HERCULES UNCHAINED

While travelling, Hercules is asked to intervene in a quarrel between two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, over who should rule Thebes. Before he can complete this task, Hercules drinks from a magic spring and is hypnotized by a harem girl who dances the "Dance of Shiva". He then loses his memory and becomes the captive of Queen Omphale of Lydia. The queen retains men until she tires of them, whereupon they are turned into statues. While young Ulysses tries to help him regain his memory, Hercules' wife, Iole, finds herself in danger from Eteocles, current ruler of Thebes, who plans on throwing her to the wild beasts in his entertainment arena. Hercules slays three tigers in succession and rescues his wife, then assists the Theban army in repelling mercenary attackers hired by Polynices. The two brothers ultimately fight one another for the throne and end up killing each other; the good high priest Creon is elected by acclaim.

Hercules regains his memory, rescues his wife Iole from mortal danger, and helps the Theban army. The feuding brothers Eteocles and Polynices kill each other, and Creon is chosen as the new ruler of Thebes.

The ending resolves both Hercules’ personal peril and the political conflict in Thebes. By regaining his memory and intervening at critical moments, Hercules saves Iole and helps end the destructive feud. The deaths of Eteocles and Polynices serve as a cautionary note on the cost of power struggles, while Creon’s election restores order, suggesting that wisdom and moderation are preferable to brute strength or ambition.