CLCV 115 Exam 3 - Hercules 12 Labors + Other Myths

Nemean Lion (In the Peloponnese)

The hide of this lion could be pierced by only its own claws. Hercules kills it with a club, or strangles it with his bare hands, then flays the carcass with its own claw. Thereafter Hercules wears the lion skins and looks like he has “become” the lion.

Hydra of Lerna (In the Peloponnese)

The hydra was a multi-headed water serpent living in the swamp of Lerna. When Hercules cut off one head, two would grow back in its place. Assisted by his nephew Iolaus, he cuts off each head and then cauterizes the stump with a torch. Hercules buries the the lone remaining head with a huge rock.

Ceryneian Stag (In the Peloponnese)

This was a special stag, with antlers of gold. Hercules pursued it for an entire year, from the Peloponnesus way up to the land of the Hyperboreans.

Erymanthian Boar (In the Peloponnese)

Hercules captured this boar from Mt. Erymanthus and brings it to Eurystheus, King of Tiryns, for whom he is performing these labors.

Augean Stables (In the Peloponnese)

Augeas, King of Elis, owns a herd of sacred cattle. Hercules’ task is to clean the poop out of all the stables. To do this he diverts the nearby river to wash the stables clean. Then he establishes the first Olympic Games.

Stymphalian Birds (In the Peloponnese)

The marsh birds have bronze, dart-like feathers. Hercules chases them away with bronze clappers, or with a slingshot.

Cretan Bull (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Hercules kills or captures this bull from Crete.

Mares of Diomedes (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Diomedes feeds visitors to his man-eating horses. Hercules defeats Diomedes by feeding him to the horses instead.

Amazon’s Girdle (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Hercules steals the girdle from Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

Geryon’s Cattle (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Geryon was a triple-bodied man who lived in the far West, i.e., Spain. He had a herd of cattle. Hercules kills him and steals the cattle. While still in Spain, he sets up “the pillars of Hercules,” that is, the Rock of Gibraltar, at the southwest tip of Europe and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean. A variant is that he rode back to Greece in the “cup” of Helios, i.e., a bowl.

Apples of the Hesperides (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Hercules slays Ladon, the serpent guarding the Garden of the Hesperides, then steals the golden apples.C

Cerberus (Outside the Peloponnesus)

Hercules grabs Cerberus in the Land of the Dead and brings him to Eurystheus to complete his labors.

Parerga 1

frees Prometheus from the cliff in Scythia

Parerga 2

defeats the river god Achelous, tears off his horn, which becomes the “horn of plenty”, i.e., the first cornucopia

Parerga 3

slays the cannibal Antaeus, son of Earth. When Antaeus gets knocked down and contacts the earth, he is revived (by his mother), so Hercules kills him in a bear hug, Antaeus’ feet not touching the earth.

Parerga 4

wrestles the Delphic tripod from Apollo

Parerga 5

slays Cacus, a thief who tries to steal Hercules cattle (which he stole from Geryon). This takes place in Rome (which also claimed the Greek hero for itself).

Parerga 6

frees Hesione, Princess of Troy, then sacks the city

Parerga 7

captures Cercopes, small men in Egypt; carries them upside down

Parerga 8

slays priests of Egyptian Busiris

Parerga 9

fights alongside the gods in the gigantomachy, defeats Alcyoneus

Parerga 10

joins expedition of the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece. He does not complete the quest.

Parerga 11

works for Queen Omphale of Lydia, performs such chores as weaving, sewing, and spinning wool usually assigned to ancient women. Omphale means “navel” (like the omphalos stone at Delphi), so she represents the Earth Goddess.