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Artemis is the goddess and the golden antlers that are sacred to her. 

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Artemis is the goddess and the golden antlers that are sacred to her. 

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Town of Stymphalos where Hercules drove out a flock of birds.

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Town of Stymphalos where Hercules drove out a flock of birds.

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The City of Lerna where Hercules slay the nine-headed poisonous snake.

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The City of Lerna where Hercules slay the nine-headed poisonous snake.

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Nemea hills where Hercules kills the lion.

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Nemea hills where Hercules kills the lion.

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Mount Erymanthus where Hercules capture the wild boar.

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Mount Erymanthus where Hercules capture the wild boar.

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King Thracian of Diomedes had four man-eating horses.

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King Thracian of Diomedes had four man-eating horses.

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Megara became Hercules's wife and had three sons who lived happily ever after.

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Megara became Hercules's wife and had three sons who lived happily ever after.

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King Thebes, offered his daughter to Hercules.

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King Thebes, offered his daughter to Hercules.

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King Eurystheus, Hercules needs to serve him to complete the twelve years of labor.

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King Eurystheus, Hercules needs to serve him to complete the twelve years of labor.

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Hercules had to rescue her from a hungry monster.

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Hercules had to rescue her from a hungry monster.

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Many years later Hercules remarried Deianira

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Many years later Hercules remarried Deianira

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Hera wife of Zeus was jealous of Hercules 

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Hera wife of Zeus was jealous of Hercules 

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After Hercules completed the punishment he will be joined in Mount Olympus 

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After Hercules completed the punishment he will be joined in Mount Olympus 

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Appollo sent Hercules to Tiryns to complete twelve years of labors

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Appollo sent Hercules to Tiryns to complete twelve years of labors

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he was sent to Mount Erymanthus to capture a wild boar.

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he was sent to Mount Erymanthus to capture a wild boar.

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Where he had to kidnap Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guarded the gates to the underworld.

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Where he had to kidnap Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guarded the gates to the underworld.

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King Eurystheus Hercules was sent to steal the golden apple.

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King Eurystheus Hercules was sent to steal the golden apple.

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he was sent to steal an armored Belt that belong to the Amazon queen, Hippolyte.

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he was sent to steal an armored Belt that belong to the Amazon queen, Hippolyte.

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Hercules Belt - Virtually Indestructible Non Leather Belt - USA Made

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Bullhide Belts offers USA handcrafted leather belts and wallets. We offer real full grain leather products including gun holsters, exotic belts, and more.

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He traveled to the town of Stymphalos and drove out the huge flock of birds.

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He traveled to the town of Stymphalos and drove out the huge flock of birds.

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He was sent to capture four man-eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes.

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He was sent to capture four man-eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes.

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After Hercules had captured the Cretan Bull, Eurystheus sent him to get the man-eating mares of Diomedes, the king of a Thracian tribe called the Bistones, and bring them back to him in Mycenae.

According to Apollodorus, Hercules sailed with a band of volunteers across the Aegean to Bistonia. There he and his companions overpowered the grooms who were tending the horses, and drove them to the sea. But by the time he got there, the Bistones had realized what had happened, and they sent a band of soldiers to recapture the animals. To free himself to fight, Hercules entrusted the mares to a youth named Abderos.

Unfortunately, the mares got the better of young Abderos and dragged him around until he was killed.

Meanwhile Hercules fought the Bistones, killed Diomedes, and made the rest flee. In honor of the slain Abderos, Hercules founded the city of Abdera.

The hero took the mares back to Eurystheus, but Eurystheus set them free. The mares wandered around until eventually they came to Mount Olympos, the home of the gods, where they were eaten by wild beasts.

Euripides gives two different versions of the story, but both of them differ from Apollodorus's in that Hercules seems to be performing the labor alone, rather than with a band of followers. In one, Diomedes has the four horses harnessed to a chariot, and Hercules has to bring back the chariot as well as the horses. In the other, Hercules tames the horses from his own chariot:

He mounted on a chariot and tamed with the bit the horses of Diomedes, that greedily champed their bloody food at gory mangers with unbridled jaws, devouring with hideous joy the flesh of men.

Euripides, Hercules, 380

(als)

To read more about these topics, see Further Resources.

This exhibit is a subset of materials from the Perseus Project digital library and is copyrighted. Please send us your comments.

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Hercules' Eighth Labor: the Horses of Diomedes

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After Hercules had captured the Cretan Bull, Eurystheus sent him to get the man-eating mares of Diomedes, the king of a Thracian tribe called the Bistones, and bring them back to him in Mycenae. According to Apollodorus, Hercules sailed with a band of volunteers across the Aegean to Bistonia.

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Cleaning the all the sh*t out king Augeas gigantic in one day

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Cleaning the all the sh*t out king Augeas gigantic in one day

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Hercules and the Filthy Stables of Augeas - The Labors of Hercules  Ep.05 - Greek Mythology

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Hercules’ Third Labor: the Hind of Ceryneia

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In the city of Lema he slays the nine-headed poisonous snake-like creature

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In the city of Lema he slays the nine-headed poisonous snake-like creature

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The Hydra was a serpent-like water monster with nine heads that is often referenced in Greek mythology. It was an offspring of Typhon and Echidna bred by Hera to kill Hercules.

It was Hercules responsibility to slay the beast during his twelve Labors for King Eurystheus. The labors were his punishment for killing his wife and six sons after Hera had driven him temporarily mad. The Hydra was Hercules second labor. He attempted to cut off the heads of the beast but every time one was cut off, two more would grow back in its place. Another challenge in killing the Hydra was that its' breath was poisonous to all who crossed its path. After many attempts at cutting off the Hydra's heads, he distracted it by firing fiery arrows into the monsters lair. Hera sent a giant crab to distract Hercules who then sought his nephews' assistance in killing the crab. His nephew handed him Athena's golden sword which was successful in cutting off the Hydra's one immortal head. Hercules then dipped his arrows into the Hydra's blood and placed its head under the rock between Lerna and Elaius, a sacred path.

However, in the end the slaying of the Hydra does not count as a labor since Hercules received help from his nephew. King Eurystheus forces Hercules to complete an additional task.

The Hydra has been depicted throughout many pop culture films such as, Hydra (2009), (Walt Disney) as well as Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

What would you do if you crossed paths with a Hydra? Let us know in our comments section!

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The Hydra was a serpent-like water monster with nine heads that is often referenced in Greek mythology. It was an offspring of Typhon and Echidna bred by Hera to kill Hercules. It was Hercules responsibility to slay the beast during his twelve Labors for King Eurystheus.

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He was sent to the Hills of Nemea to kill the lion.

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He was sent to the Hills of Nemea to kill the lion.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hercules and the lion of Nemea

Artist
Diosphos Painter

Year

500 - 450 BCE

Catalogue

L 31 (MN B909)

Medium
lekythos

Dimensions

25.7 cm (10.1 in); 29 cm diameter (11 in)

Location
Louvre

Accession

1870

Heracles and the Lion of Nemea is a lekythos which is held at the Louvre Museum, with the representation of the first of the labours of Hercules, the slaying of the Nemean lion. It is coming from Athens, dated around 500 - 450 BCE and it was bought for Louvre Museum at 1870. It was probably created from the shop of a Tanagran artist. According to Beazley and Haspels it is attributed to the Diosphos Painter.

The painting of the lekythos presents Hercules naked, on his knee, struggling with the Nemean lion. He has caught the lion from the head and is smothering it with his arms while he has tied his fists. The image is framed by a tree with foliage and fruit. The garment of Hercules is hanging from a branch, while his sword and belt are hanging from another.

Flaceliere, R., Devambez, P., Heracles, Images & Recits (Paris, 1966)

Haspels, C., Attic Black-figured Lekythoi (Paris, 1936)

Kurtz, D., Athenian White Lekythoi (Oxford, 1975): PL.58.2

Lissarrague, F. et al. (eds.), Ceramique et peinture Grecques, Modes d'emploi, Actes du colloque internat., Ecole du Louvre, April 1995 (Paris, 1999): 185

Lissarrague, F., Greek Vases, The Athenians and their Images (2001): 163

Perrot, G., Chipiez, C., Histoire de l'art dans l'antiquite, vols. IX-X (Paris, 1911-14): X, 691

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Hercules and the lion of Nemea (Louvre Museum, L 31 MN B909) - Wikipedia

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hercules and the lion of Nemea Artist Diosphos Painter Year 500 - 450 BCE Catalogue L 31 (MN B909) Medium lekythos Dimensions 25.7 cm (10.1 in); 29 cm diameter (11 in) Location Louvre Accession 1870 Heracles and the Lion of Nemea is a lekythos which is held at the Louvre Museum, with the representation of the first of the labours of Hercules, the slaying of the Nemean lion.

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Capturing a ramping bull that had impregnated the wife of the king.

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Capturing a ramping bull that had impregnated the wife of the king.