Mythology Quiz:12 Labors Of Hercules

Hercules' first labor, assigned by King Eurystheus, was to slay the Nemean Lion, a fearsome beast terrorizing the region of Nemea. The lion's hide was impervious to weapons, making it an especially daunting task. After failing to kill the lion with arrows, Hercules trapped it in its cave, wrestled it to the ground, and strangled it with his immense strength. He then used the lion's own claws to skin it, crafting a cloak from the impenetrable hide that would protect him in future labors.

Hercules initially tried to kill the Nemean Lion with arrows, but they were ineffective due to the lion's invulnerable hide. Realizing his weapons were useless, Hercules pursued the lion into its cave. Blocking one entrance, he confronted the lion head-on, wrestled it, and used his prodigious strength to strangle it to death. This method highlighted his brute force and resourcefulness, key traits that would aid him in subsequent labors.

In the fifth labor, Hercules was tasked with cleaning the Augean Stables, which housed thousands of cattle and had not been cleaned in years. To accomplish this seemingly impossible task in one day, Hercules diverted the courses of the Alpheus and Peneus rivers to flow through the stables, effectively washing out all the filth and completing the labor successfully.

For the eleventh labor, Hercules had to obtain the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides, which were guarded by a hundred-headed dragon named Ladon. Hercules sought the help of the Titan Atlas, who held up the sky. Hercules offered to take Atlas' burden temporarily if Atlas would retrieve the apples. Atlas agreed, but upon returning, tried to leave Hercules holding the sky. Hercules tricked Atlas into taking the sky back by asking him to hold it temporarily while he adjusted his position, then took the apples and left.

In the second labor, Hercules was tasked with killing the Lernaean Hydra, a serpent-like creature with multiple heads, one of which was immortal. As he cut off each of the Hydra's heads, he used a burning torch to cauterize the neck stumps to prevent them from regrowing. After removing and burning the mortal heads, he buried the immortal head under a large rock to ensure it could not return to life.

In the sixth labor, Hercules was tasked with destroying the Stymphalian birds. He used a rattle given to him by the goddess Athena to create a loud noise that scared the birds into the air, allowing him to shoot them down with his arrows. However, the key action that allowed him to complete the task was scaring them away with the loud noise.

The Ceryneian Hind was a sacred animal to the goddess Artemis, known for its incredible speed and golden antlers. Hercules was tasked with capturing it alive, which required cunning and persistence. He chased the stag across Greece for an entire year, demonstrating his endurance and determination. Eventually, he managed to catch the hind while it was exhausted. To avoid offending Artemis, Hercules explained his task and promised to return the stag after showing it to Eurystheus, which Artemis allowed.

In his ninth labor, Hercules was sent to retrieve the girdle of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons. Initially, Hippolyta was impressed by Hercules' reputation and willingly offered him the girdle. However, Hera, ever the antagonist, stirred up trouble by disguising herself as an Amazon and spreading rumors that Hercules intended to abduct Hippolyta. This caused a battle to erupt. In the ensuing chaos, Hercules fought valiantly and managed to secure the girdle, bringing it back to Eurystheus as proof of his success.

For his seventh labor, Hercules was tasked with capturing the Cretan Bull, a magnificent beast that was terrorizing the island of Crete. The bull had been sent by Poseidon and was sacred. Upon reaching Crete, Hercules encountered the bull and used his great strength to wrestle it to the ground. Despite its fury and strength, Hercules managed to subdue the bull without harming it, demonstrating his prowess and control. He then brought the bull back to King Eurystheus in Mycenae.

In the fourth labor, Hercules was tasked with capturing the Erymanthian Boar alive. He successfully completed this labor by chasing the boar up Mount Erymanthus and driving it into deep snow, which slowed it down and allowed him to capture it alive. He then carried the boar back to King Eurystheus.

For the eighth labor, Hercules was assigned to capture the man-eating mares of King Diomedes of Thrace. Upon arrival, Hercules discovered the vicious nature of these horses, which had been trained to feed on human flesh. To subdue them, Hercules overpowered and killed King Diomedes, feeding him to his own mares. This act sated their hunger and pacified them temporarily, allowing Hercules to safely lead them back to Eurystheus. This labor highlighted Hercules' ability to turn the strength of his enemies against them.

The tenth labor required Hercules to journey to the end of the world to capture the cattle of the giant Geryon, who had three bodies. After a long and arduous journey, Hercules faced Geryon and his herdsman, Eurytion. In a fierce battle, Hercules used his deadly arrows and club to defeat Geryon and his guard dog, Orthrus. After killing Geryon, Hercules herded the oxen across vast distances, overcoming numerous obstacles, and finally delivered them to Eurystheus.

The twelfth and final labor was the most perilous: Hercules had to capture Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the Underworld, and bring him back alive. With the help of Hermes and Athena, Hercules descended into the Underworld and sought permission from Hades. Hades agreed, provided Hercules could subdue Cerberus without using weapons. Hercules overpowered Cerberus with his immense strength, chained the beast, and brought it back to Eurystheus. This labor demonstrated Hercules' bravery and strength, as he ventured into the realm of the dead and returned victorious.