The next day, the real Amphitryon returned, and there was a rather surprising scene in which Amphitryon couldn’t understand why Alcmene was not happier and more surprised to see him, and Alcmene couldn’t understand why Amphitryon insisted that he hadn’t been home for ages. Alcmene went to bed with Zeus, thinking that her husband was home unexpectedly from the war. Remember, a god can appear in any guise he chooses. Amphitryon was away at war, and Zeus appeared to Alcmene disguised as Amphitryon. Hercules is conceived when Zeus tricks Alcmene into thinking that he is her husband, Amphitryon. Now, like many heroes, Hercules has a conception and a baby-hood that are fraught with difficulties or, at least, with unusual elements.
