1. Hercules Twelve Labors

2. Hercules  The most popular of Greek heroes, Hercules (sometimes called "Herakles") was celebrated in stories, sculptures, paintings, and even in the geography of the ancient world.

3. Hera’s Revenge Hera’s Revenge  Driven crazy by Hera Hercules killed his whole family  Asked Apollo for mercy – punishment  Apollo sent Hercules to King Eurystheus to be punished for twelve years with twelve labors

4. Hera and Hercules

5. Kill the Nemean Lion  Hide so tough no arrow could pierce it.  Hercules stunned the beast with his olive wood club then strangled with bare hands.  Skinned lion and wore its hide.

6. Kill the Lernean Hydra  Hydra had nine heads  If one got hurt – two would grow.  Hercules sliced off heads while Iolaus sealed them with a torch.  Hercules made poisonous arrows with the hydra’s blood.

7. Capture the Cerynian Hind  Artemis loved these deer with gold horns.  Hercules spent a year waiting to capture the hind without hurting it.

8. Capture the Erymanthian Boar  People of Mount Erymanthus lived in fear of this deadly animal.  Hercules caught it during a snowdrift in a net.  Took to King Eurystheus who hid in a jar.

9. Clean the Augean Stables  Thousands of King Augean’s cows lived inn stables that had not been cleaned in over 30 years.  Hercules diverts two rivers to wash them clean.

10. Kill the Stymphalian Birds  Murderous birds lived around Lake Stymphalos  Claws and beaks sharp as metal and feathers like darts  Hercules used a rattle to scare them then killed them with poison darts from the hydra

11. Capture the Cretan Bull  Savage bull was insane and breathed fire  Belonged to King Minos  Hercules wrestled bull to ground and took to King Eurystheus who set it free  It terrorized the people of Greece

12. Capture the Horses of Diomedes  King Diomedes, Bistones, fed his bloodthirsty horses on human flesh  Hercules killed Diomedes and fed him to the horses  Took the horses back to King Eurystheus

13. Take the Girdle of Queen Hippolyta  Queen welcomed Hercules and was going to give him the girdle to give to Eurystheus’s daughter  Hera spread a rumor that Hercules was there to fight – so he had to defeat the Amazons to get the girdle

14. Capture the Cattle of Geryon  Winged monster with 3 human bodies and a herd of beautiful red cattle  Guarded herd with a giant and two headed dog  Hercules killed giant and Geryon  Took the cattle to the King

15. Take the Golden Apples of the Hesperides  Hesperides were nymphs (Atlas’s Kids)  Their garden had golden apples protected by the dragon Ladon (100 heads)  Atlas fetched the apples while Hercules held the Earth for him

16. Capture Cerbeus  Three headed guard dog of the underworld  Had to capture without weapons  Hercules wrestled the dog who then agreed to go with him  Cerbeus was then returned to Hades unharmed