Heracles and the Cerynaean Hind
Eurystheus sends his cousin on another labour, this time hoping the task is too delicate for the big man.
Eurystheus sends his cousin on another labour, this time hoping the task is too delicate for the big man.
This post is number 3 in the series Twelve Labours of Heracles
Heracles has now performed two labours for his cousin and rival Eurystheus, slaying the fearsome Lion of Nemea and the many-headed, venomous Hydra of Lerna. From the safety of his palace, however, Eurystheus is disputing the validity of the second.
EURYSTHEUS scolded Heracles for soliciting the help of Iolaus against the Hydra, and declared the Second Labour void.
He now realised, however, that Heracles could kill any monster, so this time he commanded him to bring back, alive, a delicate, fleet-footed hind from Cerynaea, for his own private collection. This hind had golden antlers and brass hooves, and was swifter than the wind. Heracles had to pursue her for a year all over the mountains of Arcadia before he nicked her with an arrow, and caught up with her.
What Eurystheus had not told his cousin, was that the hind was sacred to Artemis. With luck, Heracles would incur her wrath, have to give up his catch, and fail in his Labour. Artemis, however, quite understood Heracles’s predicament. Laying the blame firmly on Eurystheus, she let Heracles borrow her hind long enough to discomfit the king, who, not daring to keep her, could only watch as his prize bounded away back to Artemis.
Next in series: Heracles and the Erymanthian Boar
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did Eurystheus demand that Heracles take the hind alive?
He thought Heracles could only kill things.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Heracles was very strong. He could defeat any monster in Greece.