Synopsis
Hercules was best known for his celebrated Twelve Labors.
Allegedly, Hera had caused Hercules to go insane and he killed his wife Megara and children,[1] causing him to then atone by performing the twelve labors.[2]
Truth was that returning from the final labor against Cerberus (and rescuing Theseus from Hades, in 1277 B.C., he was believed dead and Euboean Lycus took advantage of that absence to kill Hercules' father-in-law King Creon and condemn Megara and their three sons to death. Enraged, Hercules killed Lycus but his family as well.
Hercules' followers decided to accuse Hera, and Hercules didn't corrected them, too ashamed. He change from Herakles to roman Hercules, in order to distance himself from Hera.[2]
When his sanity returned, he received instructions from the oracle in Delphi to go to Tiryns and perform any Twelve Labors devised from him by King Eurystheus[3] (the final being already accomplished).[2]
By successfully completing these labors, Hercules would not only pay for his crime, but also achieve immortality and take his rightful place among the Gods. Reluctantly, Hercules agreed to submit to the will of the hated Eurystheus.[4] The Labors included:
- 1. The taming of the Nemean Lion[5][4]
Lernean Hydra
- 2[5][4][6] (or 3).[6] The slaying the multi-headed Hydra:[5][4] In 1271 B.C., in Lerna, south of Argos, the evil, snake-like Hydra had nine heads. If one was chopped off, two would grow in its place. But Hercules quickly sliced off the heads, while his nephew, Iolaus, sealed the wounds with a torch. Hercules made his arrows poisonous by dipping them in the Hydra's blood.[6] The Eternals; Ikaris and Phastos observed the fight on their study of humanity.[7]
- 3. The capturing the Erymanthian Boar[5][4]
- 4. The hunting the Ceryneian Hind[5][4]
- 5[5][4] (or 6).[8] The dispersal of the Man-eating Birds of Lake Stymphalus: For years, Lake Stymphalus/[4]Lake Stymphalis,[8] in Arcadia[4]/Arkadia,[8] was plagued by vast flocks of man-eating birds.[4][8] Those birds had been created by Ares to be the perfect expression of his essence, with impenetrable plumage that they could shoot like arrow, and he considered them sacred. Nevertheless, in 1271 BC, Hercules slew them all, using the feathers they had shot at him on his own arrows.[8]
Augean Stables
- 5[9] (or 6).[9][5][4] The cleaning of the thousand-cattle stables of King Augeas[5] in a single day: In 1272 B.C., in Elis,[9] Hercules was ordered to clean out the stables of King Augeas, where thousands of cows lived.[5][4][9] While Hercules actually tried the task manually, in vain, Forgotten One, an Eternal who was mistaken for Hercules, diverted two rivers so that they flowed into the stables, sweeping out the filth.[9]
- 7. The defeat of the Cretan Bull /[5][4] Capture the Cretan Bull[10]
- 8.[5][11] The defeat[11] / reining-in of the Man-Eating Mares of King Diomedes.[5]
- 9.[5][11][12] The acquiring of the Golden Girdle from the Amazons:[5] In 1270 BC, Hercules went to Themiscyra, on the River Thermodon, to steal the girdle of Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons, a gift from Hippolyta's father Ares. However the moment the two met it was an instant attraction and the two went to bed together. This happiness from Hercules angered Hera, who took the form of one of the Amazons, and made them believe Hercules was kidnapping their queen. He escaped buck naked, carrying the girdle and chased by the countless Amazons.[12]
- 10. The theft of the red cattle of Geryon,[5] a three-faced monster tyrant[11]
- 11. The retrieval of Hera's Golden Apples from the Garden of the Hesperides:[5] In 1268 B.C., Hercules went to the Titan Atlas who was forced to hold up the sky heavens for all eternity.[13] He asked Atlas for help, he would shoulder the sky while Atlas, the Hesperides' father, fetched the Apples.[13] Atlas agreed to fetched three golden apples for three hours of freedom.[13] However, when Atlas returned, he did not wish to take up the sky heavens again, and tried to trick Hercules to keep holding the sky for him.[13] Hercules tricked Atlas by asking him to take the sky for a moment so he could get comfortable.[13] When he did, Hercules escaped with the Golden Apples.[13] The completion of that labor was made at the depends of the guardian of the Tree of the Hesperides, the dragon Ladon.[11] Apparently the Forgotten One also held Atlas' burden on his own shoulders.[9]
- 12[5][11] and final.[2] The borrowing/[5]fetching[11] of Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of Hades:[5] In 1277 B.C., Hercules later revealed that he actually traveled there to rescue his beloved friend Theseus, and that he was there so long that the people of Thebes believed him to be dead.[2]
In the course of these Labors, Hercules provoked the wrath of three immortals who remain his enemies to this day. By slaughtering the man-eating Stymphalian Birds, he enraged the war god Ares, to whom they were sacred.[6] In temporarily capturing Cerberus he offended Hades, the lord of that realm.[citation needed] By killing the Nemean Lion, the Hydra and other creatures spawned by the inconceivably grotesque and powerful monster Typhoeus, Hercules gained the bitter enmity of Typhon, the immortal humanoid offspring of Typhoeus and a Titaness.[citation needed]
New Twelve Labors[]
Eurystheus[]
In the modern era King Eurystheus is revealed to be still alive. Hercules was dragged before him, who recounted his history and how he came to live again. He felt ashamed at his defeat at the hands of Herc, since he himself has fallen so low. He wanted Hercules to perform twelve "New Labors" so that he will be viewed as a hero again. The hero that people at one time built monuments to, and sang songs about. Hercules accepted the challenge and left to prepare.[3]
- 1. Capture a Sabretooth Tiger: Hercules was sent to capture a Sabre-tooth Tiger from the Savage Land, he however mistook a Dinosaur for one. Taking it down with it's great strength. Corrected by the film crew he marched into the jungle and returned with a Sabretooth Tiger. Which was revealed to be Zabu which brought the attention of Ka-Zar and Shanna.[4]
- 2. Defeat Hydra: He was next tasked with attacking the organization known as Hydra recover one of their latest genetic experiments a homemade Hydra created using different animals DNA. But before he could even get his hands on it it blew up. Herc was so shocked that he collapsed in front of the film crew.[4]
- 3. Capture Lockjaw: the next task was to capture Lockjaw. Hercules traveled to Attilan which at the time was located on the Blue Area of the Moon. Hercules was successful but Jimmy the Cameraman was eaten alive by Lockjaw who was also bitten Hercules arm. Luckily Jimmy was fine and they were able to get him out his stomach.[4]
- 4. Capture Dragon Man: his next task was to hunt down and capture Dragon Man. When he found him he handcuffed himself to the creature. He was dragged through the air form some time before it stop to sleep and fell asleep.[4]
- 5. Drive the hordes of Attuma from Atlantis: he was next tasked with driving the man-eating barbarian hordes from Atlantis. Which he did with relative ease.[4]
- 6. Overcome the Red Skull's "Dust of Death": Hercules was placed in a room filled with the Dust of Death, but exits with little effect just a woozy and a hunger for a White Castle burger. Although he knocked one of the film crew through a wall in his woozy state.[4]
- 7. Defeat the Abomination: A fight at Madison Square Garden was arranged between Hercules and Abomination. As Abomination was taking to a reporter Hercules takes him out with a nearby lamppost. Having actually bungled his way though the first seven, Hera revised the final five tasks. They vote and decide that Hercules should not be aided by any of them, in his new labors.[4]
- 8. Capture Mole Man's Monsters: Herc and the film crew traveled to Hawaii where he captures one of Mole Man of Mutates and knocked out a army of Moloids with a giant bolder.[11]
- 9. Steal Captain America's Shield: He was sent to retrieve Captain America' shield. He sucker punched Cap during a conversation which lead to a fight with the New Avengers. However Cap stopped the fight and them from going after him because he feels Hercules needed the shield more.[11]
- 10. Steal a Doombot from Latveria: Herc was sent the Latveria to recover at least one Doombot of Doctor Doom. He completed the task but had to escape the country very quickly afterwards.[11]
- 11. Steal a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier: Herc's next task was to retrieve a Helicarrier. He lashed a giant chain to the vehicle and dragged it to Eurystheus. Nick Fury was awoken by one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, but ignored him and went back to sleep, stating "Wake me back up if he takes us someplace good!" [11]
- 12. Retrieve a Flower from his wife in Hades: For the final task, Eurystheus told Hercules that he must travel to Hades and retrieve a flower from his wife, whom Hercules had murdered. He and the crew traveled to the River Styx. Now in Hades, he knocked out Cerberus and went through the gate. He met his wife and children and forgave him for his actions knowing fall well he his madness was caused by Hera. She gave him the flower.[1]
Hercules returns to the world of mortals, his labors complete, and stormed against Eurystheus and Achelous, and they both wind up dead. Later, at a celebration, they wonder where the guest of honor is and they are all told that he had said he had someplace he had to be. At the graves of his murdered family.[1]
Ares[]
Still wanting to avenge himself from Hercules for the loss of the Stymphalian Birds, and as Hercules had surrendered himself to S.H.I.E.L.D. after World War Hulk, Ares intended to have him join the Initiative and perform New Labors, the first being rebuilding the Avengers Tower single-handedly. Hercules declined by attacking him.[8][14]Notes
- The Twelves Labors are tainted with inaccuracies:
- Many involved people can't get right the numbers of each labor, including Ares[6] and even Hercules.[9] On this account, Eurystheus's numeration[15] is presumably the safest course.
- The order of the labors doesn't fit chronology:
- The Twelfth Labor in fact occurred in 1277 BC, before the cause that allegedly led to the Twelve Labors.[2]
- The 2nd (or 3rd) labor, slaying the Hydra, occurred in 1271 B.C.,[6] while the 6th or (or 5th), the cleaning of the Augean Stables as set in 1272 B.C., before.[9]
- Both the dispersal of the Stymphalian Birds (1271 BC) and the cleaning of the stables (1272 BC) have been told to be 5th and 6th labor.
- Hercules himself explained to Amadeus Cho this way:
Shut up. You're not listening. This is a myth I'm telling you. Myths aren't some collection of dates and biographies you bicker over like a clerk with his ledger. Myths are stories that only have the meaning you give to them.
_vs._Hercules_Panhellenios_(Earth-616)_from_Incredible_Hercules_Vol_1_113_001.jpg){kind=link}
See Also
- 6 mention(s) of Twelve Labors of Hercules
- 3 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Twelve Labors of Hercules
- 3 image(s) of Twelve Labors of Hercules
- 34 article(s) related to Twelve Labors of Hercules
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hercules (Vol. 3) #5
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Incredible Hercules #115
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hercules (Vol. 3) #2
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 Hercules (Vol. 3) #3
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 Hercules (Vol. 3) #1
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Incredible Hercules #113
- ↑ Hulk (Vol. 2) #49
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Incredible Hulk (Vol. 2) #112
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Incredible Hercules #116
- ↑ Thor #356
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Hercules (Vol. 3) #4
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Incredible Hercules #122
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Incredible Hercules #121
- ↑ Incredible Hercules #113–115
- ↑ [[As presented in [[Hercules Vol 3|As presented in [[Hercules (Vol. 3)]]