Hercules's 9 OTHER Labors | Greek Mythology Explained

Jon Solo・2 minutes read

Hercules faced difficult choices and completed numerous labors, including defeating the river god Achelous, trading his horn for the Horn of Amalthea, and freeing Prometheus. However, tragedy struck when his wife Deianira accidentally caused his death with a love potion, leading to Hercules' fiery end and ascension to Olympus.

Insights

  • Hercules faced a significant moral dilemma when confronted by vice and virtue, choosing between a comfortable yet unremarkable life and a challenging, illustrious path marked by pain and glory.
  • Hercules' life was intertwined with a series of labors, both major and minor, driven by his need to atone for past sins and fulfill various heroic deeds, showcasing his complex journey of redemption and struggle against adversaries like the Giants and Centaurs.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Hercules?

    A legendary hero known for his labors and feats.

  • What are the labors of Hercules?

    A series of tasks he completed to atone.

  • What is the Cornucopia?

    A horn providing unending nourishment.

  • Who did Hercules marry?

    Princess Deianira.

  • How did Hercules meet his end?

    By burning himself on a funeral pyre.

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Summary

00:00

Hercules: Labors, Battles, and Triumphs

  • Hercules, also known as Heracles, faced a choice between an easy life and a glorious but painful one when visited by the personifications of vice and virtue.
  • Hercules is famous for his 12 labors, but he also completed nine minor labors, unofficially known as the nine minor labors of Hercules.
  • Hercules was cursed by his stepmother Hera, leading him to complete labors for King Eurystheus to atone for his sins.
  • Hercules fought the river god Achelous for the hand of Princess Deianira, ultimately winning and marrying her.
  • Hercules defeated Achelous in a fight by breaking off one of his horns, earning himself a new wife.
  • Hercules traded Achelous' horn for the Horn of Amalthea, known as the Cornucopia, which provided unending nourishment.
  • Hercules played a pivotal role in the Gigantomachy, a conflict where he fought against the Giants who rebelled against the Olympians.
  • Hercules defeated Alcyoneus, a Giant, by dragging him to foreign land and letting him bleed out among strangers.
  • Hercules faced and defeated the Centaurs, who were drunk on potent wine, by using poisoned arrows against them.
  • Hercules freed Prometheus, who was bound by Zeus for giving fire to humanity, either during his 11th major labor or immediately after a minor labor.

14:18

Hercules' Tragic Love Story: Deianira's Betrayal

  • Hercules defeated the river god Achelous to win his wife Deianira's hand, but another myth suggests he simply asked for her to be his. Deianira had to wait at her father's palace for Hercules to complete his labors before claiming her.
  • A centaur named Eurytion, who had escaped being killed by Hercules previously, tried to woo Deianira while her father was too scared to refuse. Hercules intervened, killing Eurytion and taking Deianira back to his city.
  • On their way home, Hercules and Deianira encountered Nessus, another survivor of Hercules' past actions. Nessus offered to carry Deianira across a flooded river but then tried to abduct her. Hercules killed Nessus, marking the end of his minor labors.
  • Deianira, fearing Hercules would leave her, used Nessus' blood to create a love potion. When Hercules wore a tunic soaked in the potion, it caused excruciating pain as it burned his skin, leading to his decision to burn himself on a funeral pyre to escape the agony and ascend to Olympus.
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