The Labors of Hercules

Since Hercules killed his family, he wanted to kill himself, but his friend Theseus told him to go on

living and that it was not heroic. To cleanse himself he visited the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle told him to go to Eurystheus, who then sends him

do the twelve impossible challenges, which are “The labors of Hercules”.

The first Labor

Hercules first labor was to kill the lion of Nemea. The beast Nemea could not be killed or wounded but any weapon. So instead of

using a weapon Hercules choked him to death.

The Second Labor

The second labor of Hercules was to go to Lerna and kill the creature with nine head named Hydra who had one head

that was immortal. After Hercules tried cutting off the head they instantly grew. Hercules nephew, Iolaus helped him by bringing him a burning brand and which he used to seared

the necks of the heads after he cut them off. When he chopped of the head that was immortal he buried it.

The Third Labor

His third labor was to bring back the stag with horns of gold alive, which was sacred to Artemis.

The stag lived in the forest of Cerynitia. It took him a year to complete this task.

The Fourth Labor

The fourth labor was to capture a great boar, which lived on Mount Erymanthus. He

chased the beast until it grew tried then drove it into the snow and trapped it

The Fifth Labor

• To clean the thousands of Aegean stables in one day.

The Sixth Labor

• To banish the Stymphalian birds.

The Seventh Labor

• To go to Crete and retrieving the beautiful savage bull that Poseidon gave Minos.

The Eighth Labor

• To retrieve the man-eating mares.

Task 9. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

Task 10. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.

Task 11. Steal the apples of the Hesperides.

Task 12. Capture and bring back Cerberus.