How does hercules meet his end

Eurystheus had chosen this task for his rival because he believed that Diana would kill anyone she caught trying to steal her pet; however, once Hercules explained his situation to the goddess, she allowed him to go on his way without punishment.

The Erymanthean Boar Fourth, Hercules used a giant net to snare the terrifying, man-eating wild boar of Mount Erymanthus. However, Hercules completed the job easily, flooding the barn by diverting two nearby rivers. Hercules used these tools to frighten the birds away. Hercules drove the bull back to Eurystheus, who released it into the streets of Marathon.

He brought them to Eurystheus, who dedicated the horses to Hera and set them free. At first, the queen welcomed Hercules and agreed to give him the belt without a fight. However, the troublemaking Hera disguised herself as an Amazon warrior and spread a rumor that Hercules intended to kidnap the queen. The Cattle of Geryon For his 10th labor, Hercules was dispatched nearly to Africa to steal the cattle of the three-headed, six-legged monster Geryon.

Once again, Hera did all she could to prevent the hero from succeeding, but eventually he returned to Mycenae with the cows. This task was difficult—Hercules needed the help of the mortal Prometheus and the god Atlas to pull it off—but the hero eventually managed to run away with the apples. Cerberus For his final challenge, Hercules traveled to Hades to kidnap Cerberus, the vicious three-headed dog that guarded its gates. Hercules managed to capture Cerberus by using his superhuman strength to wrestle the monster to the ground.

Afterward, the dog returned unharmed to his post at the entrance to the Underworld. Later in his life, Hercules had a number of other adventures—rescuing the princess of Troy, battling for control of Mount Olympus—but none were as taxing, or as significant, as the labors had been. When he died, Athena carried him to Olympus on her chariot.

According to legend, he spent the rest of eternity with the gods. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. The warrior Achilles is one of the great heroes of Greek mythology. Viewed by many as the founding figure of Western philosophy, Socrates B. The Greek philosopher Aristotle B. Though overshadowed in classical times by the work of his teacher Plato, from late antiquity Depending on how a person lived his or her life, they might or might not experience never-ending punishment in Hades.

All souls, whether good or bad, were destined for the kingdom of Hades. Toledo According to Apollodorus, Cerberus was a strange mixture of creatures: he had three heads of wild dogs, a dragon or serpent for a tail, and heads of snakes all over his back. Apollo declared that he had to go to the city of Tiryns. Eurystheus had a reputation for being mean, and Hercules knew that the king would give him a tough time.

The hero had to serve Eurystheus for twelve years while he performed the Labors. There was some good news, though. When the tasks were completed, Apollo said, Hercules would become immortal. Unlike other men, instead of dying and going to the Underworld of Hades, he would become a god. Aerial view of the fortress-palace at Tiryns. The citadel's impressively thick fortress walls have stood for over thirty centuries.

Photograph by Raymond V. Schoder, S. Most of the pictures of Hercules shown at this web site were painted by the Greeks on vases around to years ago. Notice that Hercules wears a lion's skin, the prize from his first Labor, and wields a huge club. Further Adventures of Hercules After he completed the 12 Labors, Hercules didn't just sit back and rest on his laurels. He had many more adventures. One was to rescue the princess of Troy from a hungry sea-monster. Another was to help Zeus defeat the Giants in a great battle for the control of Olympus.

You might want to read these other stories about Hercules now, or continue with the hero's biography, below. Toledo When Hercules was returning from his last adventure, Deianira gave him a welcome-home present. This was a cloak which she had woven herself. Deianira had a magic balm which a centaur had given to her. The centaur told Deianira that anyone who put on the balm would love her forever. But actually the balm contained a caustic poison.

This balm she now smeared into the cloak. London E , Attic red figure pelike, c. Hercules trades in his old lionskin for the new cloak Deianira has woven him. Photograph courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum, London When Hercules received the cloak and tried it on, his body immediately began to burn with excruciating pain.