What were the twelve labours of Hercules?

In Apollodorus's order: the Nemean lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Ceryneian hind, the Erymanthian boar, the stables of Augeas, the Stymphalian birds, the Cretan bull, the mares of Diomedes, the belt of Hippolyta, the cattle of Geryon, the apples of the Hesperides and Cerberus, the guard dog of the Underworld.

Why did Hercules have to do the twelve labours?

In Apollodorus, Hera clouded his mind and he did a terrible wrong; to atone, the oracle at Delphi sent him to serve King Eurystheus. He was set ten labours, but Eurystheus refused to count the Hydra, because Iolaus helped, and the stables of Augeas, because Hercules asked to be paid, so it became twelve.

How did Hercules kill the Nemean lion?

No weapon could pierce its skin, so after his arrows bounced off, he blocked one entrance of its cave, went in through the other and choked it with his bare arms. He carried it back to Eurystheus at Mycenae, and in later stories wears its skin as armour.

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Greek myth · 声匠改编 · 4:09

Hercules and the Nemean Lion

For his first labour, Hercules must bring back the skin of a lion that no arrow or sword can pierce. Strength alone won't do it. He needs a plan.

Narrator

Hera

King Eurystheus

Hercules

Molorchus

Copreus, the king's herald

0:000:00

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About this story

Hercules is the Roman name of the Greek hero Heracles, and the Nemean lion was the first of his famous labours. The fullest ancient account is in Apollodorus's Library, Book 2, a Greek handbook of myths from the 1st or 2nd century AD: Hercules stays with the poor labourer Molorchus, blocks one mouth of the lion's two-mouthed cave, chokes the beast with his arms and brings it to King Eurystheus, who then hides in a bronze jar and sends orders through his herald Copreus. In Apollodorus, the labours are penance for a terrible wrong he did while Hera clouded his mind; this version keeps it to that, keeps the fight brief and gentle, and adds the later poets' detail of skinning the lion with its own claws.

What it teaches

Strength alone isn't always enough: when his arrows and club failed, Hercules stopped, thought and found another way. The story also rewards kindness, as poor old Molorchus shares what little he has with a stranger.

Suits

Ages 6–12

Tips for telling it

Roar like the lion together, and let your child bounce paper arrows off a cushion.
Build a two-door cave from chairs and a blanket and let your child work out Hercules's plan.
Ask: when the arrows didn't work, what did Hercules do instead?

Questions people ask

What were the twelve labours of Hercules?: In Apollodorus's order: the Nemean lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Ceryneian hind, the Erymanthian boar, the stables of Augeas, the Stymphalian birds, the Cretan bull, the mares of Diomedes, the belt of Hippolyta, the cattle of Geryon, the apples of the Hesperides and Cerberus, the guard dog of the Underworld.
Why did Hercules have to do the twelve labours?: In Apollodorus, Hera clouded his mind and he did a terrible wrong; to atone, the oracle at Delphi sent him to serve King Eurystheus. He was set ten labours, but Eurystheus refused to count the Hydra, because Iolaus helped, and the stables of Augeas, because Hercules asked to be paid, so it became twelve.
How did Hercules kill the Nemean lion?: No weapon could pierce its skin, so after his arrows bounced off, he blocked one entrance of its cave, went in through the other and choked it with his bare arms. He carried it back to Eurystheus at Mycenae, and in later stories wears its skin as armour.

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