The Erymanthian Boar's Capture (4th Labor)

Sophocles, Trachinae 1097 (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.): 

 "You [Herakles] tamed the beast in Erymanthia." 

 The capture of the Erymanthian Boar was Herakles' fourth Labor. This boar wasn't Babe. It was giant, quick and deadly. Not only did it have dangerous tusks (the death of Adonis shows how deadly these can be), but it was prone to rages. It had been raging and destroying the fields of Psophis in western Arcadia. This region was a favorite haunt of Artemis and tended to be more remote and wild. People were afraid of the boar and wanted it gone. Herkales set out to capture it. And capture, not kill, because Eurystheus wanted to make the task all the more difficult.


Herkales made his way to Mount Erymanthus in Arcadia, where the boar was known to roam. On the way he decided to visit Pholus. Pholus was a centaur, son of Ixion, and friend of Herakales. He gave shelter, food and company to Herkales. They shared a meal and Herakles noticed some wine and asked Pholus for a drink. Pholus told him he old had one jar and it was a gift from Dionysos to the centaurs of Mt. Erymanthos. Herakles convinced Pholus to open it and the smell of wine drew the centaurs to the area. Some retellings say that the centaurs got drunk off the wine first and others say that were merely angry at the perceived violation of their gift from Dionysos. Either way, the other centaurs attacked Herakles. He launched poisoned arrows at them, but they retreated within Chiron's (his old mentor) cave.

Pholus was curious about the arrows and picked one up, inadvertently poisoning himself when he dropped it and it stabbed him in the hoof. Chiron was also hit, most accounts say by a stray arrow, and was poisoned. Since Chiron was immortal he didn't die, but lived with terrible pain and agony. Later, he'd give up his immortality and became a constellation in the sky.

Though most tellings don't delve into Herakles' thoughts and feelings, one can only imagine how bad he felt. Two friends, kind centaurs were killed due to his foolish and unthinking actions. I can imagine him thinking, if only I didn't open the wine! After this incident he decided to continue on with his task of capturing the boar.

Using the advice Chiron gave him, Herkales chased the boar into the mountain snow to weaken and tire it. Eventually he was able to get an upper-hand on the beast and trapped it with ropes or a net. He then bound the animal and started his journey back to Mycenae.

When he got to the palace of Eurystheus, the king was terrified and as he did with the Capture of Kerberos, he hide in or behind a pithos jar. Eurystheus then ordered Herakles to be rid of the beast, which Herakles did. Some accounts say he threw it into the ocean.

This Labor, out of the ones I've covered so far seems different. Perhaps it's the diversion with the centaurs? Herakles decided to take a breather for a bit, but it failed miserably. He pissed off the centaurs, which lead to the deaths of his two friends. Seems like Herakles can't catch a break. After this, he's wading in shit (literally) in the Augean  Stables, but more on that soon!





Pantheon.org
Wikipedia
Theoi
The Erymanthean Boar

Capture of the Cretan Bull (7th Labor)

(Just going back and completing my missing "c" for the PaganBlogProject!)

The Cretan Bull, Herakles' seventh labor, has an interesting mythology of its own. For a little back-story...

Desiring to ascend to the throne, Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a bull as proof of his approval. Poseidon heard his prayer and sent him a magnificent, white bull out of the sea with the understanding that Minos would sacrifice it to him in return. Minos didn't. At the sight of this beautiful bull he decided to sacrifice another one in its place, thinking Poseidon wouldn't mind. He was wrong. Poseidon was angry. Poseidon decided to do something unusual, he made Minos' wife, Queen Pasiphaë, fall madly, passionately in love with the bull. She lusted after it so badly, she had Daidalos construct a wooden cow that Pasiphaë could enter to make copulation with the bull possible. Out of this bestiality came the monstrous Minotaur. After this incident, Minos wanted nothing to do with the bull.

Eurystheus told Herakles to capture the Cretan Bull, who was now causing havoc on Crete. It was wild, and trampled on crops, etc. Herakles set off to Crete and when he finally got there, Minos offered aid to catch the bull. Herakles refused help, but Minos gave him permission to take the bull, which made things easier. He was no doubt glad someone would be taking it off his hands! Herakles managed to catch the bull using a lasso, strength and some sort of bull-whispering that made the bull submit to him. He took the bull to Mycenae either by riding on its back all the way to the palace of Eurystheus or by carrying it over his shoulders, placing it on a boat and sailing there.

Eurystheus, apparently hid in a pithos (large storage jar) at the sight of the bull. I'm not sure why (LOL), though I supposed he hadn't seen the Mares of Diomedes yet (that'd come next), which would have made me freak out! Eurystheus wanted to sacrifice it to Hera, but she didn't want it. The Cretan Bull was let loose and allowed to run free. Eventually it reached the plains of Marathon where it became the Marathonian Bull. It caused trouble there too.

Later, the Cretan/Marathonian Bull would be killed by another hero (Theseus), who would also killed the bull's son, the Minotaur. Mythology also indicates that the bull was raised to the heavens to become a constellation (Taurus). My name (not my real name, but the one I use on the internet) is also a name for a star in the Pleiades, Asterope aka 21 Tauri. :-)

I have no idea how long a boat journey from Tiryns to Crete would have taken, but I was curious and put the places into Google Maps. They're not exact, but it came up with a general start to finish with 317 miles and a estimated time of 9 hours. And that's with a ferry. I'm assuming it'd take a lot longer than that for Herakles! That's one thing that stands out to me with these Labors, how time consuming they are. For some reason I imagined them happening one after the other, banged out and done with, but really, when you think about it there's a lot of time lost in completing them. There's time to travel (by animal, chariot or foot) to the destination, the time it takes to compete the task itself as well as the time to return to Eurystheus to report in and receive the next task. To capture the Hind alone took a year. Some of the others must have taken a long time as well. Most people wouldn't have that sort of focus, patience and determination, but Herakles stuck with it! It's pretty admirable, I think. :-)




Sites of Interest:
Wikipedia: Cretan Bull
Theoi
Encyclopedia Mythica
Timeless Myths: Cretan Bull

Diomedes' Mares (8th Labor)

For "d" I decided to look into the Mares of Diomedes. I just finished reading various accounts and this is what I've learned---

The capture of the Mares of Diomedes was Herakles eighth labor, following the capture of the Cretan Bull. Eurystheus told Herakles to capture the four mares of Diomedes, a giant and son of Ares and Kyrene (he was also the king of the Bistones in Thrace). These mares were savage and uncontrollable (just like their master) and man-eating. Lovely! Instead of eating hay and nibbling on succulent grasses, these mares were eating people (strangers, specifically) Diomedes fed them. Because of this unnatural diet they became crazy. They were so dangerous they weren't allowed to roam free, instead they had to be tethered and kept in sables. They couldn't be held by regular rope and instead were chained with bronze and in some accounts, in a bronze manger. Geez!

Herakles decided to take some companions, though only one seems to get singled out and named. He was Abderus ("son of battle"), son of Hermes. They went to the palace of Diomedes (which was near the Black Sea) and Diomedes, who had no idea who they were, thought he had some horse-food. To him, Herakles was just another stranger, a meal for his bloodthirsty mares. Herakles got into a wrestling match with Diomedes, which some accounts say went on for some time as they were pretty evenly matched. Abderus was left in charge of watching over the horses while Herakles dealt with Diomedes. This was an error. The mares turned on Abderus and he became dinner. This part seems to differ in myths. Some say he died first, before Herakles captured them and some say after. Either way, Abderus dies and Herakles is saddened and pissed.

Herakles gains the upper-hand and wins the wrestling match, no doubt suprising Diomedes. Being the son of Ares, this had to be a blow to his ego. After this wrestling match, Herakles gets Diomedes to the stables where he feeds the murderous mares their own master. Accounts say he was eaten alive. Ha! That had to suck. After this meal the mares calm down. It seems feeding them the flesh and blood of their master was a sort of antidote. It snapped them out of their insanity and now they became manageable. Herakles takes the mares and heads back to Eurystheus, though before he goes he gives his friend Abderus a worthy burial and founded a city (Abdera, Thrace) in his name. Athletic games were held in his honor, except for chariot races, it seems, out of honor for his death by horse.

Eurystheus was probably expecting savage mares, but when Herakles presented them to him they were quite calm. Eurystheus dedicated these mares to Hera, but she refused them. Once account said because they reflected Herakles glory and she didn't want to have anything tainted with that. So, they were let to roam in Argos where some were killed. At least one survived because it was said that Alexander the Great's beloved horse Bucephalus was said to be their descendent.

This Labor doesn't have the wow factor to me as the Ceryneian Hind, as that one required him to hunt the hind for a year and deal with Artemis. It's still a great feat though, as mythology indicates these mares were wild and savage...they sound like rabid, feral beasts, not mares. Honestly, these mares sound creepy. I could imagine them foaming at the mouth, with blood and bits of flesh at the muzzle. Very creepy.

This Labor does stand out because (and I've only read about this one and the Ceryneian Hind so far, so my scope is limited at the moment) he brought companions and one of them died. This no doubt added to his already huge weight of guilt. Even though I already wrote my Adorations, the descriptor of "founder of cities" came to mind. I just might have to add it. I wonder how many other cities he personally founded. I'm sure I'll find out!


Sites of Interest:
Enyclopedia Mythica
Wikipedia: Abdera, Thrace
Wikipedia: Mares of Diomedes
Wikipedia: Diomedes of Thrace
Wikipedia: Abderus 
Theoi

Capture of the Ceryneian Hind (3rd Labor)

Since I'm on "c" now I thought I'd look into the capture of the Ceryneian Hind (the third labor). This hind was said to be larger than a bull and was sacred to Artemis. It had golden antlers and bronze hooves. It was super fast and was said to be able to outrun an arrow in flight. It seems she intended for it to be part of her chariot, but it escaped and was left to wander. Or as another version goes, it was a gift from the nymph Taÿgete (or Taÿgete herself transformed).

Pissed that Herakles completed his previous tasks (Nemean Lion & Hydra) without dying, Eurystheus and Hera thought they'd stop him in his tracks with this task. They knew he could kill monstrous beasts, but could he catch something so fast (and alive)? And what of Artemis' wrath, could he survive that? They didn't think so...

Myth varies on how he caught the hind, but most sources I've read say he chased the deer for a year (or more) all over the place, through Greece, Thrace, and even as far north as Hyperborea. Some accounts I read said the hind grew tired and took a rest by a river and others say the hind never tired and Herakles realized he needed to take action (or he could be chasing her forever). Either way, as the hind stopped for a drink at a river, Herakles took an arrow and shot it at the deer. He aimed for the hoof region so as not to kill the animal as he only wanted to incapacitate her long enough for capture. And capture her he did!

He took this hind and started on the long journey back to Mycenae, but on the way he ran into trouble. Artemis (and Apollo some add) saw Herakles with her sacred hind captured and became angry. Herakles explained his situation and pleaded with the goddess and promised to return the hind. In the end she understood and allowed him to take the hind back to Mycenae, where she was brought alive to Eurystheus. Eurystheus wanted to add the hind to his collection, but remembering his promise to Artemis, Herakles knew that couldn't happen. He told Eurystheus to get the hind himself. Eurystheus was too slow, the hind too quick and escaped, running back to Artemis. Herakles kept his promise to Artemis, avoided her wrath and completed his third labor. All of this vexed Eurystheus and Hera greatly and they went out to think up another labor...

I had no idea some of these labors were so time consuming! Imagine chasing after a deer for over a year. That takes a lot of dedication, patience and persistence! 


Links of Interest:
Theoi
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia Mythica

Bouraikos - Βουραικος

Bouraikos. Of Boura. 

This is one of the place-name epithets of Herakles. I had to look Boura up as it wasn't ringing any bells. Boura is a city of ancient Achaea, which is located in the Peloponnese region. According to Wikipedia they had temples to Demeter, Aphrodite, Eileithyia and Isis. It also mentioned Herakles, which is what I was looking for (how it applied to him)-- "A little to the east of Boura was the river Buraïcus; and on the banks of this river, between Boura and the sea, was an oracular cavern of Heracles surnamed Buraicus."

Oracular cavern, eh? Sounds interesting! Unfortunately, that's all Wiki mentions about the subject. 

I found this referece at Theoi:
I) Near BOURA Village in Akhaia
Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 25. 10 :
"On descending from Boura towards the sea you come to a river called Bouraikos, and to a small Herakles in a cave. He too is surnamed Bouraikos, and here one can divine by means of a tablet and dice. He who inquires of the god offers up a prayer in front of the image, and after the prayer he takes four dice, a plentiful supply of which are placed by Herakles, and throws them upon the table. For every figure made by the dice there is an explanation expressly written on the tablet."

Awesome! The researcher in my wants to know more. I wish some record of the dice meanings were preserved. I can't find much, if any information that explains things further, though.

Under a Wiki entry for the river, it says:
"According to legend there was a cave on the banks of the river which was dedicated to Hercules. There pilgrims came to read their fate in the Tables of Knowledge, as they were called."

I think divination by dice would be a great way to consult Herakles. I have no plans to attempt that just yet, but if I do, I'd have to figure out some meaning to the numbers. It's something I'll keep in mind.

I saw this epithet and to be honest, though it was rather boring and unimportant. I was going to pass over it. I'm glad I didn't! It turns out it sheds light on an aspect of Herakles that is far from boring! This is why I'm looking into things :-) I'm glad I'm taking the time to look deeper and learn more. It's fun!


Sites of interest:
Boura, Wikipedia
Theoi
Vouraikos River, Wikipedia

Alexicacus - Ἀλεξίκακος

Averter of Evil.
Epithet of Zeus, Apollon and Herakles.

When I first read this epithet, I assumed it referred to the fact that Herakles rid the world of monsters and other unsavory types during his Labors and life. I thought the "evil" referred to was of a more obvious sort (foes, enemies, etc). I had no idea that it had other associations. It seems that Herakles, under the epithet of Alexicacus, was associated with health and other curative aspects. He was an averter of disease and plague. He even had a number of healing shrines and springs where people gave thanks for cures received and prayed for continued health. The epithet allows for both associations (health/curative and protecting/defending against enemies/foes), which is cool.

I wrote a short prayer/invocation after learning this --

Hail Herakles!
Mighty son of Zeus and Alcmene
I pray to you. 
Alexikakos, Averter of Evil, 
Preserve me from all misfortune and ills!
Strong one, protector of mankind,
may you be triumphant!

It's not the best, but I wanted to write something. Perhaps as I get to know him more, I'll have a better, more personal piece. :-)


Links of interest:
Herakles and Healing Cult in the Peloponnesos
Averters of Evil
Google Book's preview: Horos Dios: an Athenian shrine and cult of Zeus (has section about Herakles Alexicacus)
Votive relief 

Alexiarês & Anikêtos

 I figured I'd do my own version of the Pagan Blog Project, focusing on aspects of Herakles. Since I'm behind, I'll have to catch up. 



While I haven't read anything in detail about Herakles' relationships with women yet, I did come across an entry for two of his children with Hebe. These children were born to him after he became a god and they're the only children of Hebe's. Their names were Alexiarês and Anikêtos, twin (?) sons.

Alexiarês means "warding off war."
Anikêtos means "unconquerable."

According to Theoi they "presided over the defense of fortified towns and citadels" and they were gatekeepers of Olympos along with their father.

The only mention of them, is seems is found here:
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 158 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"[Herakles] achieved immortality, and when Hera's enmity changed to friendship, he married her daughter Hebe (Youth), who bore him sons Alexiares and Aniketos (Anicetus)."

Along with their father, they were worshipped in Thebes. 




Sites of Interest:
Theoi
Wikipedia