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The Twelve Labours of Herakles, codified as a fixed cycle by the poet Peisander around c. 600 BCE, represent one of the most enduring mythological narratives of ancient Greece. Herakles, born a demi-god as the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene, became the archetypal hero of strength, courage, and suffering. His myth reflects not only Greek religious thought but also broader cultural values about fate, justice, and human resilience in the face of divine hostility. Pursued relentlessly by Hera, who despised him as Zeus’ illegitimate son, Herakles was tricked out of his inheritance and driven into a madness that led to the killing of his wife and children.
As penance, Herakles was compelled by the Oracle of Delphi to serve King Eurystheus of Tiryns and Mycenae (reign c. late 13th century BCE in mythic chronology) for twelve years, completing a sequence of seemingly impossible tasks. These included slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Erymanthian Boar, cleaning the Augean Stables, and seizing the Apples of the Hesperides. Across the Mediterranean, his exploits symbolized human confrontation with chaos, nature, and mortality, while his lion-skin cloak and club became his defining attributes in art and literature. The Labours not only cemented Herakles as Greece’s greatest hero but also influenced Roman tradition, where he was worshipped as Hercules, embodying endurance and divine strength across antiquity.
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Related Images
Herakles & The Augean Stables
King Eurystheus Hiding from Hercules
Hercules & The Nemean Lion
Hercules and the Nemean Lion
Herakles in the Hesperides Garden
Heracles fighting Nemean Lion
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APA Style
Netchev, S. (2023, February 13). The Twelve Labours of Herakles. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17052/the-twelve-labours-of-herakles/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "The Twelve Labours of Herakles." World History Encyclopedia, February 13, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17052/the-twelve-labours-of-herakles/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "The Twelve Labours of Herakles." World History Encyclopedia, 13 Feb 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17052/the-twelve-labours-of-herakles/.
