Greek and Roman Mythology Final Exam

The Nemean Lion

Heracles' first labor. He was tasked by Eurystheus to retrieve the skin of the Nemean Lion, which had been terrorizing the hills around Nemea. After failing with his arrows, Heracles forced the lion into a cave and wrestled with it, eventually choking it to death. He skinned the lion with the animal's own claw, and brought its pelt back to a terrified Eurystheus.

The Lernaean Hydra

Heracles' second labor. This was a multi-headed snake that dwelt in the murky waters of Lerna. Everytime Heracles chopped one of the hydra's heads off, two more grew back. Iolaus, his squire, cauterized the decapitaed necks to prevent regrowth. Heracles cut off the monster's immortal head with Athena's golden sword, and then burried the head under a boulder. Finally, he dipped his arrows into the hydra's poison.

The Ceryneian Hind

Heracles' third labor. This was a special red female deer with golden horns and hoofs of bronze. It was so fast it could outrun arrows. Heracles had to track it down for a year, until he captured it near the river Ladon. Because the deer was sacred to Artemis, Heracles promised to let it go once he showed it to Eurystheus.

The Erymanthian Boar

Heracles' fourth labor. This was a massive boar that ravaged the countryside ever time it came down from Mt. Erymanthus. On his way to the mountain, Heracles had to fight off centaurs with his arrows. He was ultimately able to capture the boar after driving it into a pile of snow.

The Augean Stables

Heracles' fifth labor. He had to clean out the stables of Augeas, the king of Elis, in one day. The stables were drenched in years and years-worth of cow dung. Hercules succeeded in cleaning the stables by diverting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus into them.

The Stymphalian Birds

Heracles' sixth labor. These were voracious, man-eating birds with bronze beaks and metallic feathers who lived in a swamp in Stymphalia. They were sacred to Ares. Athena gave Heracles a krotala, a rattle. He shook it and the sound made the frightened birds fly. Heracles then shot them down with his arrows.

The Cretan Bull

Heracles' seventh labor. The first non-Peloponnesian labor. Heracles sailed to Crete to hunt down the Cretan Bull, the father of the Minotaur. Heracles wrestled the bull and then tied it up. When he brought it back to Tiryns, Eurystheus decided he no longer wanted it. Heracles let the bull go, and it would make its new home in Marathon, near Athens.

The Mares of Diomedes

Heracles' eighth labor. These were wild, man-eating horses owned by Diomedes, the king of Thrace (not the Diomedes of the Iliad). Different verisons. In one, Heracles stole the horses and led them to the seashore. When Diomedes' men were approaching, Heracles left his lover Abderus behind to watch the horses while he went to fight the enemies. Whe he came back, he found Abderus all eaten up. Eurystheus didn't want the horses, so Heracles released them.

Girdle of Hippolyta

Heracles' ninth labor. He was ordered by Eurystheus to retrieve the belt of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons. Heracles travelled to the land of the Amazons with Theseus. Hippolyta agreed to give her girdle, but Hera persuaded the other Amazons to attack Heracles. Thinking the queen had set them up, Heracles killed Hippolyta and returned to Tiryns.

The Cattle of Geryon

Heracles' tenth labor. Heracles had to steal the cattle of Geryon, a three-headed and three-bodied giant that lived on the island of Erytheia. Helios, the sun god, gave Heracles a golden cup with which the hero could sail to the island. When he got there, Heracles had to kill the two-headed watchdog Orthus, and the cattle herder Eurytion. Then he killed Geryon with his poisonous arrows. The cattle were taken to Tiryns where the were sacrificed to Hera. Along the way back, it was said that Heracles stopped on the Aventine Hill in Rome to rest.

The Apples of Hesperides

Heracles' eleventh labor. He was tasked with stealing the apples of the Hesperides, nymphs who lived in Libya. Heracles first captured the Old Man of the Sea, and held him until he revealed the location of the garden. On his way there, Heracles met Atlas. The hero offered Atlas to hold the earth while he went to get the apples. When Atlas came back, he was reluctant to get the earth back. Heracles agreed to keep holding it, but asked Atlas to hold it while he fixed his cloak. Heracles gave the earth to Atlas and then ran off with the apples.

The Capture of Cerberus

Hercules' 12th and final labor. He was tasked with capturing the three-headed dog, Cerberus, who guarded the gates of the Underworld. First, Heracles was initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. Then he descended into the Underworld with Athena and Hermes. During the visit, he freed Theseus. Hades agreed to let Heracles take Cerberus on the condition that the hero capture the monster with his bare hands. Heracles followed through. Eurystheus begged for Cerberus to be returned back to Hades, and he released Heracles from his labors.