Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1820614-20150509232606/@comment-1820614-20150526005907

Actually, in the myth , Hercules took the quests himself to cleanse his spirit. No one blamed him for it except him. It is a bit of both. By Greek religion, Hercules killing them with his own hands was an unclean act that contaminated him regardless of the criminality of it. This spiritual pollution was regarded as dangerous and would bring bad fortune to anyone around him. Some form of ritual purification or punishment was needed to purify him before it was safe for others to be around him.

And in many versions it is considered punishment. A crime/offense against the gods had been committed and somone needed to be held accountable. Hera being a goddess could not be so Hercules had to take the fall.