HerculesHercules

Twelve LaborsTwelve Labors

HerculesHercules

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

Hera’s RevengeHera’s Revenge

Driven crazy by Hera Hercules killed his Driven crazy by Hera Hercules killed his whole familywhole family

Asked Apollo for mercy – punishmentAsked Apollo for mercy – punishment Apollo sent Hercules to King Eurystheus to Apollo sent Hercules to King Eurystheus to

be punished for twelve years with twelve be punished for twelve years with twelve laborslabors

Hera and HerculesHera and Hercules

Kill the Nemean LionKill the Nemean Lion

Hide so tough no Hide so tough no arrow could pierce it.arrow could pierce it.

Hercules stunned the Hercules stunned the beast with his olive beast with his olive wood club then wood club then strangled with bare strangled with bare hands.hands.

Skinned lion and wore Skinned lion and wore its hide.its hide.

Kill the Lernean HydraKill the Lernean Hydra

Hydra had nine headsHydra had nine heads If one got hurt – two If one got hurt – two

would grow.would grow. Hercules sliced off Hercules sliced off

heads while Iolaus heads while Iolaus sealed them with a sealed them with a torch.torch.

Hercules made Hercules made poisonous arrows with poisonous arrows with the hydra’s blood.the hydra’s blood.

Capture the Cerynian HindCapture the Cerynian Hind

Artemis loved these Artemis loved these deer with gold horns.deer with gold horns.

Hercules spent a year Hercules spent a year waiting to capture the waiting to capture the hind without hurting it.hind without hurting it.

Capture the Erymanthian BoarCapture the Erymanthian Boar

People of Mount People of Mount Erymanthus lived in Erymanthus lived in fear of this deadly fear of this deadly animal.animal.

Hercules caught it Hercules caught it during a snowdrift in a during a snowdrift in a net.net.

Took to King Took to King Eurystheus who hid in Eurystheus who hid in a jar.a jar.

Clean the Augean StablesClean the Augean Stables

Thousands of King Thousands of King Augean’s cows lived Augean’s cows lived inn stables that had inn stables that had not been cleaned in not been cleaned in over 30 years.over 30 years.

Hercules diverts two Hercules diverts two rivers to wash them rivers to wash them clean.clean.

Kill the Stymphalian BirdsKill the Stymphalian Birds

Murderous birds lived Murderous birds lived around Lake around Lake StymphalosStymphalos

Claws and beaks Claws and beaks sharp as metal and sharp as metal and feathers like dartsfeathers like darts

Hercules used a rattle Hercules used a rattle to scare them then to scare them then killed them with poison killed them with poison darts from the hydradarts from the hydra

Capture the Cretan BullCapture the Cretan Bull

Savage bull was insane Savage bull was insane and breathed fireand breathed fire

Belonged to King MinosBelonged to King Minos Hercules wrestled bull to Hercules wrestled bull to

ground and took to King ground and took to King Eurystheus who set it free Eurystheus who set it free

It terrorized the people of It terrorized the people of GreeceGreece

Capture the Horses of DiomedesCapture the Horses of Diomedes

King Diomedes, King Diomedes, Bistones, fed his Bistones, fed his bloodthirsty horses on bloodthirsty horses on human fleshhuman flesh

Hercules killed Hercules killed Diomedes and fed him Diomedes and fed him to the horsesto the horses

Took the horses back Took the horses back to King Eurystheusto King Eurystheus

Take the Girdle of Queen HippolytaTake the Girdle of Queen Hippolyta

Queen welcomed Queen welcomed Hercules and was Hercules and was going to give him the going to give him the girdle to give to girdle to give to Eurystheus’s daughterEurystheus’s daughter

Hera spread a rumor Hera spread a rumor that Hercules was that Hercules was there to fight – so he there to fight – so he had to defeat the had to defeat the Amazons to get the Amazons to get the girdlegirdle

Capture the Cattle of GeryonCapture the Cattle of Geryon

Winged monster with 3 Winged monster with 3 human bodies and a herd human bodies and a herd of beautiful red cattleof beautiful red cattle

Guarded herd with a giant Guarded herd with a giant and two headed dogand two headed dog

Hercules killed giant and Hercules killed giant and Geryon Geryon

Took the cattle to the KingTook the cattle to the King

Take the Golden Apples of the Take the Golden Apples of the HesperidesHesperides

Hesperides were Hesperides were nymphs (Atlas’s Kids)nymphs (Atlas’s Kids)

Their garden had Their garden had golden apples golden apples protected by the protected by the dragon Ladon (100 dragon Ladon (100 heads)heads)

Atlas fetched the Atlas fetched the apples while Hercules apples while Hercules held the Earth for himheld the Earth for him

Capture CerbeusCapture Cerbeus

Three headed guard Three headed guard dog of the underworlddog of the underworld

Had to capture without Had to capture without weaponsweapons

Hercules wrestled the Hercules wrestled the dog who then agreed dog who then agreed to go with himto go with him

Cerbeus was then Cerbeus was then returned to Hades returned to Hades unharmedunharmed