Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1820614-20150509232606/@comment-1820614-20150704154130

Kronos300 wrote:

I think Nico suffered the worst. He lost his family at a young age, ostracised by practically everyone except a few, never included by anyone, and he went to Tartarus. And he liked the guy who he knew, would never return his affections.

Hercules, on the other hand, had everything: strength, fame, women, friends and a new family. Yet he rejected them and resorted to mindless killing, drinking and womanizing. He was punished for rejecting that chance of living peacefully, after completing his twelve labors. Did Nico suffer more? Maybe, by now your trying to measure suffering.

As for the rest, I disagree. A point made by Hercules sounded like he was never allowed to live peacefully. Because he was the most famous son of Zeus people were always coming to him to solve problems. He said something along the lines of "it never being enough." Would Hera have let him live peacefully? Would other people have left him alone? Were all the drinking and partying to try and escape his pain? By all accounts he tried to live in peace till Hera ruined it. There is nothing I know of that indicates the rest of his life was punishment for anything...at least not divinely mandated punishment. Then again, the Olympians were not known for being the most fair of beings.