The Twelve Labours of Herakles

Illustration

Simeon Netchev
by
published on 13 February 2023
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A map illustrating the Twelve Labours of Herakles (Heracles, romanized as Hercules), probably the most famous of the ancient heroes in Greek mythology. Born as a demi-god (son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene,) Herakles was tricked out of his kingdom and constantly pursued by Hera, which culminated in a fit of madness that drove him to murder his wife and children. As a penance, he was urged by the Oracle of Delphi to enter into service of Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns and Mycenae, for twelve years and perform a sequence of Twelve Labours that seemed impossible (the fixed narrative of Twelve Labours, as well as Herakles' signature lion's skin attire and a club is attributed to the ancient poet Peisander, from c. 600 BCE).

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev
Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

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APA Style

Netchev, S. (2023, February 13). The Twelve Labours of Herakles. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17052/the-twelve-labours-of-herakles/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Twelve Labours of Herakles." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified 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. World History Encyclopedia, 13 Feb 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17052/the-twelve-labours-of-herakles/. Web. 22 Apr 2025.

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