Hercules, born to the mortal Alcmena and the god Jupiter, endures the wrath of Juno, who seeks revenge against him for being a child of her husband with another woman. In her fury, she attempts to kill Hercules by sending two serpents to his crib; however, the infant easily strangles them. As Hercules grows, he becomes subject to his cousin Eurystheus, manipulated by Juno to impose challenges upon him.

Early Challenges and Notable Feats

During his childhood, Hercules is tutored by Rhadamanthus but reacts violently when punished, ending his mentor's life. Hercules' foster father, Amphitryon, shelters him in the mountains with shepherds, attempting to control his burgeoning strength. Hercules' incredible prowess soon becomes apparent when he single-handedly slays a lion and distinguishes himself in battle. Juno's jealousy prompts Eurystheus to assign Hercules a series of twelve labors, tasks which he hopes will lead to Hercules' demise.

The First Labor: The Nemean Lion

Juno dispatches a fierce lion to terrorize Nemea, its hide impervious to arrows. Hercules, realizing conventional weapons are futile, confronts the beast and strangles it with his bare hands. From then on, he dons the lion’s invulnerable skin as armor.

The Second Labor: The Lernaean Hydra

Hercules faces the Lernaean Hydra, a swamp-dwelling monster with a lethal stench. When he cuts off its heads, two grow back in place of each. With the aid of a burning brand from a companion, Hercules sears each neck stump to prevent them from regenerating. He buries the invulnerable central head under a rock and uses the creature's venom to enhance his arrows.

The Third Labor: The Erymanthian Boar

Tasked with capturing the Erymanthian boar, Hercules hauls it back on his shoulders, terrifying Eurystheus, who hides in a large jar. Amused, Hercules deposits the boar alongside him. In the process, he angers the centaurs by unwittingly consuming their wine, forcing him to combat them.

The Fourth Labor: The Ceryneian Hind

Hercules is challenged to capture the elusive Ceryneian Hind, a creature with golden antlers and bronze hooves, a pursuit that takes an entire year.

The Fifth Labor: The Stymphalian Birds

These voracious birds threaten the area around Lake Stymphalia. Hercules uses a bell to startle them into flight and dispatches many with his arrows, driving the rest away.

The Sixth Labor: The Augean Stables

Hercules confronts the daunting task of cleaning the Augean stables, housing three thousand oxen left untended for decades. Ingeniously, he diverts the Alpheus and Peneus rivers through the barns, cleansing them in a single day. When Augeas refuses to honor their agreement, Hercules later wages war against him.

The Seventh Labor: The Cretan Bull

Hercules captures the magnificent Cretan Bull, which Minos' wife, Pasiphae, has pursued. He rides it across the sea back to Eurystheus by clinging to its back.

The Eighth Labor: The Mares of Diomedes

The man-eating mares of Diomedes feed on unsuspecting travelers. Hercules defeats Diomedes, feeds him to his own beasts, and leads the mares away unharmed.

The Ninth Labor: The Girdle of Hippolyta

Admeta, daughter of Eurystheus, covets the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Hercules initially receives the girdle peacefully, but Juno's deception incites the Amazons, leading to a battle in which he kills Hippolyta and claims the girdle.

The Tenth Labor: The Cattle of Geryoneus

Hercules' journey to retrieve Geryoneus' cattle takes him beyond the pillars of Hercules to the far reaches of the known world. Killing a two-headed dog, a giant herder, and finally Geryoneus himself, Hercules sends the herd back to Eurystheus by sea. His return journey across the Alps is fraught with additional battles and adventures.

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