03 Universal Hero

Question 1

List, in order, the 12 labours of Herakles.

Answer 1

1. Nemean Lion
2. Lernean Hydra
3. Cerneain Hide
4. Erymanththian boar
5. Augean stables
6. Stymphalean birds
7. Cretan Bull
8. Mares of Diomedes
9. Belt of Hyppolyte
10. Cattle of Geryon
11. Apples of Hesperides
12. Cerberus

Question 2

Describe Herakles’ 1st labour (3 points)

Answer 2

• Nimean Lion
• Impregnable to weapons
• Lion strangled to death, skinned with its own claw
• Heracles wore the hind as a cloak with its head as a helmet

Question 3

Describe Herakles’ 2nd labour (6 points)

Answer 3

• Lernaean Hydra; helped by his cousin Iolaus
• Hydra had many head and venom for blood; every time a head was cut off, another two grew back
• Each head was beheaded after help from Iolaus, and was stopped from growing back by sealing the stump with a flaming torch.
• Hera sent a giant crab to attack him; but Heracles crushed it
• Once all the head were removed, Heracles detached the immortal head and buried it under a pile of rocks.
• Used venom as poison for his arrows

Question 4

Describe Herakles’ 3rd labour (4 points)

Answer 4

• Also known as the Ceryneian Hind from Mount Ceryneia (It was a very swift deer)
• Hind was special because it was said to be larger than a bull and golden from horns to hooves.
• Tracked it for a whole year before snaring it
• Did not kill it; met Apollo and Artemis; Artemis got angry because Heracles had caught her sacred animal, but he said he was forced into it by King Eurystheus and only intended to borrow it. The twins let him go.