We have all been introduced to Greek and Roman historical legends at some point in our lives – even if you’ve not been aware of it. Whether you like Marvel movies and are obsessed with Thor and Loki’s Norse storyline and their brotherly frenemy-ship, or whether you learned all about Roman gods and goddesses during your history lessons at high school and have now conveniently forgotten all about them, we all know a few facts about ancient history. However, most of us have probably got much of our information from one of the best Disney movies out there.
Of course, we’re talking about Hercules! Like many of film and TV adaptations out there, the 1997 movie follows the mythology of the famous Roman hero, Hercules, and the Greek, Heracles. As the son of the almighty god of thunder, Zeus, and the mortal woman, Alcmene, Hercules was introduced to us as an epic demigod with an epic workout routine… Because his muscles and his super-strength have allowed him to enter the realm of legends. But he’s not the only one!
The story of Hercules has now become a staple in most schools, which means that millions of people around the globe know of his impressive strength. As one of the first gods to truly embody the idea of strength and muscle, many believe that the life and story of Hercules has inspired many popular bodybuilders to spend hours in the gym perfecting their own demigod physique. In the last few decades, major names such as Lou Ferrigno, Branch Warren, Jay Cutler and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson have impressed fans around the world with their strict and intense workout routines and their bulging biceps.
In fact, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson recently upped the ante in terms of his already-intense workout routine to ensure that he was capable of wowing fans with his role as the son of Zeus in the July 2014 blockbuster, Hercules. Although Johnson is already known as one of the biggest and strongest men in Hollywood, he admitted to Bodybuilding.com that he had to put in an extra Herculean effort to push his body even further to obtain the desired physique for the demigod.
Nowadays, you can’t go to your local gym without seeing men and women pushing themselves to the limits to bulk up their bodies to look just like The Rock or ol’ Arnie. They squat with hundreds of pounds on their backs, and their biceps bulge each time they lift their weights up to their chin. Yet, it seems as though these intense training schedules have not always been limited to men and women – as it seems kids are also getting in on the demigod action. In fact, one 8-year-old dubbed ‘Little Hercules’ broke the internet in the early ‘00s when he impressed us all with his Herculean muscles and his strength – but have you ever wondered what the most ripped kid is up to now?
[post_page_title]The Hercules effect[/post_page_title]
Throughout history, the Hercules effect has swept the world – with more and more people looking up to their muscled idols to better their own lives and bulk up their muscles. These bodybuilders idolize the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Lou Ferrigno and even Hercules himself to provide inspiration and training regimes to transform their lives. However, it’s not just adults who have proved their worth in the gym. One 8-year-old won himself the title of ‘Little Hercules’ in the early ‘00s, before disappearing from view. This is what he’s up to now…
