Labours of Hercules

In Greek mythology, the Twelve Labours of Hercules were a series of legendary feats performed by the hero Herakles, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules.

Context

Driven mad by Hera, Herakles slew his wife Megara and their children. After recovering his sanity, he traveled to the Sanctuary of Delphi to inquire how he could atone for his actions; he was instructed by the Pythia to go to Tiryns ^{[citation needed]} and serve his cousin, King Eurystheas of Mycenae, for twelve years. Therefore, Eurystheus set twelve tasks for Herakles.

List of the labours

• Slay the Nemean Lion
• Slay the Lernaean Hydra
• Capture the Hind of Keryneia
• Capture the Erymanthian Boar
• Clean the Stable of Augeias
• Slay the Stymphalian birds
• Capture the Kretan Bull
• Steal the mares of Diomedes
• Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta
• Obtain the cattle of Geryon
• Steal the apples of Hesperides
• Subdue and take back Cerberos from the underworld

Behind the scenes

Seven of the actual metopes of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia which depict Herakles' labours are faithfully recreated in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. However, they can also be found inaccurately decorating numerous other temples and even the Parthenon.

While unconnected to his atonement there is an event jokingly and informally referred to as the Thirteenth Labor where Herakles impregnated the fifty daughters of Thespius, king of Thespiae, in a single night. Many dynastic lines trace their lineage back to this event, including the Agiads and Eurypontids of Sparta, and the Argeads of Makedonia.

Gallery

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  A relief depicting the second labour
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  A relief depicting the third labour
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  A relief depicting the fourth labour
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  A relief depicting the fifth labour
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  A relief depicting the seventh labour
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  A relief depicting the eighth labour
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  A relief depicting the eleventh labour