The legendary ancient Greek hero Hercules became famous for his twelve exploits performed in the service of the Argolid king Eurystheus. As the son of the king of the gods Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, Hercules aroused the hatred of the goddess Hera, who sent madness to him. In a fit of madness, Hercules killed his own children. Deeply repenting of his deed, the hero turned to the Delphic oracle with a request to appoint him a punishment. This punishment became the service with Eurystheus: Hercules was obliged to carry out all his orders for 12 years.
Smothering the Nemean Lion
The first feat of Hercules was the killing of a monstrous lion with a very hard skin that could not be damaged by any weapon. The lion lived in the vicinity of the city of Nemea and terrified the entire area, killing people and stealing cattle. Hercules tracked down the Nemean lion and strangled him. From the skin of a lion, the hero made himself a cloak.
The murder of the Lernaean hydra
The second task that Eurystheus gave Hercules was the destruction of the seven-headed snake-like monster living in the Lernaean swamps. Hydra has been eating people and pets for a long time. To stop her robberies, Hercules chopped off one of the Hydra's heads, but seven new ones immediately grew instead. Then the hero began to chop off each head of the monster in turn, and his friend Iolaus burned the stumps. After killing the hydra, Hercules soaked the tips of his arrows in her poison, making them a deadly weapon.
Extermination of Stymphalian birds
The third feat of the demigod was the killing of birds of prey with copper beaks, claws and wings that lived near the city of Stymphala. These birds ate crops and also attacked people. To deal with the predatory flock, Hercules used arrows with the poison of the Lernaean hydra.
Capture of the Kerinean fallow deer
The fourth feat, which was accomplished by the son of Zeus, was the capture of the Kerinean fallow deer, who did not know fatigue, with golden horns and copper hooves. To catch a wonderful doe, Hercules had to chase the animal for a very long time.
Taming the Erymanth Boar
The fifth order of Eurystheus, which Hercules successfully coped with, was the capture of a giant wild boar that lived on Mount Erymanthus and terrorized the vicinity of the Arcadian city of Psofida. Returning back, Hercules was forced to fight off the centaurs. In the heat of battle, the hero accidentally wounded his teacher Chiron, who was trying to end the battle. Despite Hercules' attempts to save him, Chiron died.
Cleaning the Augean stables
The sixth feat of Hercules was the cleansing of the stockyard of the Elid king Augean. According to ancient Greek myths, the stables, which were inhabited by a huge number of animals, were not cleaned for many years and ended up being filled with manure to the very roof. Hercules dammed the nearby Alpheus River and sent water to the stables, thus washing them white.
The taming of the Cretan bull
The seventh feat, a perfect hero, was the capture of a mad bull. This bull was presented to the Cretan king Minos by Poseidon. Minos was supposed to sacrifice the bull to the god of the seas, but the king, out of greed, kept the animal for himself. Poseidon was angry and sent rabies on the bull. After that, the bull began to rush around Crete and destroy everything that came across it on the way. Hercules caught the bull and delivered it to Eurystheus.
The abduction of the horses of King Diomedes
The eighth task that Eurystheus gave to Hercules was the abduction of the wonderful horses that belonged to King Diomedes. These horses were incredibly beautiful and fed on human flesh. Hercules killed Diomedes, who fed innocent people to animals, took possession of the horses and delivered them to Eurystheus.
The abduction of the belt of the Amazonian queen Hippolyta
The ninth command of Eurystheus was the order to obtain the belt of the queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta, presented to her by the god of war Ares. Hercules came to the lands of the Amazons and turned to the queen with a request to give him the belt. Hippolyta condescended to the hero and promised to think. But Hera brought confusion into the ranks of the Amazons, forcing them to pounce on Hercules. The hero killed Hippolyta and took her belt.
The abduction of Geryon's cows
The tenth feat of Hercules was the abduction of the divine cows that belonged to the three-headed giant Geryon. Hercules captured the cows, killing the shepherd Eurytion and the dog Orff, who were guarding Geryon's flocks. Then Hercules shot from a bow and Geryon himself.
Extraction of golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides
The eleventh task of the son of Zeus was the order of Eurystheus to steal the golden apples. These apples were presented for Hera's wedding by the goddess of the earth, Gaia. Hera planted apples in the garden of the Hesperides - the daughters of the titan Atlas. When the girls were playing in the garden, they were kidnapped by robbers. Hercules killed the robbers and freed the Hesperides. In gratitude, Atlas presented Hercules with apples.
Taming the Hellhound Cerberus
The twelfth and last command of Eurystheus was his desire to see the monstrous three-headed dog Cerberus, guarding the exit from the kingdom of the dead. Hercules descended into the underworld, defeated Cerberus, brought him to Eurystheus, and then returned the hellish guard back.
