Jason and the Golden Fleece
Herakles was born to a mortal woman but had the god Zeus for his father. To protect his son Zeus gave him the gift of great strength. Hera, Zeus' wife was jealous and plotted revenge for his birth. Herakles grew into a tall strong man. He married and had three sons. He led a very settled peaceful life with his family but Hera's plot involved him having a dreadful dream. In that dream he killed his family.
Herakles was devastated. Finally he went to the Oracle to ask the gods what he had to do. He went as a slave to serve King Eurystheus who set him twelve labours which would free him from the burden of his family's death. If he complete all of the tasks he would once again be a free man. Herakles was a strong, powerful slave and the King did not want to lose him.
King Eurystheus set Herakles the task of killing the lion of Nemea. To everyone's amazement Herakles came out of it alive.
Eurystheus was quite angry that Herakles had been successful and he set him another task straight away: to catch the Golden Hind of Cerynia. He was successful once again.
The third labour was to kill the nine headed hydra. Many had tried this and been killed but Herakles cauterized the neck each time he cut a head off so that no new ones could grow.
The fourth dreadful labour was to capture the wild boar of Mount Erymanthus. This creature was so savage and wild that nobody could get near him. Herakles killed it and after tying its feet together dragged it back to the King. The King was so terrified of it that he jumped into a brass jar and hid until the coast was clear once again.
The fifth was to kill the Stymphalian man eating birds. Athene had to help him this time because the tasks were verging on the impossible. The birds were terrifying with great long claws, sharp beaks and whose feathers made spears they were sent down with such speed and fury. Athene gave him some castanets especially made by Haephestos. When Herakles crashed them together the birds rose up in fear and Herakles killed them with his arrows.
He was sent to do a disgusting job next: King Augeus had not had his stables cleaned out for thirty years. Herakles took the job on but asked the King for one tenth of the cattle as his reward if he managed. Augeus agreed thinking that the task was impossible. Herakles diverted the river and completed the task. He was not paid however.
Eurystheus decided that he must make the labours harder for Herakles because he seemed to have managed things that were impossible. He ordered Herakles to sail south and capture the white bull of Crete. It had plagued them for twenty seven years eating anybody who came near it on the hillside.
From there he went straight to try and catch the flesh eating mares of Diomedes.These horses fed only on the flesh of men and had to be tamed before they were brought back.
Next he had to sail to meet up with the Amazons and bring back the leader's golden girdle.
From there he was sent to bring back the herd of chestnut cattle from the giant Ceryan.
There were only two labours left and King Eurystheus was determined to make them impossible. He sent Herakles to fetch the golden apples of Hesperides. The were guarded by hers and the daughters if Titan but Herakles tricked them by changing places with Atlas who got them for him.
His final task was to bring back the three headed hound that guarded Hades:Cerebus. This was frightening because people that went into Hades did not usually come out. Herakles did return and so having completed his labours was released. He lived a peaceful life until he died of old age and then he was taken by Zeus to live as an immortal on Mount Olympus.
Herakles was devastated. Finally he went to the Oracle to ask the gods what he had to do. He went as a slave to serve King Eurystheus who set him twelve labours which would free him from the burden of his family's death. If he complete all of the tasks he would once again be a free man. Herakles was a strong, powerful slave and the King did not want to lose him.
King Eurystheus set Herakles the task of killing the lion of Nemea. To everyone's amazement Herakles came out of it alive.
Eurystheus was quite angry that Herakles had been successful and he set him another task straight away: to catch the Golden Hind of Cerynia. He was successful once again.
The third labour was to kill the nine headed hydra. Many had tried this and been killed but Herakles cauterized the neck each time he cut a head off so that no new ones could grow.
The fourth dreadful labour was to capture the wild boar of Mount Erymanthus. This creature was so savage and wild that nobody could get near him. Herakles killed it and after tying its feet together dragged it back to the King. The King was so terrified of it that he jumped into a brass jar and hid until the coast was clear once again.
The fifth was to kill the Stymphalian man eating birds. Athene had to help him this time because the tasks were verging on the impossible. The birds were terrifying with great long claws, sharp beaks and whose feathers made spears they were sent down with such speed and fury. Athene gave him some castanets especially made by Haephestos. When Herakles crashed them together the birds rose up in fear and Herakles killed them with his arrows.
He was sent to do a disgusting job next: King Augeus had not had his stables cleaned out for thirty years. Herakles took the job on but asked the King for one tenth of the cattle as his reward if he managed. Augeus agreed thinking that the task was impossible. Herakles diverted the river and completed the task. He was not paid however.
Eurystheus decided that he must make the labours harder for Herakles because he seemed to have managed things that were impossible. He ordered Herakles to sail south and capture the white bull of Crete. It had plagued them for twenty seven years eating anybody who came near it on the hillside.
From there he went straight to try and catch the flesh eating mares of Diomedes.These horses fed only on the flesh of men and had to be tamed before they were brought back.
Next he had to sail to meet up with the Amazons and bring back the leader's golden girdle.
From there he was sent to bring back the herd of chestnut cattle from the giant Ceryan.
There were only two labours left and King Eurystheus was determined to make them impossible. He sent Herakles to fetch the golden apples of Hesperides. The were guarded by hers and the daughters if Titan but Herakles tricked them by changing places with Atlas who got them for him.
His final task was to bring back the three headed hound that guarded Hades:Cerebus. This was frightening because people that went into Hades did not usually come out. Herakles did return and so having completed his labours was released. He lived a peaceful life until he died of old age and then he was taken by Zeus to live as an immortal on Mount Olympus.