Herakles Δ - Apotheosis

In the last part of my Herakles series, I decided to make a piece exploring apotheosis. For those that don't know, following his death, Herakles was elevated by Zeus from a demigod to a god. The process of becoming a god is rendered apotheosis* in both English and Ancient Greek.

The reason why I chose to zero in on this in the last part, even though our Theban friend's story was not at an end, is to discern whether this was a boon or a burden. Here was a creature who, for all his heroism, suffered greatly in life psychologically. He toiled and accomplished amazing things, but Herakles' scars were many and accumulating. The question then becomes - does apotheosis cure him of these concerns or is he, in a way, cursed to forever carry this burden with him?

As the venom eats at my chest,

The Hydra's venom carries me to my rest

I look beyond the flame of my pyre

To Zeus' behest

Am I damned or blessed?

For my immortality I go not sleep

And though many kneel before me,

The price of apotheosis is steep

My shoulders held heavens, east to west

But will this labor be one I can wrest?

"It's hard to tell sometime" I think, in jest,

Whom the gods adore and whom they detest

Am I damned or am I blessed?

For my apotheosis I go not sleep

And in darkness I find myself asking

Who does the keeper keep?

The future is eternal here

For the first time I feel fear

But the morrow, ruthless, it comes

And I greet it in fighting spirit and good cheer