Long before John Wick, Rambo, or Dirty Harry, there was Hercules. Known as Heracles in Greek mythology, he is template for overcoming obstacles, kicking ass and living to tell about it.
His tale began when Zeus, the king of the ancient Greek gods, had an affair with Alcmene, a sexy mortal woman. The complication was that Zeus was married to Hera, who not only had issues with Zeus’s infidelity but also consistently had a problem with Hercules as he grew up. So much so that when Hercules eventually married and started a family, Hera cast a spell on him, driving him temporarily insane. During this psychotic episode, Hercules tragically killed his wife and family.
To make amends for his actions and cleanse himself, Hercules was tasked with completing the Twelve Labors by King Eurystheus of Tiryns. Hercules had to serve Eurystheus and take on these seemingly insurmountable challenges. If this sounds like the storyline of every hero movie ever made, you're not wrong. From Frodo to Neo, Hercules was the original, and his renowned Twelve Labors established his legacy, which has been emulated but never matched over the millennia.
Slay the Nemean Lion: The Nemean Lion had a hide that was immune to weapons. Hercules strangled the beast with his bare hands and then used its own claws to skin it. He wore the lion's skin as armor.
Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra: The Hydra was a serpent-like creature with many heads. When one head was cut off, two more would grow in its place. Hercules burnt the neck stumps to prevent them from regrowing and buried the immortal head under a rock. He dipped his arrows in the Hydra's poisonous blood, making them lethal.
Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis: The Hind was a deer with golden antlers and bronze hooves, sacred to the goddess Artemis. Hercules pursued it for a year before capturing it. He had to bring it back alive without harming it.
Capture the Erymanthian Boar: The Boar was a huge feral hog that roamed Mount Erymanthos. Hercules chased it through the snow, trapped it in a deep snowdrift, and then bound it in chains to bring it back to King Eurystheus.
Clean the Augean Stables in one day: King Augeas' stables had not been cleaned for 30 years and housed a vast number of cattle that filled it up with well .... shit. Hercules diverted the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to wash out the filth in a single day. This labor was not credited initially because Hercules was promised payment.
Slay the Stymphalian Birds: These birds were man-eating creatures with metallic feathers that they could shoot like arrows. Hercules scared them into the air with a rattle given to him by Athena and then shot them down with his arrows.
Capture the Cretan Bull: The Bull was a magnificent creature that had been causing destruction on the island of Crete. Hercules wrestled it to the ground and brought it back to Eurystheus, who later released it.
Steal the Mares of Diomedes: Diomedes, the Thracian king, owned horses that ate humans.. Hercules subdued Diomedes, fed him to his own horses to calm them, and then led the mares back to Eurystheus.
Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta: This will sound like the plot of a bad porno movie but Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, possessed a magical girdle given to her by Ares. Initially willing to give it to Hercules, Hippolyta's warriors attacked due to Hera's intervention. Hercules fought them off and took the girdle.
Capture the cattle of the monster Geryon: Geryon was a giant with three bodies. Hercules traveled to the end of the known world, defeated Geryon and his guard dog Orthrus, and drove the red cattle back to Eurystheus.
Steal the apples of the Hesperides: The apples were guarded by a dragon named Ladon. Hercules first sought the help of Atlas, who held up the sky. Hercules took on Atlas's burden while Atlas retrieved the apples. He then tricked Atlas into taking the sky back and left with the apples.
Capture and bring back Cerberus: Cerberus was the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld. With the help of Hermes and Athena, Hercules descended into the Underworld. He overpowered Cerberus with his bare hands and brought him to Eurystheus, who was so terrified that he ordered Hercules to return Cerberus immediately
Hercules accomplished all these tasks through a blend of strength, cleverness, and occasional divine assistance. His story is one of redemption, perseverance, and triumph over immense challenges. This years Spartan Season, the Year of the Boar celebrates his fourth labor.
References
The Greek Myths by Robert Graves
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
Bullfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bullfinch
Perseus Digital LIbrary perseus.tufts.edu
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