| The Twelve Labors of Hercules
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| The Twelve Labors of Hercules
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First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Nineth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth First Labor
Hercules' first labor, or task, was to kill a lion that was causing havoc in the region and bring back its pelt. No weapon could penetrate the animal's tough hide, so Hercules stunned the beast with his club, strangled it and removed its pelt by using the animal's own unusually sharp claws.
Second Labor
Next, Hercules was ordered to destroy the mysterious Hydra, which he did by severing the monster's nine heads with his sword.
Third Labor
His third labor was to capture the swift Ceryneian deer and carry it back to Tiryns.
Fourth Labor
And for his fourth task, almost barehanded and using only a net and chains, Hercules captured a fierce boar which was terrorizing Arcadia.
Fifth Labor
His fifth labor involved cleaning out King Augeias's filthy stables. To remove the dung, which had not been cleared away for years, Hercules made openings in the wall of the cattleyard and diverted the waters of the river Alpheus to wash the area clean.
Sixth Labor
Hercules' sixth labor was to rid the marshes around Lake Stymphalus of the strange birds with metal beaks and feathers that at times attacked the people there. The goddess Athene gave the Prince of Power a metal rattle (or castanets) made by Hephaestus. Hercules took the rattle to a nearby mountaintop, where he shook it long and hard, making such a terrible noise that the birds flew away, terrified.
Seventh Labor
Hercules' seventh labor was to capture a ferocious bull on the island of Crete. He dominated the animal by grasping its horns, throwing it to the ground and then tying up its legs.
Eighth Labor
The eighth challenge the warrior faced was to capture the four carnivorous mares belonging to King Diomedes of Thrace. The horses were tethered with iron chains, but Hercules used an axe to free them and then bound up their muzzles to complete his mission.
Nineth Labor
For labor number nine, he had to obtain the golden girdle worn by Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons. Hippolyte was going to give the girdle to him in exchange for his friendship, but the jealous Hera spread the rumor that Hercules was planning to take her captive. A battle followed, during which Hercules, the victor, killed Hippolyte and took the girdle.
Tenth Labor
The next and tenth mission of Hercules was to steal the cattle of Geryon, King of Tartessus, a giant with three heads, three bodies and six arms. Hercules killed the king with an arrow that pierced all three bodies
Eleventh Labor
As his eleventh labor, Hercules was to bring an apple from the garden of the Hesperides, which was guarded by a dragon. After killing the dragon, Hercules asked Atlas, the titan who supported the world on his shoulders, to help him. Hercules then held the enormous globe while Atlas picked the apples.
Twelfth Labor
The last and twelfth task was to capture Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the Underworld. King Hades and Queen Persephone told Hercules that he could have the dog if he could kill him without using a club, a lance or arrows. Hercules approached the animal and threw the lion skin from Nemea over its heads, suffocating them.
By completing the twelve labors, Hercules freed himself of the guilt of having slain his entire family.
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