Final answer:
The serpents in Hercules's cradle were sent by his stepmother, Hera, due to her jealousy of Zeus's offspring with other women. Hercules strangled them as a baby, showing his incredible strength.
Step-by-step explanation:
The serpents that were placed in Hercules's cradle, which he strangled as an infant, were sent by his stepmother, Hera. Hera was the wife of Zeus, Hercules's father, and she was notoriously jealous of Zeus's offspring with other women. In Greek mythology, Hercules, also known as Heracles, was the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. Hera's jealousy led her to seek various ways to punish or kill Hercules throughout his life. The act of Hercules strangling the serpents as a baby demonstrated his superhuman strength and courage from a very young age, which were characteristics that would define his heroic feats later in life.