Alexander CekalaHercules: The 12 Tasks
I am going to start looking at myths every now and then as well as history. While these might not be history exactly they are never-the-less important aspects of historical cultures.
I will start with the myth of Heracles (Hercules) by detailed the twelve labours he is said to have completed, but in the following weeks I hope to explore Norse mythology and mythology I am less familiar with, like that from China and Japan.
This post will be done over three days:
Enjoy
Background
Under the influence of Hera, Heracles killed his wife and children and as penance for this the oracle told him to complete ten tasks set by King Eurystheus.
The first task: The Nemean Lion:
Heracle's first task was to kill the Nemean Lion. Unfortunately its skin was impenetrable to all of his weapons and so eventually he had to wrestle it and kill it by putting his hand down its throat and chokeing it.
The second task: The Lernaean Hydra:
Heracles then had to kill the Lernaean Hydra. This time he found trouble when every time he cut one head off, two grew back. His nephew handed him a brand and suggest he burn each neck after cutting the head off. This stopped the heads growing back and Heracles (Hercules) defeated the Hydra. Unfortunately the King refused to count this towards Heracles's tasks as he was aided by his nephew.
The third task: The Ceryneian Hind:
Following this Heracles had to capture the Ceryneian Hind, which could outrun an arrow. After more than a year of chasing the creature he caught it when it stopped for a drink, disabling it with a poisoned arrow.
He returned it to the King, who demanded to keep it, an action Heracles knew would anger the god Artemis, so Heracles agreed if the king could take it to his stables. As soon as Heracles let go the Hind fled.
The fourth task: The Erymanthian Boar:
Heracles (Hercules) now had to catch the Erymanthian Boar. He did this by chasing it into deep snow and when it was immobilised capturing it. He then took it to the King who demanded he remove it.
And thus...
And thus did Heracles, also known as Hercules, complete the first four of his twelve tasks.
Tomorrow I will deal with four more tasks.
Adam
I will start with the myth of Heracles (Hercules) by detailed the twelve labours he is said to have completed, but in the following weeks I hope to explore Norse mythology and mythology I am less familiar with, like that from China and Japan.
This post will be done over three days:
Enjoy
Background
Under the influence of Hera, Heracles killed his wife and children and as penance for this the oracle told him to complete ten tasks set by King Eurystheus.
The first task: The Nemean Lion:
Heracle's first task was to kill the Nemean Lion. Unfortunately its skin was impenetrable to all of his weapons and so eventually he had to wrestle it and kill it by putting his hand down its throat and chokeing it.
The second task: The Lernaean Hydra:
Heracles then had to kill the Lernaean Hydra. This time he found trouble when every time he cut one head off, two grew back. His nephew handed him a brand and suggest he burn each neck after cutting the head off. This stopped the heads growing back and Heracles (Hercules) defeated the Hydra. Unfortunately the King refused to count this towards Heracles's tasks as he was aided by his nephew.
The third task: The Ceryneian Hind:
Following this Heracles had to capture the Ceryneian Hind, which could outrun an arrow. After more than a year of chasing the creature he caught it when it stopped for a drink, disabling it with a poisoned arrow.
He returned it to the King, who demanded to keep it, an action Heracles knew would anger the god Artemis, so Heracles agreed if the king could take it to his stables. As soon as Heracles let go the Hind fled.
The fourth task: The Erymanthian Boar:
Heracles (Hercules) now had to catch the Erymanthian Boar. He did this by chasing it into deep snow and when it was immobilised capturing it. He then took it to the King who demanded he remove it.
And thus...
And thus did Heracles, also known as Hercules, complete the first four of his twelve tasks.
Tomorrow I will deal with four more tasks.
Adam
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