Hercules labors.

5. The Augean Stables

  • King Augeus had a huge herd of cattle but never cleaned his stables.

  • The stables were filled with dung several feet high.

  • Augeus said if Heracles could clean the stables in a day he would give Heracles one-tenth of his cattle.

  • Heracles diverted two rivers through the stables and washed away all the dung.

  • Augeus refused to pay 

  • After his labors, Heracles returned w/an army & killed Augeus.


6. Stymphalian Birds

  • razor sharp bronze beaks, metallic feathers that fire like arrows & poisonous dung. 

  • They devoured humans and cattle.

  • Heracles located the birds which were flocked together in a wood.

  • Athena gave Heracles bronze castanets which he rattled.

  • As the birds flew out of the woods he killed them all with his arrows.


7. The Cretan Bull

  • Heracles went to Crete & captured the bull that Minos would not sacrifice.

  • Heracles wrestled the bull into the water, held its horns and rode it like a cowboy.

  • He released the bull, it wandered to Marathon where Theseus eventually killed it.


8. The Mares of Diomedes

  • King Diomedes had a herd of horses that feasted on human flesh.

  • Heracles tamed the beasts by feeding Diomedes to them.

  • The horses were released & ran to Mount Olympus and were eaten by wolves.


9. The Girdle of Hippolyta

  • A girdle with special powers was given to Hippolyta by Ares.

  • Eurystheus wanted it for his daughter.

  • Heracles sailed to the Amazons and was welcomed by Hippolyta.

  • Hera descended as an Amazon and incited the others to attack Heracles' ship.

  • Heracles strangled Hippolyta and stripped her of the girdle.



10. The Cattle of Geryon

  • A monster with three bodies.

  • He had a giant herdsman and a two headed dog.

  • Heracles killed Geryon, the giant and the two headed dog (Orthus).

  • took a different route back, brought him to Atlantic entrance of the Mediterranean.

  • There he set up a monument of his journey on the entrance

→The Pillars of Hercules.

Then he traveled through France, Italy (met Caucus) and finally back to Greece.


11. Journey to The Apples of Hesperides

  • The Hesperides were the three daughters of Night.

  • the garden of Hesperides was at the furthest reaches of the world 

  • In the garden was a tree w/golden bark & golden apples, protected by a hundred headed serpent.

  • otw, Heracles passed Prometheus chained to a rock, an eagle ate his liver every day. Heracles killed the eagle with an arrow and freed Prometheus.


11. The Apples of Hesperides

  • it was too dangerous for Heracles, he asked Atlas to get the apples for him.

  • Heracles then held up the heavens while Atlas plucked the fruit.

  • Atlas returned & told Heracles that he enjoyed freedom & Heracles he would have to hold the heavens.

  • Heracles agreed but said he needed to let go for a minute to reposition himself.

  • When Atlas held the heavens Heracles took the apples and returned to Greece.

  • Fearing Hera, Eurystheus gave the apples back to Heracles, who gave them to Athena.



12. Cerberus

  • Three headed hound of Hades with a snake tail.

  • Hermes guided Heracles to the underworld to Hades.

  • Hades said Heracles could take the hound if he used no weapons.

  • Heracles grabbed Cerberus by the throat, snake bit him, lion’s hide protected him.

  • He chained Cerberus and dragged him to Eurystheus.

  • Heracles then released Cerberus back to the underworld.

  • While in the underworld Heracles freed Theseus.


lead up to death of Heracles

  • Prophecy: no living man could kill Heracles, would die at the hands of the dead.

  • Heracles married Deianira, returning home from wedding they had to cross a river.

  • Nessus (centaur) carried Deianira on his back, half-way he assaulted Deianira.

  • Heracles shot him with a poison arrow.

  • Nessus dies, tells Deianira to collect his blood & semen, as a powerful love potion.

Death of Hercules

  • Heracles went to war, killed a king and took his daughter.

  • Deianira put the potion on the cloak as she was jealous of the captured daughter.

  • Heracles put on the shirt and screamed in anguish, dying.

  • Heracles dragged himself to a mountain and set himself up on a funeral pyre

  • Philoctetes happened by and agreed to light it.

  • Heracles gave Philoctetes his bow, which was helpful in the Trojan War.

  • Heracles ascended to heaven to Zeus and married Hebe,  “Youth”.