Geryon
The three-bodied guardian of the cattle on Erytheia.
Overview
Geryon lives on Erytheia beyond Ocean and is described as three bodies joined at the belly. His cattle are protected by a two-headed dog and a herdsman; Heracles overcomes those guards and then kills Geryon with an arrow when he comes to defend the herd near Mount Abas. The chapter locates the death within a contested taking rather than treating the expedition as automatically righteous.
Key facts
Three joined bodies
The Bibliotheca describes three bodies joined at the belly and divided again above.
Defending the cattle
After the dog and herdsman fall, Geryon catches the cattle-taker and is killed by an arrow in combat.
Relationships
- Cattle of Geryonowns the Erytheian cattle
Geryon owns the distant herd and is its final defender.
- Heracleskills the herd’s defender
Geryon catches the cattle-taker and is killed by Heracles’ arrow.
Story appearances
- The Labours of HeraclesGeryon in the Labours
Geryon 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.