Did Heracles (Hercules in Latin) ever exist?
   Katrina, 11, Glencoe, Oklahoma

Dr. dig responds:

Legend tells us that Heracles was a Greek demi-god (half man, half god) and strong man who completed a series of twelve difficult tasks including slaying a lion, capturing a bull and destroying flesh-eating birds. He was not a real person. But legends of heroes are often based on real people, so it may be that long ago in Greek history there was a brave king or intrepid hunter who inspired this tale.