Labors of Heracles

Megara, first wife –2 nd sin Hera/Juno sent madness on Hercules and he killed Megara and their three children Hercules went to Apollo’s oracle at Delphi to ask what he could do for expiation The oracle at Delphi instructed him to go to Tiryns and serve his cousin Eurystheus for twelve ‘labors’. Hercules was promised a life of toil and trouble, but immortality at the end.

Hercules in Odyssey 11 Odysseus sees only his ghost. The real Hercules is feasting with the gods on Mt. Olympus: Then I caught sight of mighty Heracles, I mean his phantom, since he joys in feasting among the deathless gods, with slim-ankled Hebe for wife, she the daughter of great Zeus and golden-sandalled Hera. Round Heracles a clamour rose from the dead, like wild birds flying up in terror, and he dark as night, his bow unsheathed and an arrow strung, glared round fiercely as if about to shoot. His golden shoulder-belt was terrifying too, where marvellous things were wrought, bears, wild boars, lions with glittering eyes, battle and conflict, murder and mayhem. I hope that whatever craftsman retained the design of that belt he never made another, and never will.

Berlin F 2278, Attic red figure kylix, c. 500 B.C. Side B: Hercules, carrying his club and wearing his lion skin, walks with a procession of gods and goddesses to Olympus. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz: Antikensammlung

Twelve Labors set by Eurystheus all on Peloponnesus 1. Killed the Nemean Lion, gaining lion skin and the club which become his trademark 2. Killed the Lernean Hydra and dipped his arrows in its poisoned blood 3. Caught the Cerynean Stag, sacred to Artemis, after a year’s pursuit 4. Netted the Erymantian Boar and brought it back to Eurystheus

5. Augean Stables – vast herds of cattle owned by Augeas, but his stables had never been cleaned. Hercules diverted a river. 6. Stymphalian Birds who shot their feathers like arrows. Peloponnesus

Hercules at the Augean stables Hercules presenting the Eurymantian boar to Eurystheus Greek stamp showing Hercules killing Stymphalian birds.

Last 6 Labors passing East to West 7. Cretan Bull – great bull of Crete returned by Hercules to mainland Greece and let go. Theseus later killed it. 8. Mares of Diomedes – in Thrace, man-eating mares. Hercules fed Diomedes to them. 9. Girdle of Hippolyta – in northern Greece, Hercules fought with the Amazon, Hippolyta

10. Cattle of Geryon – far west, Kingdom of the dead. Geryon was a triple-bodied monster. Hercules got to him by riding in the cup of the sun. 11. Apples of Hesperides – Far, far west. Golden apples of the ‘tree of life’, guarded by a dragon. Atlas helped Hercules and fetched the apples while Hercules held up the heavens. 12. Theft of Cerberus from Hades – on trip to the Underworld he was helped by Hermes and Athena Last three Labors involve symbolic conquering of Death

Hercules presenting Cerberus to his cousin Eurystheus, who’s hiding in a vat.

Extent of Hercules’ travels during the last of his labors.