The Twelve Labors of Heracles

Introduction Heracles was the son of Zeus Denied right to be king and his birthright was given to his cousin Eurystheus. Hated by Hera In a fit of rage, sent by Hera, Heracles killed his wife and three children In order to repent this sin he must complete 12 impossible tasks for Eurystheus. These tasks became known as the twelve labors of Heracles

Task 1: Kill the Nemean Lion Lion was supernatural, because its hide could not be pierced by arrows. Heracles blocked the exit to its cave and crawled in the entrance Heracles throttles the lion in hand-to-hand combat Heracles skins the animal and from then on all statues of Heracles depict him with the Lion’s hide.

Task 2: Kill the Lerna Hydra Eurystheus was so scared of his cousin that when he saw Heracles coming with Lion’s hide, he hid in a jar and issued the next task The Hydra’s breath was poisonous With the help of Iolaus, his nephew, he cut off and burned the heads of the Hydra, killing it. Dips arrows in Hydra’s blood making poison arrows

Task 3: The Cerynitian Hind Deer was sacred to Artemis and had golden horns Heracles hunted the animal for a year before he was able to shoot the animal between the tendons and bones of its front two forelegs. Artemis is angry but Heracles blames Eurystheus his task master.

Task 4: The Erymanthian Boar Had to bring back the animal alive Chased it into a snow bank on Mount Erymanthus and threw the creature over his shoulder and took it back to Eurystheus. Eurystheus was hiding in a storage jar as usual.

Task 5: The Augean Stables King Augeas had several thousand cattle and the produced so much manure over the years that the island permeated with the scent. Eurystheus sent Heracles to clean the stables in one day. Instead of using a shovel and a bucket like Eurystheus intended, Heracles diverted two great rivers to wash out the stables.

Task 6: The Stymphalian Birds The sixth Labor pitted Heracles against the Stymphalian birds, who inhabited a marsh near Lake Stymphalus. The birds had feathers of brass which they would shoot at people and kill them with. Heracles could not get close to them so he shot them with his arrows.

Task 7: The Cretan Bull The same bull that was the father of the Minotaur. Belched flames and fire. King Minos wanted to be rid of it. Heracles overpowered it and shipped it back to mainland Greece.

Task 8: The Mares of Diomedes The King Diomedes had four mares which he trained to eat human flesh. Diomedes would give his enemies to the horses. Heracles feed Diomedes to his own horses, thus pacifying them as he took them to Eurystheus.

Task 9: Hippolyte's Girdle Heracles had to travel to the land of the Amazons to retrieve the belt of their leader for Eurystheus' daughter. Hippolyte gave Heracles the belt with no trouble, but Hera spread a rumor that he had killed Hippolyte. Heracles had to fight off the Amazons to escape with his life and the belt.

Task 10: The Cattle of Geryon Geryon was a monster with three heads and three bodies. His cattle was the most beautiful in all the world To find Geryon’s island Heracles makes the Strait of Gibraltar (The Pillars of Heracles). Heracles killed Geryon with his club and returned to Greece with the cattle.

Task 11: The Apples of the Hesperides The apples were given to Hera as a wedding present. They were kept on an island and guarded by a many headed dragon. In his search for the island he comes across Atlas. Atlas agreed to get the apples if Heracles would hold the world. Heracles held the world while Atlas went to get the apples, when he returned Atlas did not want to hold the world again. Heracles told Atlas to hold it long enough for him to fetch a cushion for his shoulders. When Atlas took the world back, Heracles took the apples and ran.

Task 12: The Capture of Cerberus Eurystheus ordered Heracles to go to Hades and return with Cerberus. Heracles intimidated Charon to take him across the river Styx. Heracles then asked permission from Hades to take Cerberus. Hades agrees on the condition that Heracles has to beat the creature in hand to hand combat. Heracles is victorious and takes the animal back to Eurystheus. Thus ends his twelve labors and his penance.