The Capture of Cerberus
His 12th and final labour was to descend into the underworld, and bring back Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the gate to underworld, home of the powerful god, Hades.
Hercules knew how much Hades loved that fierce, bad tempered dog. Hercules asked Hades' permission to briefly capture Cerberus, and told him why. Hades agreed that Hercules could try, as long as he used no weapons and did not hurt poor Cerberus.
Hercules used his bare hands. He scooped all three heads up at once, and strangled Cerberus until he was unconscious. He gently carried the dog off to King Eury's. Cerberus began to regain consciousness as Hercules approached the king. The king scurried behind his royal throne.
Hercules explained he had to get the dog home right away. King Eury stuck his head out from behind his throne and quickly agreed that Hercules should leave immediately. Hercules promised to be right back.
After Hercules delivered Cerberus safely home, Hercules quickly returned to the palace, eager to be granted immortality. But Hera was nowhere to be found. Neither was King Eury.
It was Zeus who granted Hercules immortality. Zeus proudly brought his son Hercules up to the heavens.
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Sunday, 28 May 2017
The 11th Labour of Hercules
The Golden Apples of the Hesperides
His 11th labour was bring the legendary golden apples of the Hesperides back to King Eury.
There was a rumour that the apples were hidden in the garden of the Hesperides. It was rumoured that the apples gave immortal life to anyone who ate them, but hardly anyone believed the rumour. In fact, no mortal knew if the legendary golden apples really existed.
The Hesperides were magical creatures who lived a long way away. It took Hercules several months to reach the land of the Hesperides. When he finally reached the garden, he had to slay a dragon who was guarding the garden gate, before he could search for the apples.
The apples were poorly hidden. They were in plain sight, hanging on the apple tree in the centre of the garden. It took Hercules no time at all to round them up. Hercules was tempted to take a bite and give himself immortal life. But he had heard another rumour. He had heard that the apples did not give immortal life, but rather, took immortal life away. That was not his goal at all.
Several months later, when he reached home, he gave the apples to King Eury. Eury quickly gave the apples to his wife. His wife returned the apples to the Hesperides with her apologies.
His 11th labour was bring the legendary golden apples of the Hesperides back to King Eury.
There was a rumour that the apples were hidden in the garden of the Hesperides. It was rumoured that the apples gave immortal life to anyone who ate them, but hardly anyone believed the rumour. In fact, no mortal knew if the legendary golden apples really existed.
The Hesperides were magical creatures who lived a long way away. It took Hercules several months to reach the land of the Hesperides. When he finally reached the garden, he had to slay a dragon who was guarding the garden gate, before he could search for the apples.
The apples were poorly hidden. They were in plain sight, hanging on the apple tree in the centre of the garden. It took Hercules no time at all to round them up. Hercules was tempted to take a bite and give himself immortal life. But he had heard another rumour. He had heard that the apples did not give immortal life, but rather, took immortal life away. That was not his goal at all.
Several months later, when he reached home, he gave the apples to King Eury. Eury quickly gave the apples to his wife. His wife returned the apples to the Hesperides with her apologies.
The 10th Labour of Hercules
The Mares of King Diomedes
His 10th labour was to capture the mares of King Diomedes.
The mares were horses. The mares were fed on human flesh. Hercules knew he needed help to capture these fearsome animals. Together with some good friends he had made on his travels, Hercules and his band of volunteers journeyed to the land of Thrace.
The mares were gentle. That surprised Hercules. He led one out of the stable. The other mares followed. Things were moving along nicely when Hercules was attacked by King Diomedes and the king's men. In the heat of battle, the king was thrown from his horse. His horse ate him.
When the king's men saw what had happened, they jumped from their horses and ran away. The mares ran after them. Hercules quickly gathered up the fleeing animals. With the help of his volunteers, Hercules muzzled the mares, then led them to King Eury.
His 10th labour was to capture the mares of King Diomedes.
The mares were horses. The mares were fed on human flesh. Hercules knew he needed help to capture these fearsome animals. Together with some good friends he had made on his travels, Hercules and his band of volunteers journeyed to the land of Thrace.
The mares were gentle. That surprised Hercules. He led one out of the stable. The other mares followed. Things were moving along nicely when Hercules was attacked by King Diomedes and the king's men. In the heat of battle, the king was thrown from his horse. His horse ate him.
When the king's men saw what had happened, they jumped from their horses and ran away. The mares ran after them. Hercules quickly gathered up the fleeing animals. With the help of his volunteers, Hercules muzzled the mares, then led them to King Eury.
The 9th Labour of Hercules
The Cattle of Geryon
His 9th labour was to capture the entire herd of the cattle of Geryon and present the herd to King Eury.
The Geryon was part man and part monster. He had two legs, the size of tree trunks. Three bodies grew from his waist, each with its own head and arms. He was very mean. And very strong. He owned a herd of red oxen that he kept on the island of Erythia. The island helped to protect his cattle from thieves. So did his two-headed dog.
Hercules had to fight the Geryon and his two-headed dog. Finally at last, when both lay quietly, either dead or exhausted (Hercules didn't actually care by then), Hercules herded the nervous red oxen aboard his ship and sailed for home..
His 9th labour was to capture the entire herd of the cattle of Geryon and present the herd to King Eury.
The Geryon was part man and part monster. He had two legs, the size of tree trunks. Three bodies grew from his waist, each with its own head and arms. He was very mean. And very strong. He owned a herd of red oxen that he kept on the island of Erythia. The island helped to protect his cattle from thieves. So did his two-headed dog.
Hercules had to fight the Geryon and his two-headed dog. Finally at last, when both lay quietly, either dead or exhausted (Hercules didn't actually care by then), Hercules herded the nervous red oxen aboard his ship and sailed for home..
The 8th Labour of Hercules
The Girdle of Hippolyta
For his 8th labour, King Eury told Hercules that he had to bring back the golden girdle of the Amazon queen. The Amazons were a tribe of fierce women. They were very warlike. Any men they met, they captured and kept as slaves.
This was not King Eury's idea actually. It was his daughter's. Hera had told her that wearing the girdle would make her as strong as an Amazon. That was pretty strong. King Eury's daughter wanted to wear the girdle. She wanted to be as strong as the Amazon queen. King Eurystheus' daughter did not care that this was an especially difficult mission, even for Hercules. She thought only of herself.
Hercules also thought this might be a difficult labour, but he was surprised. It was not difficult, not at first anyway. Hippolyta, the Amazon queen, had heard tales of the mighty Hercules. She knew Hercules would be a good friend to have in times of war. In the spirit of friendship, she willingly gave the girdle to Hercules to take back to King Eury's daughter.
As Hercules reached for the golden girdle, the Amazon women thought Hercules was reaching for their queen. They attacked him. During the fight, Hippolyta was accidentally killed by her own people. That started a big fight among the Amazon women. While they were fighting among themselves, Hercules managed to escape with the golden girdle.
For his 8th labour, King Eury told Hercules that he had to bring back the golden girdle of the Amazon queen. The Amazons were a tribe of fierce women. They were very warlike. Any men they met, they captured and kept as slaves.
This was not King Eury's idea actually. It was his daughter's. Hera had told her that wearing the girdle would make her as strong as an Amazon. That was pretty strong. King Eury's daughter wanted to wear the girdle. She wanted to be as strong as the Amazon queen. King Eurystheus' daughter did not care that this was an especially difficult mission, even for Hercules. She thought only of herself.
Hercules also thought this might be a difficult labour, but he was surprised. It was not difficult, not at first anyway. Hippolyta, the Amazon queen, had heard tales of the mighty Hercules. She knew Hercules would be a good friend to have in times of war. In the spirit of friendship, she willingly gave the girdle to Hercules to take back to King Eury's daughter.
As Hercules reached for the golden girdle, the Amazon women thought Hercules was reaching for their queen. They attacked him. During the fight, Hippolyta was accidentally killed by her own people. That started a big fight among the Amazon women. While they were fighting among themselves, Hercules managed to escape with the golden girdle.
The 7th Labour of Hercules
The Cretan Bull
His 7th labour was to capture the Cretan bull.
The Cretan bull had walked out of the sea. The bull found himself on the island of Crete. It was a beautiful island and a beautiful bull. The island sparkled with sunshine and happy people. The bull was huge, with silvery horns, and snow white skin. They seemed to fit.
There was a tribe of people on the lovely island of Crete. These people, the Minoans, had a favorite sport enjoyed by both boys and girls - bull jumping. Shortly after it arrived, the Cretan bull had been captured to use in the games. But the bull was not happy to be captured. The bull tossed and gored and trampled anyone who tried to leap over it. One day, it escaped.
To the Minoans, bulls were sacred. It was against their religion to kill a bull. They tried to recapture it, without harming it, but they did not succeed. The bull hid during the day. At night, it ripped destruction from one end of the island to the other.
When Hercules finally found the bull, who was hiding in the forest at the far end of the island, the bull threw its head down and pawed the earth. While the bull has its head down, and was not looking, Hercules quickly grabbed the bull by its horns and threw it to the ground. It made the bull dizzy for a minute. Before the bull could recover, Hercules had him tied tightly up with rope. Hercules carried the bull back to King Eury, much to the relief of the Minoan people of ancient Crete.
His 7th labour was to capture the Cretan bull.
The Cretan bull had walked out of the sea. The bull found himself on the island of Crete. It was a beautiful island and a beautiful bull. The island sparkled with sunshine and happy people. The bull was huge, with silvery horns, and snow white skin. They seemed to fit.
There was a tribe of people on the lovely island of Crete. These people, the Minoans, had a favorite sport enjoyed by both boys and girls - bull jumping. Shortly after it arrived, the Cretan bull had been captured to use in the games. But the bull was not happy to be captured. The bull tossed and gored and trampled anyone who tried to leap over it. One day, it escaped.
To the Minoans, bulls were sacred. It was against their religion to kill a bull. They tried to recapture it, without harming it, but they did not succeed. The bull hid during the day. At night, it ripped destruction from one end of the island to the other.
When Hercules finally found the bull, who was hiding in the forest at the far end of the island, the bull threw its head down and pawed the earth. While the bull has its head down, and was not looking, Hercules quickly grabbed the bull by its horns and threw it to the ground. It made the bull dizzy for a minute. Before the bull could recover, Hercules had him tied tightly up with rope. Hercules carried the bull back to King Eury, much to the relief of the Minoan people of ancient Crete.
Friday, 26 May 2017
The 6th Labour of Hercules
The Augean Stables
His 6th labour was to clean the Augean Stables in one day.
Augean, the King of Elis, had many sheep and cattle. All his sheep and cattle slept in the royal stables. This might sound nice, but the stables had not been cleaned for several years. It was not nice at all! The most horrible smell greeted Hercules when he stuck his nose in the stable door.
Obviously, it would take a great deal of water to wash away all the filth. Hercules used his mighty strength to push the riverbeds of a couple of nearby rivers and change their course, so that the rivers would rush through the stables and clean them out! It was a clever solution. The job was done in just a few hours.
Hercules put most of the river beds back where they were. But he left one babbling brook for the comfort of the animals.
When all of the animals who lived in the stable came home that night from the fields, they found clean beds of hay, warm buckets of oats, and fresh running water. They could not have been more happy.
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