Learning Objectives
From Madness to Redemption
Following the murder of his family in a fit of madness sent by Hera, Heracles sought purification at the Oracle at Delphi. The Pythia commanded him to serve his cowardly cousin King Eurystheus of Tiryns for twelve years and perform whatever labours were demanded.
Why Twelve Labours?
Originally there were only ten labours, but King Eurystheus discounted two of them:
The Lernaean Hydra
Eurystheus claimed this didn't count because Heracles had help from his nephew Iolaus, who cauterised the neck stumps to prevent heads from regrowing.
The Augean Stables
Eurystheus refused to count this because King Augeas had offered payment for the work (though he later refused to pay), making it a job rather than a labour.
Because of these disqualifications, Eurystheus demanded two additional labours, extending Heracles' service and sending him on even more dangerous quests.
Types of Labours
The labours progressed in difficulty and scope. The first six were relatively local to the Peloponnese, while the later labours took Heracles to the edges of the known world and even beyond - to the underworld itself.
The Twelve Labours: Interactive Journey
Click each labour to explore the challenges Heracles faced and how he overcame them.
Peloponnesian Labours (1-6)
Distant Labours (7-12)
The Temple of Zeus at Olympia
Why the Labours at Olympia? The Temple of Zeus (c. 470-456 BCE) displayed Heracles' labours because he was believed to be the founder of the Olympic Games. The sculptural program celebrated the hero's journey from sin to redemption - a perfect message for athletes seeking glory through struggle.
The Sacred Order: The labours were arranged to tell a story of progression - from local Peloponnesian monsters to distant lands, finally reaching the supernatural realm. This geographic and spiritual journey mirrored the athlete's own path to excellence.
The Metopes: Click to Explore
Heracles: Founder of the Olympic Games
The Meaning of the Labours
From Labour to Glory
The Twelve Labours stand as the greatest series of heroic deeds in Greek mythology. They showcase every aspect of heroism:
- Physical strength: Wrestling lions, holding up the sky
- Cleverness: Diverting rivers, tricking Atlas
- Perseverance: Pursuing the hind for a year
- Courage: Descending to the Underworld
- Humility: Serving a cowardly king for twelve years
The representation of these labours on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia shows their central importance to Greek culture. Through these impossible tasks, Heracles proved that even the greatest sin could be redeemed through suffering and service.
