Discover the heroism of Heracles with sailing holidays in Greece

When it comes to famous Greeks, the hero Heracles − more commonly known by his Roman name Hercules − ranks pretty near the top of the list. Sailing holidays in Greece provide the opportunity to discover for yourselves just how closely mythology, folklore and history are interwoven in Greek culture, with many of the island destinations you can visit having links to this most remarkable character.

Mykonos may be rather less known for its important archaeological features than its nearby neighbour Delos; however, it certainly still has a claim to a connection with the great Heracles. During his 12 labours, our great hero found himself fighting some giants. Having defeated them, he threw the bodies into the sea, where they were turned to stone and became the island of Mykonos.

Heracles was condemned to carry out his 12 labours to atone for the murder of his wife and children. These tasks saw him travel around the region and have formed the basis of many archaeological sites. Heraklion, in Crete, was named after Heracles, and is where he had to capture the Minoan Bull.

While the island of Hydra seems a logical location for the task of beheading the fearsome multi-headed beast, this was said to have taken place in Lerna. Now known as Myloi, this village is located near the ancient site of Nafplio, founded by the son of Greek god Poseidon.

For those interested in Greek mythology, there are ample opportunities to follow in the footsteps of Heracles with sailing holidays in Greece.