Universal Hero Flashcards
How was Heracles born
Through Zeus having an affair with Alcmene
Why did Heracles kill his own children and wife
Hera sent the goddess Madness the infect him
What happened in the Nemean Lion
1st labour
Heracles was shooting the lion with his bow and arrow and then realised that the skin was impenetrable to weapons. So he strangled it. Afterwards Athena told him to use the Lions claws to skin it. After this labour Heracles is often presented with a lion skin and the lions head as a helmet.
What happened in the Lernaean Hydra
2nd labour
When Heracles sliced off a head two would grow back. So with the help of his cousin Iolaus. After Heracles removed the head Iolaus would light it on fire. During this they were attacked by a giant crab that Heracles dealt with easily. After the Hydra was defeated Heracles dipped some arrows into the Hydras venom.
What happened in the Golden hind
3rd labour
Heracles tracked the Hind for a year until eventually snaring it. On the way back he met Apollo and Artemis who were angry about Heracles catching her sacred Hind. So Heracles told her about the labour and that he intended to only borrow the hind, so Apollo and Artemis allowed him on his way.
What happened in the Erymanthian boar
4th labour
Heracles chased it through thick snow and caught it when the boar was tired. When he brought it back to Mycenae Eurystheus hid in a pithos jar.
What happened in the Augean stables
5th labour
He had to clean the stables of king Augeas in one day. This task was supposedly impossible. Heracles diverted the rivers Aplheius and Peneius through the stables cleaning them instantly. Hercules was promised payment but the king refused so Heracles returned with an army and defeated the king. To commemorate his victory he founded the Olympic games.
What happened in the Stymphalian birds
6th labour
Athena gave him a rattle which would make the birds fly into the sky. After this Heracles shot down the birds with either a slingshot or his bow and arrow.
What happened in the Cretan Bull
7th labour
Heracles crept up behind the bull and strangled it but released his grip before the bull passed out. He rode the bull back to Mycenae and Eurystheus hid in a pithos jar. Heracles let the bull free and it wandered back to Marathon where is was later defeated by Theseus.
What happened in the Mares of Diomedes
8th labour
When Heracles arrived in Thrace he defeated the stableman. When Diomedes found out that Heracles had taken the horses, he set out with an army to overcome Heracles. Hercules left the horses with is companion Aberdos while he went to go and fight Diomedes. After Diomedes was defeated Heracles fed him to the horses as he was irritated that the horses ate Aberdos. Afterwards Heracles took the horses back to Eurystheus and then set the horses free in Olympia where they were killed by wild animals
What happened in The Belt of Hippolyte
9th labour
Heracles arrived with his army as he was expecting trouble. But when he arrived Hippolyte was amazed by his other deeds she freely offered him the belt. Hera thought this task was too easy she took the form of an Amazonian and spread news that Heracles was going to steal the What did people have to face because of a lack of food and supplies during WW2?. So the Amazons rode out to war against Heracles. He was enraged by this and now thought that Hippolyte had been scheming the whole time so in the war he killed her and took the belt.
What happened in the Cattle of Geryon
10th labour
Heracles started off by defeating the herdsman Eurytion and his dog Orthrus. He then left with the cattle. Another shepherd told Geryon what happened and Geryon rushed out after Heracles. Geryon had 3 sets of Heads, Arms and Legs. Heracles used his club and bow to defeat Geryon. As well as this a monster called Cacus stole Heracles’ cattle and Heracles wouldn’t have found out is the cows didn’t start mooing, so Heracles found out where they were and defeated Cacus. He then took the cattle back to Eurystheus who later sacrificed is to Hera
Why did Heracles have to do 12 labours rather than the original 10
As the Lernaean Hydra didn’t count due to him having help. Neither did the Augean Stables as he took payment.
What happened in the Apples of the Hesperides
11th labour
On his way Heracles met Prometheus who was having an eternal punishment of having his constantly repairing liver eaten by an eagle. Heracles killed the Eagle and Prometheus told him where the Garden of the Hesperides was. When He got there he met Atlas, so Heracles offered to hold up the sky while Atlas retrieved the apples. When Atlas got back he refused to take back the skies. Heracles used his brain and agreed to Atlas’s deal but asked him to take is back so he could get some pillows for his shoulders. Heracles then took the apples and then showed them to Eurystheus and then Athena took them back to the Garden
What happened in Cerberus
12th labour
When he got to the Underworld, Hades and Persephone told Heracles that he could take Cerberus to Eurystheus if he Captured it with no weapons. Heracles then strangled Cerberus and took it to Eurystheus and then Took it back to the Underworld so Cerberus could guard the gates.
