HERCULES Flashcards
Which was Heracles first labour?
The Nemean Lion.
How is Heracles’ first labour depicted in art?
He sometimes appears more youthful.
Why was the Nemean Lion a labour?
It terrorised the hills of Nemea, and its skin was impregnable to weapons.
How did Heracles defeat the Nemean Lion?
He strangled the lion then used its own claw to skin it.
•••
Heracles had to present the skin to King Eurystheus.
Which was the second task?
The Lernaean Hydra.
The Lernaean Hydra had many heads. What did it also have?
Venom for blood.
The Lernaean Hydra was not counted as one of Heracles labours, since he cheated. How did he cheat?
He was helped by his cousin, Iolaus. Iolaus would cauterise the neck of any head that Heracles cut off, preventing more from growing.
What did Hera send during the second labour?
A giant crab to attack Heracles.
Once the final head of the hydra was cut, what did Heracles do with it?
Buried it beneath a pile of rocks.
Which task was the Golden Hind?
Third.
How long did Heracles track the Hind for? Why?
Heracles tracked the Golden Hind for a year, since it was so swift.
Which God/Goddess was the Golden Hind sacred to?
Artemis.
Which was the fourth labour?
The Erymanthian Boar.
How did Heracles capture the Erymanthian Boar?
He chased it through winter snow to tire it.
King Eurytheus was so scared by two of the beasts Heracles captured, he hid in a pithos. Which two?
- The Erymanthian Boar.
- The Cretan Bull.
Which labour related to King of Elis?
The fifth - The Augean Stables.
What was King Augeus famed for? What was Heracles’ related task?
His herd of enormous cattle.
Heracles had to clean out the stables, since the cattle were known to produce a lot of dung.
How did Heracles clean the Augean stables?
Diverted two rivers through the stables.
Why was Heracles fifth labour not counted?
Heracles was offered payment.
What enraged Heracles, and what did it lead to?
King Augeus did not pay him, so Heracles returned with an army and defeated him - in celebration he founded the Olympics in honour of his father, Zeus.
Which labour was the Stymphalian Birds?
Sixth.
