Megara (mythology)
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In Greek mythology, Megara (in Greek: Μεγάρα) was the oldest daughter of Creon, king of Thebes. She married Heracles and later his nephew Iolaus. There is a poem about her, usually attributed to Moschus.
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[edit] Marriage to Heracles
In reward for defending Thebes in battle, Creon offered Heracles Megara. Together they had three sons, although it's said as up to eight. Hera struck Heracles with a temporary madness in which he killed them. In order to atone his guilt, he was forced to the Twelve Labours.
[edit] Disney
As with all the Greek figures, Disney took huge liberties with Megara (who was nicknamed Meg) in the movie, Hercules. She was a sassy, street-smart woman who fell into slavery when she gave her soul to Hades to rescue her lover-who soon left her for another girl.
During the film's events, Hades uses Meg (who Hercules had fallen in love with) to find out his weakness, after he continually fails to kill him. However, Meg falls in love with him, and after she refuses to help him, Hades captures her. He holds Meg hostage and promises not to let her come to any harm in return for Hercules giving up his power for one day. Hercules does not know that Meg was already Hades' slave, and agrees.
Hades promptly unleashes the Titans, to conquer Olympus. He then sends the Cyclops to kill the powerless hero, but Hercules barely manages to defeat him, after encouragement from Meg and Phil. When a pillar is about to fall on him, Meg pushes him out of the way, and is crushed. This allows Hercules to recover his strength, since Hades promise had been broken when Meg was harmed.
After stopping Hades' conquest, Hercules hurries back to Meg, only to find that she had died from her injuries only moments before he got to her, preventing him from even saying goodbye. He goes to the Underworld and demands Meg's soul back. Hades makes him a deal; if he can grab her from the Pit of Lost Souls, he can have her. What the sinister god doesn't tell him is that no mortal can survive in there. However, in selflessly risking his life, Hercules has proven himself a true hero, and regains his godliness, saving Meg.
At the end of the movie, Hercules remains a mortal so he can stay with Meg.
Meg is voiced by Susan Egan.
[edit] Kingdom Hearts II
Meg also appears in Kingdom Hearts II. When Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy first meet her, she had attempted to speak with Hades, who had tired Hercules by sending monster after monster. They go in her stead, and she spends some time with the hero, trying to convince him to stop fighting.
As a ploy to unlock the Underdrome Tournament, Pete kidnaps Meg to lure Sora to her rescue, while Hercules fights the Hydra (with Hades' promise that things will get ugly if he doesn't). The threesome rescue her, and with Hercules' help, defeat the oafish villain. However, the Hydra is still very much alive, and begins to cause chaos. With the help of Meg, Phil, and Pegasus, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are able to defeat it, but the Coliseum lies in ruins.
Egan reprises her role as Meg for the English version, and Rica Matsumoto voices her in the Japanese release.
