The 12 Labors of Hercules
Who was Hercules ?
Heracles was one of the famous Greek heroes. Unlike many other demigods like Perseus and Theseus, Hercules was a mortal who was later given the status of a God. In the roman society, Hercules was worshipped as a diety and many families trace their ancestory back to Hercules. Hercules fought many wars during his time, but what elevates him to the status of the legendary hero is the 12 labors that he had to do to attain the status of a god.
Was Hercules considred a Greek God?
Hercules was born as a mortal man, although he had a complex family lineare like many greek mythological heroes. According to greek legend, Hercules' father was the god Zeus, who was the ruler of all Greek gods on Mount Olympus and all of the mortals on the earth, and his mother was Alcmene, who the granddaughter of the hero Perseus. The goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, was always jealous of Hercules. When Hercules was an infant, Hera sent two snakes to kill the child in his crib but the infant was unusually strong and fearless. Hercules, as an infant, strangled the snakes and killed them before they could strangle him.
Why Hercules had to do the 12 labors ?
When Hercules was young, his vengeful stepmother, the goddess Hera, cast a bad spell oh him driving him insane momentarily which caused Hercules to murder his wife and two children. When the spell was removed, Hercules cames to senses and understood the madness that had transpired due to his actions. Driven by guilt and grief, Hercules went to meet with the god of truth and healing, Apollo who was one of Zeus' sons.
Apollo knew that Hercules’ actions were not his fault. He knew of Hera’s vengeful actions and instructed Hercules to perform some tasks as a penance or a way to make amends. He ordered Hercules to perform the infamous 12 labors for the king of Mycene, Eurystheus, who was his step brother. Apollo declared that if Hercules completes each of the task, he would be absolved of his guilt and gain immortality.
What are the 12 Labors of Hercules ?
Slay the Nemean lion
Hercules' first task was to slay the Nemean lion. This beast had been terroririzing the people of the region for quite some time and is beleived to be fathered by zeus himself. Hercules was sent by Apollo to the hills of Nemea to slay the lion which is known to be unkillable by any weapon due to its hide and skin. Hercules reached the cave and fought the lion but was unable to kill it with his weapons. So Hercules trapped the lion and strangled it, teared open the skin with his bare hands to kill it. He skinned the lion and thereafter wore its skin as a garment.
Slay the nine-headed Hydra
Hercules' second task was to kill the dangerous nine-headed Hydra of Lernae. Hydra was a poisonous snake guarding the gates of the underworld, living underwater. If one were to tear of one of the head off the Hydra, two new heads would grow back in its place. So Hercules together with his cousin/charioteer sealed the wounds as soon as a head was cut off. This prevented a new head growing back and eventually killing the Hydra. Hercules would dip his arrows in Hydra's venom.
Capturing the Golden Hind of Arcadia
The third task was to capture a Golden deer or hind protected by Goddess Diana and loved by the Goddess of hunt, Artemis. The deer had bronze hooves and golden antlers. Capturing the deer would angry the gods, so Eurystheus chose this task for Hercules so that he could get rid of Hercules. But Hercules quietly followed the deer for nearly a year and then safely captured it, there by not making the gods angry. Later when Hercules was confronted by the gods, he explained his situation and was let go.
Capturing the wild boar of Mount Erymanthus
The fourth task was to capture the Erymanthus boar which was a huge and frightening beast terrorizing the people living in and around the mountain of Erymanthus. When trying to catch the beast, Hercules drove the beast up the mountain which eventually fell in a snow drift. Hercules used a giant net to capture the animal and presented his catch in the court of King of Tiryns. The king and court members we so frightened at the sight that they immedialy flew and hid. The King himself hid in a bronze jar.
Cleaning the Augean Stables
The fifth task for Hercules was to clean the stables of King Augeas which have not been cleaned in nearly 30 years. the task was to clean the entire stables in a single day which was almost impossible and meant to humiliate Hercules. However, Hercules went to the nearby rivers and bent the course of two of the rivers thereby flooding the stables and cleaning them easily.
Shoot the monstrous birds of the Stymphalian marshes
The sixth task for Hercules was to travel to Stymphalos and drive the monstrous canivorous birds away. However, these birds were quite huge in size with beaks and claws as sharp as metal whose feathers flew like arrows. Hercules tried to scare the birds away but couldnt succeed. With the help of goddess Athena who helped him with a magical noisemaker made by the smith of the gods, Hephaistos, Hercules frightened the birds away from their nests and used the poisonous arrows that he had previously dipped in the blood of Hydra to kill the birds.
Capturing the mad bull of Crete island
The seventh task was to capture the Cretan bull, which was said to be mad, savage and breathe fire and was under the King of Crete, Minos. The mad bull caused rampage wherever it went terrorizing the streets of Crete. Apparently, the bull had impregnated the queen of Crete Island, who later gave birth to the famous Minotaur, the bull headed man. Hercules wrestled the mad bull. defeated the animal and brought it back to King Eurystheus, but the King released the mad bull onto the streets of Marathon casuing wreckage and rampage wherever the bull went.
Capturing the man-eating horses of King Diomedes
Diomedes was was the King of Thrace who had 4 man-eating horses. Hercules' eighth task was to capture these 4 man-eaiting horses of King Diomedes of the bistones. King Diomedes usually fed the horses with fles of humans. Hercules fought King Diomedes and killed the king and fed his flesh to his carnivorous horses. This appeased the horses and tamed them so that Hercules could lead them to the King Eurystheus. The King dedicated the horses to the goddess Hera and set the horses free.
Acquire the girdle of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons
The ninth task was to get the golden belt of the queen of Amazons, Hippolyte. The belt was gifted to her by the god of war, Ares. When Hercules reached the land of amazon and met the queen, she initially agreed to hand over the belt without a fight. However, Hera who had been trying thwart Hercules' plans all along decided to disguise as an amazon warrior woman and spread the rumour the Hercules will abduct the queen. Fearing the safety of their queen, all the warriors fought against Hercules. It is believed that Hercules had to kill the queen Hippolyte and snatched away her girdle.
Seize the cattle of the three-bodied giant Geryon
The tenth task for Hercules was to seive the cattle of Geyron, who was moster with with wings and three human bodies. Geryon had beatuful red cattle, ruled the island Erytheia (meaning red) in the far west, nearly in the Africa across the Libyan desert. Hercules had to travel long distance, cross an ocean with the help of the sun god, Helios and reach the place. Hercules fought Geryon and killed the giant and his two headed monster dog and Hercules eventually brought the cattle herd to the King Eurystheus who later sacrificed the cattle to the goddess Hera, to appease her and win her favor.
Bring the golden apples from the world’s end
The next taks for Hercules was to bring the golden apples from the garden of Hesperidies. The golden apples were said to be Hera's gift to Zeus. The Hesperidies were nymphs guarding the apples along the dragon Ladon who had a hundred heads. The task was nearly impossible. Hercules went to Prometheus, who was known to defy the gods and who had brouhgt fire to the mortal world, to seek advice on how to accomplish the task. Later Hercules went to the titan atlas who is usually holding up the earth in Greek mythology. In a bargain, Hercules carried the earth while Atlas fetched the golden apples in secret. Once Hercules showed the golden apples to the King Eurystheus, he quickly went back to the garden and returned the apples.
Fetch the triple-headed dog Cerebrus from underworld
The final task of Hercules was to fetch Cerebrus, who is a vicious three-headed dog like creature guarding of the gates of the underworld. Hercules fought with the monstrous dog and was able to overpower the creature with this super human strength. the dog willingly agreed to meet the King Eurystheus and then later Cerebrus returned to his post unharmed.
