The Labours of Heracles

Chapters

1. 01

   The Skin No Weapon Could Pierce

   Delphi sends Heracles into Eurystheus’ service. The first command is to bring back the Nemean Lion’s skin; arrows cannot pierce it, so the hero blocks one cave mouth, enters from the other and strangles it. After the hide is delivered, the frightened ruler requires later results to be displayed outside the city.

   HeraclesHeraEurystheusNemean LionLabours of Heracles
2. 02

   More Than Nine Heads

   Each severed Hydra head grows back as two. After Iolaus cauterises the necks with burning brands, Heracles buries the immortal head and keeps the venom, yet Eurystheus refuses to count the victory because assistance was used.

   HeraclesEurystheusIolausLernaean HydraLabours of Heracles
3. 03

   A Year-Long Hunt Without the Kill

   The Ceryneian Hind is sacred to Artemis, yet the command requires a living capture. Heracles pursues it for a year and restrains it by the Ladon; challenged by Artemis, he assigns the necessity to Eurystheus’ command and is allowed to carry it onward.

   HeraclesEurystheusArtemisCeryneian HindLabours of Heracles
4. 04

   The Boar in Snow and the Unsealed Wine

   Opening the shared wine in Pholus’ cave draws the centaurs into conflict and Hydra-poisoned arrows bring tragedy to Chiron and Pholus. Returning to the command itself, Heracles drives the boar into deep snow, exhausts it and captures it alive.

   HeraclesErymanthian BoarLabours of Heracles
5. 05

   Cleansed in One Day, Counted as Nothing

   Heracles bargains with Augeas for a share of cattle, then diverts the Alpheus and Peneus through the yard and clears years of filth in one day. Augeas refuses payment, and Eurystheus rejects the task because a reward was involved.

   HeraclesEurystheusAugeasAugean StablesLabours of Heracles
6. 06

   Bronze Sound over Stymphalus

   The Stymphalian Birds remain hidden in inaccessible woodland. Athena gives Heracles bronze clappers made by Hephaestus; their thunder drives the flock into the sky, where his arrows finally have targets.

   HeraclesAthenaStymphalian BirdsLabours of Heracles
7. 07

   The Cretan Bull Set Loose

   Minos offers no practical help, so Heracles subdues the bull alone and delivers it alive. Eurystheus releases it after display; it crosses Greece and later ravages Marathon, while the source preserves competing accounts of the animal’s identity.

   HeraclesEurystheusMinosCretan BullLabours of Heracles
8. 08

   The Man-Eating Mares of Diomedes

   The Thracian king Diomedes keeps man-eating mares. Heracles seizes them and turns to face pursuit, leaving Abderus to guard the animals; the mares drag his companion to death. The hero defeats the king, founds Abdera for the dead and finally delivers the herd.

   HeraclesEurystheusAbderusDiomedes of ThraceMares of DiomedesLabours of Heracles
9. 09

   The Belt That Might Have Been Given

   Hippolyta has already agreed to give up Ares’ belt. Hera disguises herself among the Amazons and reports that their queen is being abducted; armed riders approach the ship, Heracles assumes betrayal, kills Hippolyta and takes the belt.

   HeraclesHeraEurystheusHippolytaAmazonsLabours of Heracles
10. 10

    Cattle beyond Ocean

    Helios lends Heracles the golden cup for the crossing beyond Ocean to Erytheia. The hero defeats the guards and three-bodied Geryon and drives away the herd; Hera’s gadfly scatters it on the return, forcing a long recovery before the remaining cattle can be delivered.

    HeraclesHeraHeliosEurystheusGeryonCattle of GeryonErytheiaLabours of Heracles
11. 11

    When Atlas Put Down the Sky

    Prometheus advises Heracles to have Atlas fetch the apples. The hero bears the sky; when Atlas returns unwilling to resume the burden, Heracles asks him to hold it briefly while a shoulder pad is adjusted and departs with the fruit. After delivery, Athena restores the divine objects.

    HeraclesPrometheusAtlasAthenaEurystheusHesperidesGarden of the HesperidesGolden Apples of the HesperidesLabours of Heracles
12. 12

    The Hound Taken without Carried Weapons

    Heracles descends through Taenarum. Hades permits Cerberus to be taken only without the hero’s carried weapons; protected by his cuirass and lion skin, Heracles masters the hound by the gates of Acheron, displays it to Eurystheus and returns it to the Underworld.

    HeraclesEurystheusHadesUnderworldCerberusTaenarumAcheronHeracles Descends to HadesLabours of Heracles

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Homer, Iliad, Book 19.95–133: Hera manipulates the births so Eurystheus receives rule first
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.4.12: purification, Delphic command, service and the initial ten tasks
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.1: the invulnerable lion, cave tactic and delivery of its skin
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.2: regrowing heads, Iolaus and fire, poison and rejection
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.3: year-long pursuit, live capture and Artemis’ challenge
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.4: Pholus’ wine, the centaur conflict and live capture in snow
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.5: reward bargain, river diversion, refusal and second rejection
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.6: Athena’s bronze clappers drive the birds from cover
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.7: bull variants, live capture, display, release and Marathon aftermath
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.8: man-eating mares, Abderus’ death, defeat of the Thracian king and delivery
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.9: Hippolyta offers the belt, Hera spreads a false report and conflict follows
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.10: Helios’ cup, Erytheia, Geryon’s cattle and Hera’s gadfly
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.11: Prometheus’ advice, Atlas’ burden, counter-ruse and return of the apples
• Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4.25.1–4.26.4: Cerberus eleventh, apples last, and alternative apple accounts
• Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.5.12: Taenarum, Hades’ condition, unarmed mastery, display and return
• Euripides, Heracles, Lines 1–25: the family awaits Heracles as he completes the Cerberus task
• Euripides, Heracles, Lines 815–1015: Iris and Lyssa bring madness after the hero returns