sip but it was so strong it nearly knocked me backwards.

Elsewhere there were Gods and Goddesses taking part in competition games of strength and Hercules was just watching them, laughing and cheering them on. I saw Atlas, he had some 6 inch thick bars of iron and he just snapped them in half. Hercules pointed to him,  "There is a weakling," and laughed all the more. It was all quite noisy.

"There now are mortals who know I am a God, existing in and out of your dimension. I am worshipped in many temples. My great strength attracts mortals who are aware. 
     Now you have had a glimpse of my home and see how I celebrate. With strength. You may return."

Festival of Hercules: 26th August