Ceryneian Hind
Artemis’ golden-horned hind, which must be captured alive under a sacred constraint.
Overview
The Ceryneian Hind places speed and sacred limits before force. Heracles pursues it for a full year and finally restrains it near the Ladon; the source also says that he shoots it, so the capture is not sanitised as entirely woundless. When Artemis and Apollo challenge him, he assigns the necessity to Eurystheus’ command and is allowed to carry the living animal onward.
Key facts
A year-long pursuit
Heracles follows the hind for a year through distant country before catching it by the Ladon.
Sacred to Artemis
Artemis challenges the seizure of her sacred animal, and Heracles pleads the necessity imposed by the command.
Relationships
- Labours of Heraclespart of the Labours
This figure, target or episode belongs to the commanded sequence of the Labours.
- Artemisprotects her sacred hind
The hind belongs to Artemis, placing its capture under a sacred limit.
- Heraclespursues and captures alive
Heracles pursues the hind for a year and restrains it alive by the river.
Story appearances
- The Labours of HeraclesCeryneian Hind in the Labours
Ceryneian Hind enters this story through Heracles' labours; when other stories return to the figure, they follow that later setting.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.