The 12 Labors of Hercules

Hercules, also known as Heracles in Greek mythology, was the son of Zeus (Jupiter) and the mortal woman Alcmene. His birth was marked by both divine favor and personal challenges. Hercules had a difficult relationship with Hera, the queen of the gods. As Zeus’ illegitimate son, Hercules faced Hera’s unending wrath (and the fact that the name Heracles meant Hera’s glory made her even more angry). Hera tried to prevent his birth but failed. She even sent serpents to his crib to kill him as a baby, but Hercules strangled them.

There are many legends about Hercules, from being the original founder of the Olympic Games, founding cities in Spain such as Sevilla and Barcelona, to his journeys with Jason and the Argonauts, but today we will focus on the famous 12 labors of Hercules.

The Twelve Labors of Hercules, also known as the Labors of Heracles, are a series of episodes from Greek mythology. Hercules was cursed by Hera to unknowingly kill his family in a moment of madness. And although it was not his fault, he was still punished for this. The 12 labors were assigned to him as tasks to do to earn forgiveness, and they were considered nearly impossible feats. Let’s look into each of these remarkable challenges:

The 12 Labors of Hercules

1. Slay the Nemean Lion:
   • In the town of Nemea, there lived an invincible lion that terrorized the area. Hercules was ordered to kill the lion and bring back its skin. Using his brute strength and clever bravery, he choked the lion to death and presented its skin to King Eurystheus.
2. Slay the Lernean Hydra:
   • The swamp of Lerna was home to a nine-headed serpent, the Lernean Hydra. One of its heads was immortal and couldn’t be killed. Hercules, accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, managed to defeat the hydra by cutting off its heads. Iolaus cauterized the stumps to prevent them from regrowing.
3. Capture the Golden Hind:
   • In the town of Ceryneia, there lived a sacred deer with golden horns and bronze hooves. It was dear to Artemis, the goddess of hunting. Instead of killing it, Hercules hunted the hind for a year. When he finally captured it, he encountered Artemis and Apollo, explaining his servitude to Eurystheus. They allowed him to take the hind back unharmed.
4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar:
   • Hercules was tasked with capturing a massive, ferocious boar that roamed Mount Erymanthus. He chased the boar into deep snow, trapped it, and brought it to Eurystheus.
5. Clean the Augean Stables:
   • Hercules had to clean the filthy stables of King Augeas, which housed thousands of cattle. He diverted two rivers, allowing the water to wash away the accumulated dung in a single day.
6. Slay the Stymphalian Birds:
   • In the Stymphalian marshes, man-eating birds with bronze beaks and sharp feathers terrorized the land. Hercules used a rattle given by Athena to scare the birds into flight, then shot them down with his bow and arrows.
7. Capture the Cretan Bull:
   • Hercules sailed to Crete and captured the wild bull that terrorized the island. He brought it back to Eurystheus, who later released it, causing havoc in Marathon.
8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes:
   • Diomedes, a Thracian king, owned man-eating horses. Hercules subdued Diomedes, fed him to his own horses, and then brought the mares to Eurystheus.
9. Obtain the Girdle of Hippolyta:
   • Hippolyta, the Amazon queen, possessed a magical girdle. Hercules sailed to the Amazonian land, fought the Amazons, and obtained the girdle as a gift for Eurystheus.
10. Obtain the Cattle of Geryon:
    • Geryon, a three-bodied giant, owned a herd of red cattle. Hercules defeated Geryon, killed his watchdog Orthrus, and drove the cattle back to Greece.
11. Steal the Apples of the Hesperides:
    • The Hesperides guarded golden apples in a distant garden. Hercules tricked Atlas into retrieving the apples for him while he held up the heavens. He then returned the apples to Eurystheus.
12. Capture Cerberus, the Underworld Guardian:
    • For his final labor, Hercules descended to the Underworld and wrestled Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the gates. He brought Cerberus to Eurystheus, demonstrating his completion of the Twelve Labors.

These labors showcase Hercules’ incredible strength, courage, and determination. Each task pushed him to his limits, making his legend immortal in Greek mythology. His story has inspired many people throughout history, including Arnold Schwarzenegger (the modern Hercules). Disney recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Oscar-nominated animated movie Hercules, which is currently being remade as a live-action movie directed by Guy Ritchie.