Monsters of ancient Greek mythology. Legends and myths (rescue of young beauties. fourth story - Hercules and Hession) Hesion, daughter of Laomedont, freed by Hercules from a sea monster

Serpentine monster. It had a huge snake body and nine dragon heads, one of which was immortal. The breath of the hydra poisoned the water and burned the crops; even when she slept, the poisonous air around her was deadly to humans. But the worst thing about this creature was that as soon as one head was cut off, two new ones grew in its place.

King Eurystheus instructed Hercules to clear the land of Argolis from this monster. He went to Lerna in a chariot driven by his friend Iolaus. Hercules, firing burning arrows at the Hydra, forced her to crawl out of the swamp. She wrapped her cold, slippery tail around Hercules' left leg, and all nine heads hissed around him.

Hydra. (wikipedia.org)

The hero took out his sword and began to cut one after another the terrible heads of the hydra. But in place of each knocked down head, two others grew, even angrier, even more terrible. In addition, a huge cancer crawled out of the swamp to help the hydra and clung to the other leg of Hercules. At this time, Iolaus set fire to the grove and, with burning tree trunks, began to burn the Hydra in those places where the heads flew off. Finally, Hercules got to the immortal head, cut it down, buried it deep in the ground, and crushed this place from above with a heavy stone. So in a difficult battle, Hercules accomplished his second feat.

Scylla and Charybdis

In ancient Greek mythology, two monsters that lived on both sides of the narrow sea strait between Italy and Sicily and killed passing sailors. They were located so close to each other that, trying to evade one monster, the sailors involuntarily fell into the mouth of another.

Scylla lived in a cave at an unattainable height. 12 paws, 6 heads, graze with teeth in three rows, in a word, it’s still a monster. This beast howled in a terrible voice, caught everyone in the sea who came across - from dolphins to sailors. Opening all her mouths, she captured six people from passing ships at once. Charybdis is considered the daughter of Poseidon. She was beautiful and smart. However, the most important god from Mount Olympus held a grudge against her and at one fine moment turned her into a nightmarish creature. Charybdis found shelter under a fig tree and ate water. Three times a day she swallowed water along with everything that was in it, and poured back only dead water. Entire ships fell into her bottomless belly.

Scylla and Charybdis. (wikipedia.org)

Once Odysseus and his comrades were forced to sail on a ship between Scylla and Charybdis. After assessing the situation, he decided that it was better to get past Scylla, who could only grab six people, while Charybdis would drown the entire team without a trace. In doing so, Odysseus saved the rest of the crew and saved himself. So says the legend. Or something like that. Hence the expression "to be between Scylla and Charybdis" - to be in danger from both sides.

Medusa Gorgon

Medusa Gorgon. (wikipedia.org)

The sisters Medusa, Euryale and Seno were beautiful, and the last two were also immortal. Once Poseidon seduced Medusa in the temple of Athena. The vengeful goddess was angry with Medusa and turned her into a winged monster with snakes instead of hair and terrible eyes. At the sight of her face, everyone turned to stone with horror and disgust. Athena turned into monsters and her innocent sisters.

Few people managed to cope with a monster named Medusa Gorgon. Perseus was assigned to kill the monster. The gods Athena and Hermes helped the hero cope with Medusa. On their advice, before going into battle, he visited the prophetic old women - the gray sisters. They showed Perseus the way to the Gorgon.

During the duel, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. From the drops of blood that fell into the sands of Libya, poisonous snakes appeared and destroyed all living things in it. Legend has it that from the flow of blood that spilled into the ocean, corals appeared.

Perseus and Medusa. (wikipedia.org)

Athena gave Asclepius the blood flowing from the veins of Medusa. The blood that flowed from the left side brought death, and from the right side it was used by Asclepius to save people.

cyclops

Cyclopes. (wikipedia.org)

"Round-eyed" - according to Homer - a whole people whose life is described in detail in the Odyssey. This people, according to ancient Greek mythology, descended from three giant Cyclopes, who immediately after birth were bound by a cruel father and thrown into Tartarus. The Cyclopes were only freed at the height of the Titanomachy. In this war, the Cyclopes became the gunners of Zeus - they forged and brought thunderbolts to him, with which the Thunderer hit the titans.

Cyclopes. (wikipedia.org)

Apollo decided to cut out all the Sicilian one-eyed giants after they forged the deadly thunderbolt with which Zeus killed his son Asclepius. Thus ended the history of the mighty and illustrious people of the "round-eyed".

Chimera

Chimera. (wikipedia.org)

One of the terrifying creatures in Greek mythology is the chimera, or "young goat", which, in fact, got only the belly from the goat. The canonical description given to the chimera by Homer in the Iliad reads: the head and neck of the monster are from a lion, instead of a tail - a snake, and the main skill that the mythological father Typhon awarded the chimera is to spew flames from his mouth.

An even stranger image of the chimera is presented by Hesiod, endowing the mythical creature with a third head: one, as already known, is a lion's, the second - instead of a tail - is snake, and the third is actually a goat. However, Hesiod, apparently unable to find another place for the third head, placed it right in the middle of the body. This is exactly what the chimera looks like on the famous bronze statue from Arezzo.

Chimera. (wikipedia.org)

The researchers agreed that the Chimera is a kind of metaphor. Its real existence was nevertheless subjected to serious doubts, therefore, over time, the concept of "chimera" began to be used to denote a false idea and empty fiction.

Cerberus

Cerberus. (wikipedia.org)

Cerberus is a monstrous dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld of Hades. He made sure that no one could return from the realm of the dead. Cerberus was depicted with three heads, poisonous snakes wriggled on his back instead of wool, and the tail was in the form of a dragon's head with a huge mouth. He was put to sleep by the singing of Orpheus when he tried to bring back his dead wife, Eurydice. Alas, Orpheus failed to bring his beloved from the realm of the dead. She remained forever in the domain of Hades.

Pulling Cerberus into daylight was one of the last feats of Hercules. On the instructions of King Eurystheus, he descended into the kingdom of Hades in order to bring Cerberus out of there. Appearing before the throne of Hades, Hercules respectfully asked the underground god to allow him to take the dog to Mycenae. No matter how severe and gloomy Hades was, he could not refuse the son of Zeus. He set only one condition: Hercules must tame Cerberus without weapons.

Hercules grabbed Cerberus and began to strangle him. The dog howled menacingly, escaping. The head of the dragon on the tail bit Hercules, the snakes writhed and stung, but Hercules only squeezed his hands tighter. Finally, the half-strangled dog fell. Hercules took Cerberus to the walls of Mycenae. Eurystheus was horrified at one glance at the terrible dog and ordered him to be sent back to Hades as soon as possible.

HERCULES SAVE HESIONE, LAOMEDON'S DAUGHTER On his way back to Tiryns from the country of the Amazons, Hercules arrived on ships with his army to Troy. A heavy sight appeared before the eyes of the heroes when they landed on the shore not far from Troy. They saw the beautiful daughter of the king of Troy, Laomedont, Hesion, chained to a rock near the seashore. She was doomed, like Andromeda, to be torn to pieces by a monster emerging from the sea. Poseidon sent this monster as a punishment to Laomedon for refusing to pay him and Apollo a fee for the construction of the walls of Troy. The proud king, who, according to the verdict of Zeus, had to serve both gods, even threatened to cut off their ears if they demanded payment. Then, the angry Apollo sent a terrible pestilence to all the possessions of Laomedont, and Poseidon - a monster that devastated, sparing no one, the surroundings of Troy. Only by sacrificing the life of his daughter could Laomedon save his country from a terrible disaster. Against his will, he had to chain his daughter Hesion to a rock by the sea. Seeing the unfortunate girl, Hercules volunteered to save her, and for the salvation of Hesion, he demanded from Laomedont as a reward for those horses that the Thunderer Zeus gave to the king of Troy as a ransom for his son Ganymede. He was once kidnapped by the eagle of Zeus and carried to Olympus. Laomedon agreed to Hercules' demands. The great hero ordered the Trojans to build a rampart on the seashore and hid behind it. As soon as Hercules took cover behind the rampart, a monster emerged from the sea and, opening its huge mouth, rushed at Hesion. With a loud cry, Hercules ran out from behind the shaft, rushed at the monster and plunged his double-edged sword deep into his chest. Hercules saved Hesion. When the son of Zeus demanded the promised reward from Laomedont, it became a pity for the king to part with the marvelous horses, he did not give them to Hercules and even drove him away with threats from Troy. Hercules left the possession of Laomedont, holding his anger deep in his heart. Now he could not take revenge on the king who had deceived him, since his army was too small and the hero could not hope to soon capture impregnable Troy. The great son of Zeus could not stay under Troy for a long time - he had to hurry with Hippolyta's belt to Mycenae. THE COWS OF HERION (THE LABOR) Shortly after returning from a campaign in the country of the Amazons, Hercules set out on a new feat. Eurystheus instructed him to drive to Mycenae the cows of the great Geryon, the son of Chrysaor and the Oceanid Kalliroi. Far was the way to Geryon. Hercules had to reach the westernmost edge of the earth, those places where the radiant sun god Helios descends from the sky at sunset. Hercules went on a long journey alone. He passed through Africa, through the barren deserts of Libya, through the countries of wild barbarians, and finally reached the ends of the earth. Here, on both sides of the narrow sea strait, he erected two giant stone pillars as an eternal monument to his feat.*1 ___________ *1 The Pillars of Hercules, or the Pillars of Hercules. The Greeks believed that the rocks along the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar were placed by Hercules. After this, Hercules had to wander a lot more, until he reached the shores of the gray Ocean. In thought, the hero sat on the shore near the ever-noisy waters of the Ocean. How was it possible for him to reach the island of Eritheia, where Geryon pastured his herds? The day was already drawing to a close. Here appeared the chariot of Helios, descending to the waters of the Ocean. The bright rays of Helios blinded Hercules, and embraced his unbearable, scorching heat. Hercules jumped up in anger and grabbed his formidable bow, but bright Helios was not angry, he smiled affably at the hero, he liked the extraordinary courage of the great son of Zeus. Helios himself offered Hercules to cross to Eritheia in a golden boat, in which the sun god sailed every evening with his horses and chariot from the western to the eastern edge of the earth to his golden palace. The delighted hero boldly jumped into the golden boat and quickly reached the shores of Eritheia. As soon as he landed on the island, the formidable two-headed dog Orfo sensed him and rushed at the hero with barking. Hercules killed him with one blow of his heavy club. Not only Orfo guarded the flocks of Gerion. Hercules also had to fight with the shepherd of Gerion, the giant Eurytion. The son of Zeus quickly coped with the giant and drove the cows of Gerion to the seashore, where the golden boat of Helios stood. Geryon heard the lowing of his cows and went to the herd. Seeing that his dog Orfo and the giant Eurytion were killed, he chased after the stealer of the herd and overtook him on the seashore. Geryon was a monstrous giant: he had three bodies, three heads, six arms and six legs. He covered himself with three shields during the battle, he immediately threw three huge spears at the enemy. Hercules had to fight with such a giant, but the great warrior Pallas Athena helped him. As soon as Hercules saw him, he immediately launched into the giant - on his deadly arrow. An arrow pierced the eye of one of Gerion's heads. The first arrow was followed by the second, followed by the third. Menacingly, Hercules waved his all-destroying mace like lightning, the hero Geryon struck it, and a three-bodied giant fell to the ground like a lifeless corpse. Hercules transported the cows of Geryon from Eritheia in the golden boat of Helios across the stormy Ocean and returned the boat to Helios. Half of the feat was over. Much work lay ahead. It was necessary to drive the bulls to Mycenae. Through all of Spain, through the Pyrenees, through Gaul and the Alps, through Italy, Hercules drove the cows. In southern Italy, near the city of Rhegium, one of the cows escaped from the herd and swam across the strait to Sicily. There, King Eriks, the son of Poseidon, saw her, and took the cow into his herd. Hercules searched for a cow for a long time. Finally, he asked the god Hephaestus to guard the herd, and he crossed over to Sicily and there he found his cow in the herd of King Eriks. The king did not want to return her to Hercules; hoping for his strength, he challenged Hercules to single combat. The winner was to be rewarded with a cow. Eriks could not afford such an opponent as Hercules. The son of Zeus squeezed the king in his mighty arms and strangled him. Hercules returned with a cow to his herd and drove him further. On the shores of the Ionian Sea, the goddess Hera sent rabies to the whole herd. Mad cows fled in all directions. Only with great difficulty Hercules caught most of the cows already in Thrace and finally drove them to Eurystheus in Mycenae. Eurystheus sacrificed them to the great goddess Hera. CERBER*1 (THE ELEVENTH LABOR) ___________ *1 Otherwise - Cerberus. As soon as Heracles returned to Tiryns, Eurystheus sent him again to the feat. This was already the eleventh feat that Hercules had to perform in the service of Eurystheus. Hercules had to overcome incredible difficulties during this feat. He had to descend into the gloomy, full of horrors of the underworld kingdom of Hades and bring to Eurystheus the guardian of the underworld, the terrible hellish dog Kerber. Cerberus had three heads, snakes writhed around his neck, his tail ended in the head of a dragon with a huge mouth. Hercules went to Laconia and through the gloomy abyss at Tenar*2 descended into the darkness of the underworld. At the very gates of the kingdom of Hades, Hercules saw the heroes Theseus and Perithous, king of Thessaly, rooted to the rock. They were punished in this way by the gods because they wanted to steal his wife Persephone from Hades. Theseus prayed to Hercules: ___________ *2 Cape, the southern tip of the Peloponnese. - Oh, great son of Zeus, free me! You see my suffering! You alone can save me from them! Hercules extended his hand to Theseus and freed him. When he wanted to free Perifoy as well, the earth trembled, and Hercules realized that the gods did not want his release. Hercules submitted to the will of the gods and went on into the darkness of eternal night. The herald of the gods Hermes, the guide of the souls of the dead, introduced Heracles into the underworld, and the beloved daughter of Zeus herself, Pallas Athena, was the companion of the great hero. When Hercules entered the kingdom of Hades, the shadows of the dead scattered in horror. Only the shadow of the hero Meleager did not run at the sight of Hercules. With a prayer she turned to the great son of Zeus: - Oh, great Hercules, I pray you for one thing in memory of our friendship, take pity on my orphaned sister, beautiful Dejanira! She remained defenseless after my death. Take her as your wife, great hero! Be her protector! Hercules promised to fulfill the request of a friend and went further after Hermes. The shadow of the terrible Gorgon Medusa rose towards Hercules, she menacingly stretched out her copper hands and waved her golden wings, snakes stirred on her head. Grabbed the sword fearless hero, but Hermes stopped him with the words: - Do not grab the sword, Hercules! After all, it is only a disembodied shadow! She doesn't threaten you with death! Hercules saw many horrors on his way; finally, he appeared before the throne of Hades. The ruler of the kingdom of the dead and his wife Persephone looked with delight at the great son of the Thunderer Zeus, who fearlessly descended into the kingdom of darkness and sorrow. He, majestic, calm, stood before the throne of Hades, leaning on his huge club, in a lion's skin draped over his shoulders, and with a bow over his shoulders. Hades graciously greeted the son of his great brother Zeus and asked what made him leave the light of the sun and descend into the kingdom of darkness. Bowing before Hades, Hercules replied: - Oh, the ruler of the souls of the dead, the great Hades, do not be angry with me for my request, almighty! You know, after all, that it was not of my own free will that I came to your kingdom, that it was not of my own free will that I would ask you. Let me, Lord Hades, take your three-headed dog Kerberos to Mycenae. Eurystheus ordered me to do this, whom I serve at the command of the bright Olympian gods. Hades answered the hero: - I will fulfill, son of Zeus, your request; but you must tame Cerberus without weapons. If you tame him, then I will let you take him to Eurystheus. For a long time Heracles searched for Kerberos in the underworld. Finally, he found him on the banks of the Acheron. Hercules wrapped his arms, strong as steel, around the neck of Kerberos. The dog Aida howled menacingly; the whole underworld was filled with his howl. He struggled to escape from the arms of Hercules, but the hero's mighty hands only tightened their grip on Kerber's neck. Cerberus wrapped his tail around the hero's legs, the dragon's head dug its teeth into his body, but all in vain. The mighty Hercules squeezed his neck harder and harder. Finally, the half-strangled dog Hades fell at the feet of the hero. Hercules tamed him and led him from the kingdom of darkness to Mycenae. Frightened by daylight Kerberos; he was covered with cold sweat, poisonous foam dripped from his three mouths onto the ground; wherever even a drop of foam dripped, poisonous herbs grew. Hercules brought Kerberos to the walls of Mycenae. The cowardly Eurystheus was horrified at one glance at the terrible dog. Almost on his knees, he begged Hercules to take back to the kingdom of Hades Kerberos. Hercules fulfilled his request and returned Hades to his terrible guard Cerberus. APPLES OF THE HESPERIDES (THE TWELVE LABOR) The most difficult feat of Hercules in the service of Eurystheus was his last, twelfth labor. He had to go to the great titan Atlas, who holds the vault of heaven on his shoulders, and get three golden apples from his gardens, which were watched by the daughters of Atlas, the Hesperides. These apples grew on a golden tree grown by the goddess of the earth Gaia as a gift to the great Hera on the day of her wedding with Zeus. To accomplish this feat, it was necessary first of all to find out the way to the gardens of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon who never closed his eyes to sleep. Nobody knew the way to the Hesperides and Atlas. Hercules wandered for a long time in Asia and Europe, he passed through all the countries that he passed earlier on the way behind the cows of Geryon; everywhere Hercules asked about the way, but no one knew him. In his search, he went to the most extreme north, to the Eridanus*1 river, eternally rolling its stormy, boundless waters. On the banks of Eridan, beautiful nymphs met the great son of Zeus with honor and gave him advice on how to find the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. Hercules was supposed to surprise the prophetic old man Nereus when he came ashore from the deep sea, and learn from him the way to the Hesperides; except Nereus, no one knew this way. Hercules searched for Nemeus for a long time. Finally, he managed to find Nereus on the seashore. Hercules attacked the sea god. The struggle with the sea god was difficult. To free himself from the iron embrace of Hercules, Nereus took on all sorts of forms, but still the hero did not let him out. Finally, he tied the weary Nereus, and in order to gain freedom, the sea god had to reveal to Hercules the secret of the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. Having learned this secret, the son of Zeus released the sea elder and set off on a long journey. ___________ *1 Mythical river. Again he had to go through Libya. Here he met the giant Antey, the son of Poseidon, the god of the seas, and the goddess of the earth, Gaia, who gave birth to him, nurtured and raised him. Antaeus forced all travelers to fight him and mercilessly killed everyone he defeated in the fight. The giant demanded that Hercules also fight him. No one could defeat Antaeus in single combat, not knowing the secret from where the giant received more and more strength during the struggle. The secret was this: when Antaeus felt that he was beginning to lose strength, he touched the earth, his mother, and his strength was renewed: he drew them from his mother, the great goddess of the earth. But as soon as Antaeus was torn off the ground and lifted into the air, his strength disappeared. Hercules fought for a long time with Antaeus. several times he knocked him to the ground, but only Antaeus's strength increased. Suddenly, during the struggle, the mighty Hercules Anthea lifted high into the air - the strength of the son of Gaia dried up, and Hercules strangled him. Then Hercules went and came to Egypt. There, tired from the long journey, he fell asleep in the shade of a small grove on the banks of the Nile. The king of Egypt, the son of Poseidon and the daughter of Epaphus Lysianassa, Busiris, saw the sleeping Hercules, and ordered to bind the sleeping hero. He wanted to sacrifice Hercules to his father Zeus. For nine years there was a crop failure in Egypt; The soothsayer Thrasius, who came from Cyprus, predicted that crop failure would stop only if Busiris annually sacrificed a foreigner to Zeus. Busiris ordered the soothsayer Thrasius to be seized and was the first to sacrifice him. From that time on, the cruel king sacrificed to the Thunderer all the strangers who came to Egypt. They also brought Hercules to the altar, but the great hero tore the ropes with which he was bound, and killed Busiris himself and his son Amphidamantus at the altar. So the cruel king of Egypt was punished. Hercules had to meet many more on his way of dangers, until he reached the ends of the earth, where the great titan Atlas stood. The hero looked with amazement at the mighty titan, holding the entire heavenly vault on his broad shoulders. - Oh, the great titan Atlas! - Hercules turned to him, - I am the son of Zeus, Hercules. I was sent to you by Eurystheus, the king of the rich gold of Mycenae. Eurystheus ordered me to get three golden apples from you from a golden tree in the gardens of the Hesperides. “I will give you three apples, son of Zeus,” Atlas replied, “while I go after them, you must take my place and hold the vault of heaven on your shoulders. Hercules agreed. He took the place of Atlas. An incredible weight fell on the shoulders of the son of Zeus. He exerted all his strength and held the vault of heaven. The weight was terribly pressing on the mighty shoulders of Hercules. He bent under the weight of the sky, his muscles swelled like mountains, sweat covered his entire body from tension, but superhuman strength and the help of the goddess Athena gave him the opportunity to hold the firmament until Atlas returned with three zones. lotus apples. Returning, Atlas said to the hero: - Here are three apples, Hercules; if you want, I myself will take them to Mycenae, and you hold the vault of heaven until my return; then I will take your place again. - Hercules understood the cunning of Atlas, he realized that the titan wants to completely free himself from his hard work, and applied cunning against cunning. - All right, Atlas, I agree! Hercules answered. “Just let me first make myself a pillow, I’ll put it on my shoulders so that the vault of heaven doesn’t press them so terribly. Atlas stood back in his place and shouldered the weight of the sky. Hercules raised his bow and quiver of arrows, took his club and golden apples and said: - Farewell, Atlas! I held the vault of the sky while you went for the apples of the Hesperides, but I do not want to carry the entire weight of the sky on my shoulders forever. With these words, Hercules left the titan, and again Atlas had to hold, as before, on his mighty shoulders the vault of heaven. Hercules returned to Eurystheus and gave him the golden apples. Eurystheus gave them to Hercules, and he gave the apples to his patroness, the great daughter of Zeus, Pallas Athena. Athena returned the apples to the Hesperides so that they would forever remain in the gardens. After his twelfth feat, Hercules was freed from the service of Eurystheus. Now he could return to the seven gates of Thebes. But the son of Zeus did not stay there for long. Waiting for his new exploits. He gave his wife Megara in marriage to his friend Iolaus, and he himself went back to Tiryns. But not only victories awaited him, but Hercules and serious troubles awaited him, as the great goddess Hera still pursued him. HERCULES AND EVRYTOS On the island of Euboea, in the city of Oichalia, King Eurytus ruled. The glory of Eurytus, as the most skilled archer, went far throughout Greece. The archer Apollo himself was his teacher, even gave him a bow and arrows. Once, in his youth, Hercules also studied archery with Eurytus. It was this king who announced throughout Greece that he would give his beautiful daughter Iola as a wife to the hero who would defeat him in an archery contest. Hercules, who had just finished his service with Eurystheus, went to Oichalia, where many heroes of Greece gathered, and took part in the competition. Hercules easily defeated King Eurytus and demanded that he give him his daughter Iola as a wife. Evrit did not fulfill his promise. Forgetting the sacred custom of hospitality, he began to mock the great hero. He said that he would not give his daughter to the one who was a slave of Eurystheus. Finally, Eurytus and his arrogant sons drove Hercules, drunk during the feast, out of the palace and even out of Oichalia. Hercules left Oichalia. Full of deep sadness, he left Euboea, because the great hero fell in love with the beautiful Iola. Holding in his heart anger at Eurytus, who insulted him, he returned to Tiryns. After some time, the most cunning of the Greeks, Autolycus, the son of Hermes, stole the herd from Eurytus. Eurytus blamed Hercules for this crash. The king of Oikhaliya thought that the hero had stolen his flocks, wanting to avenge the offense. Only Ifit, the eldest son of Eurytus, did not want to believe that the great Hercules could steal his father's herds. Ifit even volunteered to find the herds, just to prove the innocence of Hercules, with whom he had the closest friendship. While searching, Ifit came to Tiryns. Hercules received his friend warmly. Once, when the two of them stood on the high walls of the fortress of Tiryns, built on a high rock, Hercules suddenly took possession of the violent anger sent against him by the great goddess Hera. Hercules remembered in anger the insult that Eurytus and his sons inflicted on him; no longer in control of himself, he seized Ifit and threw him off the wall of the fortress. The unfortunate Ifit crashed to death. This murder, committed against his will, angered Hercules Zeus, as he violated the sacred custom of hospitality and the sanctity of the bonds of friendship. As punishment, the great Thunderer sent a serious illness to his son. Hercules suffered for a long time, finally, exhausted by the disease, he went to Delphi to ask Apollo how to get rid of this punishment of the gods. But the soothsayer Pythia did not give him an answer. She even expelled Hercules from the temple as having defiled himself with murder. Enraged by this, Hercules stole from the temple the tripod from which the Pythia gave prophecies. This angered Apollo. The golden-haired god appeared to Hercules and demanded the return of the tripod from him, but Hercules refused him. A fierce struggle ensued between the sons of Zeus - the immortal god Apollo and the mortal - the greatest of the heroes Hercules. Zeus did not want the death of Hercules. He threw his brilliant lightning from Olympus between his sons and, having separated them, stopped the fight. The brothers reconciled. Then the Pythia gave the following answer to Hercules: - You will receive healing only when you are sold into slavery for three years. Give the money received for you to Eurytus as a ransom for his son Ifit, who was killed by you. Again Hercules had to lose his freedom. He was betrayed into slavery to Queen Lydia, daughter of Jardan, Omphale. Hermes himself took the money received for Hercules to Eurytus. But the proud king of Oichalia did not accept them, he remained as before an enemy of Hercules. HERCULES AND DEJANIRHE After Eurytus had driven Hercules out of Oichalia, the great hero came to Calydon, the city of Aetolia. Oinei ruled there. Hercules came to Oeneus to ask for the hand of his daughter Dejanira, as he promised Meleager to marry her in the kingdom of shadows. In Calydon, Hercules met a formidable opponent. Many heroes sought the hand of the beautiful Dejanira, and among them the river god Aheloy. Finally, Oineus decided that the hand of Dejanira will be given to the one who emerges victorious in the struggle. All suitors refused to fight the mighty Achelous. Only Hercules remained. He had to fight with the god of the river. Seeing the determination of Hercules to measure his strength with him, Aheloy said to him: - You say that you were born by Zeus and Alcmene? You lie that Zeus is your father! And Aheloy began to mock the great son of Zeus and defame his mother Alcmene. Furrowing his brows, Hercules looked sternly at Achelous; his eyes flashed with fire of anger, and he said: - Aheloy, my hands serve me better than my tongue! Be a winner in words, but I will be a winner in deeds. With a firm step, Hercules approached Achelous and clasped him with his mighty arms. The huge Aheloy stood firmly; the great Hercules could not topple him; all his efforts were in vain. Thus stood Aheloy, as an unshakable rock stands, and the waves of the sea do not shake it, striking against it with a thunderous noise. Hercules and Achelous are fighting chest to chest, like two bulls clinging with their crooked horns. Three times Hercules attacked Achelous, the fourth time, escaping from the hands of Achelous, the hero grabbed him from behind. Like a heavy mountain, he crushed the river god to the very ground. Aheloy could hardly, having gathered all his strength, free his hands, covered with sweat; no matter how he strained his strength, Hercules pressed him harder and harder to the ground. Aheloy bowed with a groan, his knees bent, and he touched the ground with his head. In order not to be defeated, Aheloy resorted to cunning; he turned into a snake. As soon as Aheloy turned into a snake and slipped out of the hands of Hercules, Hercules exclaimed laughing: - Even in the cradle I learned to fight snakes! True, you are superior to other snakes, Aheloy, but you are not equal to the Lernean hydra. Although she grew two new heads instead of a cut one, nevertheless I defeated her. Hercules grabbed the neck of the snake with his hands and squeezed it like iron tongs. He struggled to escape from the hands of the hero Aheloy, but could not. Then he turned into a bull and again attacked Hercules. Hercules grabbed the bull-Aheloy by the horns and threw him to the ground. Hercules threw him down with such terrible force that he broke one of his horns. He was defeated by Aheloy and gave the Fires to Dejanira as a wife to Hercules. After the wedding, Hercules remained in the palace of Oeneus; but he did not stay long with him. Once, during a feast, Hercules hit the son of Architel, Evnom, because the boy poured water on his hands, prepared for washing his feet. The blow was so strong that the boy fell dead. Hercules was saddened, and although Architel forgave him the involuntary murder of his son, the hero Calydon nevertheless left and went with his wife Dejanira and Tiryns. During the journey, Hercules came with his wife to the river Even*1. Through this stormy river, the centaur Nessus transported travelers for a fee on his broad back. Nessus offered to carry Dejanira to the other side, and Hercules put her on the back of a centaur. The hero himself threw his club and bow to the other side and swam across the stormy river. Hercules had just come ashore, when he suddenly heard the loud cry of Deianira. She called for help from her husband. The centaur, captivated by her beauty, wanted to kidnap her. The son of Zeus Nessus shouted menacingly: ___________ *1 A river in Aetolia, a region in the west of Central Greece. - Where are you running? Don't you think that your legs will save you? No, you won't be saved! No matter how fast you run, will my arrow still reach you? Hercules pulled his bow, and an arrow flew from a tight bowstring. The deadly arrow overtook Nessus, pierced his back, and its tip went through the centaur's chest. The mortally wounded Ness fell to his knees. The stream drinks blood from his wound, mixed with the poison of the Lernean hydra. Ness did not want to die unavenged; he collected his blood and gave it to Dejanira, saying: - Oh, daughter of Oinea, I carried you last through the turbulent waters of Even! Take my blood and keep it! If Hercules stops loving you, this blood will return his love to you, and not a single woman will be dearer to him than you, rub only Hercules' clothes with it. She took the blood of Nessus Dejanira and hid it. Ness died. Hercules and Dejanira arrived in Tiryns and lived there until the involuntary murder of Hercules' friend Ifit forced them to leave the glorious city. HERCULES AND OMPHALES For the murder of Ifit, Hercules was sold into slavery to Queen Lydia Omphale. Hercules had never experienced such hardships as in the service of the proud Lydian queen. The greatest of heroes endured constant humiliation from her. It seemed that Omphala finds pleasure in bullying the son of Zeus. Having dressed Hercules in women's clothes, she made him spin and weave with her maids. The hero who struck down the Lernean hydra with his heavy club, the hero who brought the terrible Cerberus from the kingdom of Hades, strangled the Nemean lion with his hands and held the weight of the firmament of heaven on his shoulders, the hero, at whose very name his enemies trembled, had to sit, bent over, at a loom or spinning wool with hands accustomed to wielding a sharp sword, pulling a tight bowstring and striking enemies with a heavy club. And Omphala, putting on the lion skin of Hercules, which covered it all and dragged along the ground behind her, in his golden shell, girded with his sword and with difficulty shouldering the heavy mace of the hero, stood in front of the son of Zeus and mocked over him - his slave. Omphale, as it were, set out to extinguish in Hercules all his invincible strength. Hercules had to demolish everything, because he was in complete slavery to Omphala, and this should have lasted for three long years. Only occasionally let the hero out of her palace Omphala. Once, leaving the palace of Omphale, Hercules fell asleep in the shade of a grove, in the vicinity of Ephesus*1. During his sleep, kercop dwarfs crept up to him and wanted to steal his weapons from him, but Hercules woke up just at the time when the kercops grabbed his bow and arrows. The hero caught them and tied their hands and feet. Hercules passed a large pole between the bound legs of the kerkop and carried them to Ephesus. But the kercops made Hercules laugh so much with their antics that the great hero let them go. ___________ *1 City on the western coast of Asia Minor. During his slavery at Omphale, Hercules came to Aulis*1, to King Silei, who forced all strangers who came to him to work like slaves in the vineyards. He made Heracles work. The angry hero tore out all the vines from Silea and killed the king himself, who did not honor the sacred custom of hospitality. During the slavery of Omphale, Hercules took part in the campaign of the Argonauts. But, finally, the term of punishment ended, and the great son of Zeus, ___________ *1 City in Boeotia, was free again. HERCULES TAKES TROY As soon as Hercules was freed from slavery at Omphala, he immediately gathered a large army of heroes and set off on eighteen ships to Troy to take revenge on the king Laomedont who had deceived him. Arriving at Troy, he entrusted the protection of the ships to Oiklus with a small detachment, while he himself with the whole army moved to the walls of Troy. As soon as Hercules left with the army from the ships, Laomedont attacked Oikles, killed Oikles and killed almost his entire detachment. Hearing the noise of the battle near the ships, Hercules returned, put Laomedont to flight and drove him to Troy. The siege of Troy did not last long. Heroes broke into the city, climbing high walls. The first to enter the city was the hero Telamon. Hercules, the greatest of heroes, could not bear to be surpassed by anyone. Drawing his sword, he rushed at Telamon, who was ahead of him. Seeing that imminent death threatened him, Telamon quickly bent down and began to collect stones. Hercules was surprised and asked: - What are you doing, Telamon? - Oh, the greatest son of Zeus, I am erecting an altar to Hercules the victor! - answered the cunning Telamon and with his answer humbled the anger of the son of Zeus. During the capture of the city, Hercules killed Laomedont and all his sons with his arrows; only the youngest of them, Gift, was spared by the hero. Hercules gave the beautiful daughter of Laomedont, Hesion, as a wife to Telamon, who distinguished himself by his courage, and allowed her to choose one of the captives and set him free. Hesiona chose her brother Gift. - He must become a slave before all the prisoners! - exclaimed Hercules, - only if you give him a ransom, he will be set free. Hesiona removed the veil from her head and gave it as a ransom for her brother. Since then, they began to call Podarka - Priam (that is, bought). Hercules gave him power over Troy, and he went with his army to new exploits. When Hercules sailed across the sea with his army, returning from Troy, the goddess Hera, wanting to destroy the hated son of Zeus, sent a great storm. And so that Zeus would not see what danger threatens his son, Hera begged the god of sleep Hypnos to put the aegis-powerful Zeus to sleep. The storm brought Hercules to the island of Kos*1. ___________ *1 One of the Sporades Islands off the coast of Asia Minor. The inhabitants of Kos took the ship of Hercules for a robber and, throwing stones at it, did not allow it to land on the shore. At night, Hercules landed on the island, defeated the inhabitants of Kos, killed their king, the son of Poseidon Eurypylus, and devastated the entire island. Zeus was terribly angry when, waking up, he found out what danger his son Hercules was exposed to. In anger, he chained Hera in indestructible golden chains and hung her between earth and sky, tying two heavy anvils to her feet. Each of the Olympians who wanted to come to the aid of Hera was overthrown from the high Olympus by Zeus, formidable in anger. He also searched for Hypnos for a long time, the ruler of the gods and mortals would have overthrown him from Olympus, if the goddess Night had not sheltered the god of sleep. HERCULES FIGHTS WITH THE GODS AGAINST THE GIANTS Father Zeus sent his beloved daughter Pallas Athena to Hercules on the island of Kos to call on the great hero to help them in their fight against the giants. The goddess Gaia gave birth to giants from the drops of blood of Uranus overthrown by Cronus. They were monstrous giants with snakes instead of legs, with shaggy long hair on their heads and beards. The giants possessed terrible power, they were proud of their power and wanted to take away the power over the world from the bright Olympian gods. They entered into battle with the gods on the Phlegrean fields, which lay on the Chalkid peninsula of Pallene. The gods of Olympus were not afraid of them. The mother of giants, Gaia, gave them a healing agent that made them invulnerable to the weapons of the gods. Only a mortal could kill giants; Gaia did not protect them from the weapons of mortals. All over the world, Gaia was looking for a healing herb that was supposed to protect the giants from the weapons of mortals, but Zeus forbade the goddesses to shine - the dawn of Eos and the moon Selene and the radiant sun god Helios, and cut the healing herb himself. Not afraid of death at the hands of the gods, the giants rushed into battle. The fight went on for a long time. The giants threw huge rocks and burning trunks of ancient trees at the gods. The thunder of battle resounded throughout the world. Finally, Hercules appeared with Pallas Athena. The bowstring of the formidable bow of the son of Zeus rang, an arrow flashed, drunk with the poison of the Lernean hydra, and pierced into the chest of the most powerful of the giants, Alcyoneus. A giant crashed to the ground. I could not comprehend his death on Pallene, here he was immortal - falling to the ground, he got up after a while even more powerful than before. Hercules quickly put him on his shoulders and carried him away from Pallene; outside it, a giant died. After the death of Alcyoneus, Hercules and Hera were attacked by the giant Porphyrion, he tore off her veil from Hera and already wanted to grab her, but Zeus threw him to the ground with his lightning, and Hercules took his life with his arrow. Apollo pierced the left eye of the giant Ephialtes with his golden arrow, and Hercules killed him, hitting him with an arrow in his right eye. Dionysus slew the giant Eurytus with his thyrsus, Hephaestus the giant Clytius, throwing a whole block of red-hot iron at him. Pallas Athena piled on the fleeing giant Enkelada the entire island of Sicily. The giant Polybot, escaping by sea from the persecution of the formidable shaker of the earth Poseidon, fled to the island of Kos. Poseidon broke off a part of Kos with his trident and piled it on Polybotes. This is how the island of Nisyros was formed. Hermes slew the giant Hippolytus, Artemis - Gration, the great Moira - the giants Agria and Foon, who fought with copper clubs. All the other giants were slain by the thunderer Zeus with his sparkling lightning, but the great Hercules sent death to them all with his arrows that did not know a miss. THE DEATH OF HERCULES AND HIM'S ACCEPTANCE INTO THE HOME OF THE OLYMPIC GODS Described after the tragedy of Sophocles "The Trachinian Woman" When Hercules was sold into slavery to Omphale for the murder of Ifit, Deianira and her children had to leave Tiryns. The wife of Hercules was given shelter by the king of the Thessalian city of Trakhina Keik. Three years and three months have already passed since Hercules left Dejanira. The wife of Hercules was worried about the fate of her husband. There was no news from Hercules. Dejanira didn't even know if her husband was still alive. Heavy forebodings tormented Deianira. She called her son Gill and said to him: - Oh, my beloved son! It's a shame you don't look for your father. It's been fifteen months since he's been silent. “If you can only believe the rumors,” Gill answered his mother, “they say that after three years his father had been a slave to Omphala, when his term of slavery ended, he went with an army to Euboea to the city of Oichalia to take revenge on the king Evritu for the insult. - My son! - Gilla's mother interrupted, - your father Hercules never left me before, leaving for great deeds, in such anxiety as the last time. Even at parting, he left me a tablet with an old prediction written on it, given to him in Dodona *1. It is said there that if Hercules stays in a foreign land for three years and three months, then either death befalls him, or, returning home, he will lead a joyful and calm life. Leaving me, Hercules also left me an order that from the lands of his fathers, in the event of his death, his children should inherit. The fate of my husband worries me. After all, he told me about the siege of Oikhaliya, that he would either die under the city, or, having taken it, he would live happily. No, my son, go, I beg you, look for your father. ___________ *1 A city in Epirus, in the west of northern Greece, with the famous ancient oracle of Zeus. Gill, obedient to the will of his mother, set off on a long journey to Euboea, to Oichalia, to look for his father. Some time later, after Gill left Trakhina, a messenger comes running to Dejanira. He informs her that Ambassador Lichas will come from Hercules. Good news will bring Lichas. Hercules is alive. He defeated Eurytus, took and destroyed the city of Oichalia, and will soon return to Trakhina in the glory of victory. Following the messenger comes to Dejanira and Lichas. He leads the captives, among them Iola, the daughter of Eurytus. Joyfully meets Deianir Lichas. Ambassador Hercules tells her that Hercules is still powerful and healthy. He is about to celebrate his victory and prepares to make rich sacrifices before he leaves Euboea. Dejanira looks at the prisoners; noticing a beautiful woman among them, he asks Lichas: - Tell me, Lichas, who is this woman? Who is her father and mother? She grieves the most. Isn't this the daughter of Eurytus himself? But Lichas answers the wife of Hercules: - I don’t know, queen, who she is. Probably, this woman belongs to a noble Euboean family. She did not say a word during the journey. She has been shedding tears of sorrow since she left her hometown. - Unhappy! - exclaimed Dejanira, - to this grief I will not add new suffering to you! Lead, Lichas, to the palace of the prisoners, I will now come after you! Lichas went with the prisoners to the palace. As soon as he left, a servant approached Dejanira and said to her: - Wait, queen, listen to me. Lichas did not tell you the whole truth. He knows who this woman is; this is the daughter of Eurytus, Iola. Out of love for her, Hercules once competed with Eurytus in archery. The proud king did not give him, the winner, his daughter as his wife, as he had promised - insulting him, he drove the great hero out of the city. For the sake of Iola, Hercules now took Oichalia and killed King Eurytus. Not as a slave, the son of Zeus sent Iola here - he wants to take her as his wife. Dejanira was saddened. She reproaches Lichas for hiding the truth from her. Lichas confesses that Hercules, captivated by the beauty of Iola, really wants to marry her. Dejanira is grieving. Hercules forgot her during a long separation. Now he loves someone else. What should she do, non-private? She loves the great son of Zeus and cannot give him to another. The heartbroken Dejanira remembers the blood that the centaur Ness once gave her, and what he said to her before his death. Dejanira decides to resort to the blood of a centaur. After all, he told her: "Rub the clothes of Hercules with my blood, and he will love you forever, not a single woman will be dearer to him than you." She is afraid to resort to Dejanira to a magical remedy, but her love for Hercules and the fear of losing him finally overcome her fears. She takes out the blood of Nessus, which she kept in a vessel for so long, so that a ray of the sun would not fall on her, so that the fire in the hearth would not warm her. Dejanira rubs her luxurious cloak, which she wove as a gift to Hercules, puts it in a tightly closed box, calls Lichas and tells him: - Hurry, Lichas, to Euboea and take this box to Hercules. It has a cloak in it. Let Hercules put on this cloak when he makes a sacrifice to Zeus. Tell him that no mortal should put on this cloak except him, so that even the ray of bright Helios does not touch the cloak before he puts it on. Hurry, Lichas! Lichas left with a cloak. After his departure, Deianira was seized with anxiety. She went to the palace and, to her horror, she sees that the wool with which she rubbed her cloak with the blood of Ness has decayed. Dejanira threw this wool on the floor. A ray of sun fell on the wool and warmed the blood of the centaur, poisoned by the poison of the Lernean hydra. Together with the blood, the poison of the hydra heated up and turned the wool into ashes, and poisonous foam appeared on the floor where the wool lay. Dejanira was horrified; she is afraid that Hercules will die, wearing a poisoned cloak. Hercules' wife is tormented more and more by the premonition of an irreparable disaster. A little time has passed since Lichas left for Euboea with a poisoned cloak. Gill, who has returned to Trakhina, enters the palace. He is pale, his eyes are full of tears. Looking at his mother, he exclaims: “Oh, how I would like to see one of three: either that you were not alive, or that another called you mother, and not me, or that you had a better mind than now! Know that you have killed your own husband, my father! - Oh grief! Dejanira exclaimed in horror. - What are you saying, my son? Which person told you this? How can you accuse me of such a crime! - I myself saw the suffering of my father, I did not learn this from people! Gill tells his mother what happened on Mount Kanionion, near the city of Oichalia: Hercules, having erected an altar, was already preparing to make sacrifices to the gods, and above all to his father Zeus, when Lichas came with a cloak. The son of Zeus put on a cloak - a gift from his wife - and proceeded to the sacrifice. First, he sacrificed twelve selected bulls to Zeus, in total, the hero slaughtered a hundred sacrifices to the Olympian gods. Flames flared brightly on the altars. Hercules stood, reverently raising his hands to the sky, and called on the gods. The fire, burning hot on the altars, warmed the body of Hercules, and sweat came out on the body. Suddenly, a poisoned cloak stuck to the hero's body. Convulsions ran through the body of Hercules. He felt terrible pain. Terribly suffering, the hero called Lichas and asked him why he brought this cloak. What could innocent Lichas answer him? He could only say that Dejanira had sent him with the cloak. Hercules, unconscious of the terrible pain, grabbed Lichas by the leg and hit him against a rock, around which the sea waves roared. Lichas crashed to death. Hercules fell to the ground. He fought in unspeakable agony. His cry carried far across Euboea. Hercules cursed his marriage to Dejanira. The great hero called his son and with a heavy groan said to him: - Oh, my son, do not leave me in misfortune - even if death threatens you, do not leave me! Lift me up! Get me out of here! Take me where no mortal can see me. Oh, if you feel compassion for me, don't let me die here! They lifted Hercules, put him on a stretcher, carried him to the ship to transport him to Trakhina. Here is what Gill told his mother and ended the story with these words: - Now you will all see the great son of Zeus here, maybe still alive, or maybe already dead. Oh, let the harsh Erinyes and the avenger Dike*1 punish you, mother! You have killed the best man the earth has ever carried! You will never see such a hero! Silently she left for the palace of Dejanira, without uttering a single word. There, in the palace, she grabbed a double-edged sword. The old nanny saw Dejanira. She calls rather Gill. Gill hurries to her mother, but she has already pierced her chest with a sword. With a loud cry, the unfortunate son rushed to his mother, he embraces her and covers her cold body with kisses. At this time, the dying Hercules is brought to the palace. He fell asleep on the way, but when the stretcher was lowered to the ground at the entrance to the palace, Hercules woke up. The great hero was unconscious of the terrible pain. - Oh, great Zeus! he exclaims, “what country am I in?” Oh, where are you, men of Greece? Help me! For your sake, I cleansed the land and the sea from monsters and evil, but now none of you wants to save me from severe suffering with fire or a sharp sword! Oh, you, brother of Zeus, the great Hades, put me to sleep, put me to sleep, the unfortunate one, put me to sleep with fast-flying death! ___________ *1 Goddess of justice. “Father, listen to me, I beg you,” Gill asks with tears, “the mother unwittingly committed this atrocity. Why do you want revenge? Learning that she herself is the cause of your death, she pierced the heart with the edge of the sword! - Oh, gods, she died, and I could not take revenge on her! It was not by my hand that the insidious Dejanira died! - Father, it's not her fault! Gill says. - Seeing Iola, the daughter of Evrit, in her house, my mother wanted to return your love by a magical means. She rubbed her cloak with the blood of the centaur Nessus, slain by your arrow, not knowing that this blood was poisoned by the poison of the Lernean hydra. - Oh, woe, woe! exclaims Hercules. - So this is how the prediction of my father Zeus came true! He told me that I would not die by the hand of the living, that I was destined to die from the machinations of Hades who had descended into the dark kingdom. This is how Nessus, who was slain by me, ruined me! So this is what the oracle in Dodona promised me - the peace of death! Yes, it's true - the dead have no worries! Fulfill my last will, Gill! Carry me with my faithful friends to the high Oetu * 1, lay a funeral pyre on its top, put me on the fire and set it on fire. Do it soon, end my suffering! ___________ *1 Mountain in Thessaly near the city of Trakhina. - Oh, have pity, father, are you really forcing me to be your killer! Gill begs his father. - No, you will not be a killer, but a healer of my suffering! I still have a wish, make it come true! Hercules asks his son. - Take to wife the daughter of Eurytus, Iola. But Gill refuses to fulfill his father's request and says: - No, father, I can not marry the one who was responsible for the death of my mother! - Oh, submit to my will, Gill! Do not cause in me again subsided suffering! Let me die in peace! Hercules persistently prays to his son. Gill resigned himself and obediently answers his father: - All right, father. I will be submissive to your dying will. Hercules hurries his son, asks to fulfill his last request as soon as possible. - Hurry, my son! Hurry to put me on the fire before these unbearable torments begin again! Carry me! Farewell, Gill! Friends of Hercules and Gill lifted the stretcher and carried Hercules to high Oeta. There they built a huge fire and placed the greatest of heroes on it. The suffering of Hercules is becoming stronger, the poison of the Lernean hydra penetrates deeper and deeper into his body. Hercules tears the poisoned cloak from himself, it sticks tightly to the body; Together with the cloak, Hercules tears off pieces of skin, and terrible torments become even more unbearable. The only salvation from these superhuman torments is death. It is easier to die in the flames of a fire, it is hard to endure them, but none of the hero's friends dare to light a fire. Finally, Philoctetes came to Oeta, Heracles persuaded him to set fire to a fire and, as a reward for this, presented him with his bow and arrows, poisoned by the poison of the hydra. Philoctetes set fire to the fire, the flame of the fire flared up brightly, but the lightning of Zeus flashed even brighter. Thunder rolled across the sky. On a golden chariot, Athena-Pallas * 1 with Hermes was brought to the fire and they lifted the greatest of the heroes of Hercules to the bright Olympus. There the great gods met him. Hercules became the immortal god. Hera herself, forgetting her hatred, gave Hercules her daughter, the eternally young goddess Hebe, as a wife. Since then, Hercules has been living on the bright Olympus in the host of the great immortal gods. This was his reward for all his great deeds on earth, for all his great sufferings. ___________ *1 According to some versions of the myth, the chariot was not Athena, but the goddess of victory - Nike.

On the way back to Tiryns from the country of the Amazons, Hercules arrived on ships with his army to Troy. A heavy sight appeared before the eyes of the heroes when they landed on the shore near Troy. They saw the beautiful daughter of the king of Troy, Laomedont, Hesion, chained to a rock near the seashore. She was doomed, like Andromeda, to be torn to pieces by a monster emerging from the sea. This monster was sent as a punishment to Laomedon by Poseidon for refusing to pay him and Apollo a fee for the construction of the walls of Troy. The proud king, who, according to the verdict of Zeus, had to serve both gods, even threatened to cut off their ears if they demanded payment. Then the angry Apollo sent a terrible pestilence to all the possessions of Laomedont, and Poseidon - a monster that devastated, sparing no one, the surroundings of Troy. Only by sacrificing the life of his daughter could Laomedon save his country from a terrible disaster. Against his will, he had to chain his daughter Hesion to a rock by the sea.

Seeing the unfortunate girl, Hercules volunteered to save her, and for the salvation of Hesion, he demanded from Laomedont as a reward for those horses that the Thunderer Zeus gave to the king of Troy as a ransom for his son Ganymede. He was once kidnapped by the eagle of Zeus and carried to Olympus. Laomedon agreed to Hercules' demand. The great hero ordered the Trojans to build a rampart on the seashore and hid behind it. As soon as Hercules took cover behind the rampart, a monster emerged from the sea and, opening its huge mouth, rushed at Hesion. With a loud cry, Hercules ran out from behind the shaft, rushed at the monster and plunged his double-edged sword deep into his chest. Heracles saved Hesiona.

When the son of Zeus demanded the promised reward from Laomedont, it became a pity for the king to part with the marvelous horses, he did not give them to Hercules and even drove him away with threats from Troy. Hercules left the possession of Laomedont, holding his anger deep in his heart. Now he could not take revenge on the king who had deceived him, since his army was too small and the hero could not hope to soon capture impregnable Troy. The great son of Zeus could not stay under Troy for a long time - he had to rush with Hippolyta's belt to Mycenae.

Cows of Gerion (tenth feat)

Shortly after returning from a campaign in the country of the Amazons, Hercules set off on a new feat. Eurystheus instructed him to drive to Mycenae the cows of the giant Geryon, the son of Chrysaor and the Oceanid Kalliroi. Far was the way to Geryon. Hercules had to reach the westernmost edge of the earth, those places where the radiant sun god Helios descends from the sky at sunset. Hercules went on a long journey alone. He passed through Africa, through the barren deserts of Libya, through the countries of wild barbarians, and finally reached the ends of the earth. Here he erected two giant stone pillars on both sides of the narrow sea strait as an eternal monument to his feat.

After this, Hercules had to wander a lot more, until he reached the shores of the gray Ocean. In thought, the hero sat down on the shore, by the ever-noisy waters of the Ocean. How was it possible for him to reach the island of Eritheia, where Geryon pastured his herds? The day was already drawing to a close. Here appeared the chariot of Helios, descending to the waters of the Ocean. The bright rays of Helios blinded Hercules, and an unbearable, scorching heat seized him. Hercules jumped up in anger and grabbed his formidable bow, but bright Helios did not get angry, he smiled affably at the hero, he liked the extraordinary courage of the great son of Zeus. Helios himself invited Hercules to cross to Eritheia in a golden boat, in which the sun god sailed every evening with his horses and chariot from the western to the eastern edge of the earth to his golden palace. The delighted hero boldly jumped into the golden boat and quickly reached the shores of Eritheia.

As soon as he landed on the island, the formidable two-headed dog Orfo sensed him and rushed at the hero with barking. Hercules killed him with one blow of his heavy club. Not only Orfo guarded the herds of Gerion. Hercules also had to fight with the shepherd of Gerion, the giant Eurytion. The son of Zeus quickly coped with the giant and drove the cows of Gerion to the seashore, where the golden boat of Helios stood. Gerion heard the lowing of his cows and went to the herd. Seeing that his dog Orfo and the giant Eurytion were killed, he chased after the stealer of the herd and overtook him on the seashore. Gerion was a monstrous giant: he had three bodies, three heads, six arms and

Hercules fights the three-headed giant Gerion. At the feet of Hercules lies the two-headed dog Orfo, behind Hercules are the goddess Athena and Iolaus, at their feet lies the slain giant Eurythioi. (Drawing on a vase.)

six legs. He covered himself with three shields during the battle, he immediately threw three huge spears at the enemy. Hercules had to fight with such a giant, but the great warrior Pallas Athena helped him. As soon as Hercules saw him, he immediately shot his deadly arrow at the giant. An arrow pierced the eye of one of Gerion's heads. The first arrow was followed by the second, followed by the third. Hercules waved menacingly with his all-destroying club, like lightning, the hero Geryon struck it, and the three-bodied giant fell to the ground like a lifeless corpse. Hercules transported the cows of Geryon from Eritheia in the golden boat of Helios across the stormy Ocean and returned the boat to Helios. Half of the feat was over.

Much work lay ahead. It was necessary to drive the bulls to Mycenae. Through all of Spain, through the Pyrenees, through Gaul and the Alps, through Italy, Hercules drove the cows. In southern Italy, near the city of Rhegium, one of the cows escaped from the herd and swam across the strait to Sicily. There, the king Erike, the son of Poseidon, saw her, and took the cow into his herd. Hercules searched for a cow for a long time. Finally, he asked the god Hephaestus to guard the herd, and he crossed over to Sicily and there he found his cow in the herd of King Eriks. The king did not want to return her to Hercules; hoping for his strength, he challenged Hercules to single combat. The winner was to be rewarded with a cow. Eriks could not afford such an opponent as Hercules. The son of Zeus squeezed the king in his mighty arms and strangled him. Hercules returned with a cow to his herd and drove him further. On the shores of the Ionian Sea, the goddess Hera sent rabies to the whole herd. The mad cows ran in all directions. Only with great difficulty Hercules caught most of the cows already in Thrace and finally drove them to Eurystheus in Mycenae. Eurystheus sacrificed them to the great goddess Hera.

Kerber 1 (eleventh feat)

As soon as Heracles returned to Tiryns, Eurystheus sent him again to the feat. This was already the eleventh feat that Hercules was to perform in the service of Eurystheus. Hercules had to overcome incredible difficulties during this feat. He was supposed to descend into the gloomy, full of horrors of the underworld of Hades and bring to Eurystheus the guardian of the underworld, the terrible hellish dog Kerber. Kerberos had three heads, snakes wriggled around his neck, his tail ended in the head of a dragon with a huge mouth. Hercules went to Laconia and through the gloomy abyss at Tenar 2 descended into the darkness of the underworld. At the very gates of the kingdom of Hades, Hercules saw the heroes of Theseus and the king of Thessaly, Perithous, rooted to the rock. The gods punished them so because they wanted to steal his wife Persephone from Hades. Theseus prayed to Hercules:

Oh, great son of Zeus, set me free! You see my suffering! You alone can save me from them!

Hercules extended his hand to Theseus and freed him. When he wanted to free Perifoy as well, the earth trembled, and Hercules realized that the gods did not want his release. Hercules submitted to the will of the gods and went on into the darkness of eternal night. The herald of the gods Hermes, the conductor of the souls of the dead, entered the underworld kingdom of Hercules, and the beloved daughter of Zeus, Pallas Athena, was the companion of the great hero. When Hercules entered the kingdom of Hades, the shadows of the dead scattered in horror. Only the shadow of the hero Meleager did not run at the sight of Hercules. With a prayer she turned to the great son of Zeus:

Oh, great Hercules, I pray you one thing in memory of our friendship: have pity on my orphaned sister, beautiful Deianira! She remained defenseless after my death! Take her as your wife, great hero! Be her protector!

Hercules promised to fulfill the request of a friend and went further after Hermes. The shadow of the terrible Gorgon Medusa rose towards Hercules, she menacingly stretched out her copper hands and waved her golden wings, snakes stirred on her head. The fearless hero grabbed the sword, but Hermes stopped him with the words:

Don't grab the sword, Hercules! After all, it's just an ethereal shadow! She doesn't threaten you with death!

Hercules saw many horrors on his way; finally, he appeared before the throne of Hades. The ruler of the kingdom of the dead and his wife Persephone looked with delight at the great son of the Thunderer Zeus, who fearlessly descended into the kingdom of darkness and sorrow. He, majestic, calm, stood before the throne of Hades, leaning on his huge club, in a lion's skin draped over his shoulders, and with a bow over his shoulders. Hades graciously greeted his son

his great brother Zeus and asked what made him leave the light of the sun and descend into the kingdom of darkness. Bowing before Hades, Hercules answered:

Oh, ruler of the souls of the dead, great Hades, do not be angry with me for my request, omnipotent! You know, after all, that it was not of my own free will that I came to your kingdom, that it was not of my own free will that I would ask you. Let me, Lord Hades, take your three-headed dog Kerberos to Mycenae. Eurystheus ordered me to do this, whom I serve at the command of the bright Olympian gods.

Hades replied to the hero:

I will fulfill, son of Zeus, your request; but you must tame Cerberus without weapons. If you tame him, then I will let you take him to Eurystheus.

For a long time Heracles searched for Kerberos in the underworld. Finally, he found him on the banks of the Acheron. Hercules wrapped his arms, strong as steel, around the neck of Cerberus. The dog Aida howled menacingly; the whole underworld was filled with his howl. He struggled to escape from the arms of Hercules, but only the mighty hands of the hero squeezed the neck of Kerberos more tightly. Kerber wrapped his tail around the hero's legs, the dragon's head dug its teeth into his body, but all in vain. The mighty Hercules squeezed his neck harder and harder. Finally, the half-strangled dog Aida fell at the feet of the hero. Hercules tamed him and led him from the kingdom of darkness to Mycenae. Frightened by daylight Kerberos; he was covered with cold sweat, poisonous foam dripped from his three mouths onto the ground; wherever a drop of foam dripped, poisonous herbs grew.

Hercules brought Kerberos to the walls of Mycenae. The cowardly Eurystheus was horrified at the mere sight of a terrible dog. Almost on his knees, he begged Hercules to take back to the kingdom of Hades Kerberos. Hercules fulfilled his request and returned Hades to his terrible guard Cerberus.

Apples of the Hesperides (twelfth feat)

The most difficult feat of Hercules in the service of Eurystheus was his last, twelfth feat. He had to go to the great titan Atlas, who holds the vault of heaven on his shoulders, and get three golden apples from his gardens, which were watched by the daughters of Atlas Hesperides. These apples grew on a golden tree grown by the goddess of the earth Gaia as a gift to the great Hera on the day of her wedding with Zeus. To accomplish this feat, it was necessary first of all to find out the way to the gardens of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon who never closed his eyes to sleep.

Nobody knew the way to the Hesperides and Atlas. Hercules wandered for a long time through Asia and Europe, he passed through all the countries that he had passed before along the way for the cows of Geryon; everywhere Hercules asked about the ‘way, but no one knew him. In his search, he went to the farthest north, to the eternally rolling its stormy, boundless

Hercules fights Antaeus. (Drawing on a vase.)

waters of the Eridanus River. On the banks of Eridan, beautiful nymphs met the great son of Zeus with honor and gave him advice on how to find out the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. Hercules was supposed to surprise the prophetic old man Nereus when he came ashore from the depths of the sea, and learn from him the way to the Hesperides; except Nereus, no one knew this way. Hercules searched for Nereus for a long time. Finally, he managed to find Nereus on the seashore. Hercules attacked the sea god. The struggle with the sea god was difficult. To free himself from the iron embrace of Hercules, Nereus took on all sorts of forms, but still the hero did not let him out. Finally, he tied the weary Nereus, and in order to gain freedom, the sea god had to reveal to Hercules the secret of the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. Having learned this secret, the son of Zeus released the sea elder and set off on a long journey.

Again he had to go through Libya. Here he met the giant Antey, the son of Poseidon, the god of the seas, and the goddess of the earth, Gaia, who gave birth to him, nurtured and raised him. Antaeus forced all travelers to fight him and mercilessly killed everyone he defeated in the fight. The giant demanded that Hercules also fight him. No one could defeat Antaeus in single combat, not knowing the secret from where the giant received more and more strength during the struggle. The secret was this: when Antaeus felt that he was beginning to lose strength, he touched the earth, his mother, and his strength was renewed: he drew them from his mother, the great goddess of the earth. But as soon as Antaeus was torn off the ground and lifted into the air, his strength disappeared. Hercules fought the share with Antaeus, several times he knocked him to the ground, but only

Hercules kills Busiris, king of Egypt. (Drawing on a vase.)

Antey’s strength increased, “a friend during the struggle raised the mighty Hercules Antey high into the air, the strength of the son of Gaia dried up, and Hercules strangled him.

Then Hercules went and came to Egypt. There, tired from the long journey, he fell asleep in the shade of a small grove on the banks of the Nile. The king of Egypt, the son of Poseidon and the daughter of Epaphus Lysianassa, Busiris, saw the sleeping Hercules, and ordered to bind the sleeping hero. He wanted to sacrifice Hercules to his father Zeus. For nine years there was a crop failure in Egypt; the soothsayer Thrasius, who came from Cyprus, predicted that the crop failure would stop only if Busiris annually sacrificed a foreigner to Zeus. Busiris ordered the soothsayer Thrasius to be seized and was the first to sacrifice him. Since then, the cruel king sacrificed to the Thunderer all the strangers who came to Egypt. They also brought Hercules to the altar, but the great hero tore the ropes with which he was bound, and killed Busiris himself and his son Amphidamantus at the altar. So the cruel king of Egypt was punished.

Hercules had to meet a lot more on the way of his dangers, until he reached the ends of the earth, where the great titan Atlas stood. With amazement, the hero looked at the mighty titan, holding the entire heavenly vault on his broad shoulders.

• - Oh, the great titan Atlas! Hercules turned to him. - I am the son of Zeus, Hercules. I was sent to you by Eurystheus, the king of the rich gold of Mycenae. Eurystheus ordered me to get three golden apples from you from a golden tree in the gardens of the Hesperides.
• “I will give you three apples, son of Zeus,” Atlas replied. “You, while I follow them, must take my place and hold the vault of heaven on your shoulders.

Hercules agreed. He took the place of Atlas. An incredible weight fell on the shoulders of the son of Zeus. He exerted all his strength and held the vault of heaven. The weight was terribly pressing on the mighty shoulders of Hercules. He bent under the weight of the sky, his muscles swelled like mountains, sweat covered his entire body from tension, but superhuman strength and the help of the goddess Athena gave him the opportunity to hold the vault of heaven until Atlas returned with three golden apples. Returning, Atlas said to the hero:

Atlas brings Hercules apples from the garden of the Hesperides. Behind Hercules stands Athena, helping Hercules to hold the vault of heaven. (Bas-relief of the 5th century BC)

Here are three apples, Hercules; if you want, I myself will take them to Mycenae, and you hold the vault of heaven until my return; then I will take your place again.

Hercules understood the cunning of Atlas, he realized that the titan wanted to completely free himself from his hard work, and applied cunning against cunning.

Okay, Atlas, I agree! Hercules answered. “Just let me first make myself a pillow, I will put it on my shoulders so that the vault of heaven does not press them so terribly.

Atlas stood back in his place and shouldered the weight of the sky. Hercules raised his bow and quiver of arrows, took his club and golden apples and said:

Farewell Atlas! I held the vault of the sky while you went for the apples of the Hesperides, but I do not want to carry the entire weight of the sky on my shoulders forever.

With these words, Hercules left the titan, and again Atlas had to hold, as before, the vault of heaven on his mighty shoulders. Hercules returned to Eurystheus and gave him the golden apples. Eurystheus gave them to Hercules, and he gave the apples to his patroness, the great daughter of Zeus, Pallas Athena. Athena returned the apples to the Hesperides so that they would forever remain in their gardens.

After his twelfth feat, Hercules was freed from the service of Eurystheus. Now he could return to the seven gates of Thebes. But the son of Zeus did not stay there for long. Waiting for his new exploits. He gave his wife Megara as a wife to his friend Iolaus, and he himself went back to Tiryns.

But not only victories awaited him, Hercules and serious troubles awaited him, since the great goddess Hera still pursued him.

• Pillars of Hercules, or Pillars of Hercules. The Greeks believed that the rocks on the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar were placed by Hercules.
• 1 Otherwise - Cerberus.
• Cape, southern tip of the Peloponnese.
• mythical river.

Fandom: Bulychev Kir "Alice's Adventures", Guest from the Future, Mystery of the Third Planet (crossover)
Main characters: Alisa Selezneva, Pavel Geraskin
Pairing or characters: Pavel Geraskin/Alisa Selezneva
Rating: PG-13
Genres: Get, Jen, Romance, Fluff, Sci-Fi, Psychology, Philosophy, Parody, Everyday life, Hurt/comfort, Prank, Friendship
Warnings: WMD
Size: Mini, 16 pages
Status: completed

Pasha has recently become unlike himself.
Silent and quiet, he could sit in one place for hours.
And then he didn’t come to the biostation at all.

Pasha, are you all right? asked Alice, unable to bear the alarm.

And then what are you like ... not like that?

Did you notice too?

Noticed.

I don't know, Alice.
It feels good.
And somehow not on my own.

Did you have a doctor?

Of course there was. My mom made me go yesterday.

Normally. Everything is perfect.

Let's go again.

Alice, at least you don't start this.
It will only make me feel worse from the extra trips.

Well, OK.

"But you understand that I won't stop thinking about what happened to you."

Hercules also noticed that something was wrong with his savior.
He hugged Pasha and whined. Just like a loyal dog.

Hercules, you don’t whine either,” Pasha ordered him languidly.

But Hercules was not as easily persuaded as Alice.
Pasha had to endure his moaning.

"Hercules ... Hercules ... Geraskin ... Gerasik ..."

Alice felt that some thought was hovering.

“Hercules loves me so much ... As if I were his own ...”

Saved Hercules Pashka...
If Pashka hadn’t saved Hercules… then there would be no descendants of Hercules on Earth now…

Although they don’t exist anyway ... Hercules, after all, was pulled out of his time into ours ...
But what if ... and if Pasha should be among the descendants of Hercules?

And since Pasha pulled him to us, then ... then there will be no descendants of Hercules ...
And Pasha will not be? But he already exists ... What nonsense ...

There is Pasha, but recently something has become wrong with him ...
Can Pasha disappear if Hercules does not return in his own time?

But why then Pasha was until now?
Because when he was born, then Hercules was still in his time?

Or... or because we sent Hercules back?
That is, we send
Will he agree?"

Hercules had not yet learned to speak in words, but he understood a lot, judging by the reactions to speech.

Hercules, do you feel sorry for Pasha?

Hercules nodded and howled quite frankly.

Do you want to help him?

Hercules nodded even more vigorously.
And then he jumped up, grabbed his favorite club and began to violently cut the air with a whistle, as if showing that he was ready to deal with any enemy of Pasha.

Thank you, friend, - Pasha answered.

Hercules, we know that you are brave and loyal.
But now Pasha needs other help.

Mol - "One for all and all for one."

Hercules, do you agree to go with us on a journey to ancient times?

Alice led Hercules to the showroom, where she showed him video footage from his era, filmed by the chronauts.
Hercules immediately remembered what he had seen many times before.

These were his favorite films from his era.
And at the sight of his delight, the guys many times had thoughts of taking him home.

Yes, everything was delayed.
The MIV did not work to entertain schoolchildren with excursions brought from the past by troglodytes or pithecanthropes.

But now the situation was quite different.

Hercules, do you want to go there? - showed Alice to the screen?

Uh, uh, he nodded.
And then he pointed to Pasha, who dragged himself into the hall with them, and thought with interest - what was Alice thinking this time.
Like - but what about our friend? While we are walking through the past, our friend will suffer here.

And Pasha will go with us. It suits you?

This suited Hercules.

Then get ready, Hercules.

Hercules ran to get ready.

What did you come up with? Pasha asked in a weak voice.

There is one idea.
You ride?

Then I'm going too.
Why Hercules?

It's time for exploits, - Alice smiled mysteriously.

And then the assembled Hercules appeared.
Just taking a sack of hand-made weapons and supplies of goodies.

But at MIV, enigmatic smiles did not serve as a pass to time machines. Or rather, to the car.
So Alice had to explain that she suspected that Hercules was Pasha's ancestor.

And if this ancestor does not return to the past, then he will not have descendants. And Pasha too.

In response to the reasonable remark that Pasha had already been safely born, regardless of the fate of Hercules, Alice told the story of saving children in the story of saving the sapphire crown.
And about the changes in reality that occurred during this.

This meant that Pasha could also disappear from their world if Hercules was not immediately returned to his time.
And no one will even remember that there was such a Pasha Geraskin.
Everyone will think that he never existed.

The employees of the MIV thought.
Then they agreed to test at least partially Alice's hypothesis by taking DNA samples from Pasha and Hercules.
And they promised to fix it.

The scientists needed at least some proof of the correctness of Alice's premonitions, in addition to her ghostly guesses.

But when the cabin was vacated, which no one hastened to use, Alice did not wait for the end of the checks and the appearance of the results of the analyzes.

I used the cabin myself.

So she, with Pasha and Hercules, returned to the era of Hercules.

Having inhaled the first portions of air, Hercules began to breathe greedily, as if before that he had been kept almost without air.

Well, Hercules, we have returned to your homeland.
This is your home.
Do you like it here?

Hercules nodded.
Even so, it was clear that I liked it.

Alice, are you really going to leave him here? Pasha asked. He doubted the validity of Alice's idea.
And he worried about the pet, like any person for the one whom he had saved at least once.

As Hercules decides. I can't force him.

Do you understand that he is not adapted to life in his era?
He might die here.
He spent his entire adolescence with us.

Only three years.

That's a lot at that age.

Pasha, Hercules is bold and confident.
He decisively defeated your komgoose by slapping him.

And he was not afraid of Jin Mustafa.
Not to mention numerous other examples of resourcefulness and courage.

I understand. But somehow uncomfortable. It's like throwing a person.

We don't quit. This is his home. If he likes it here and if he feels the strength to stay here, this is his right.
And we can visit him.

How can we find it here?

We'll come up with something.

Hercules suddenly lay down on the ground and spread his arms, as if embracing the earth.

Here you go. He seems to miss his homeland.
And you doubt.

Pasha sat down next to Hercules, waiting for him to pay attention to him.

Buddy... it's time for Alice and I to go back.
While the cabin is free.
Do you want to come back with us?

Hercules jumped up, hugged Pasha and Alice, who sat down next to him.
Tears flowed from his eyes.

Come with us, - suggested Pasha.

Hercules shook the finished one and tapped the club on the ground.
Like - my place is here.

Can you do it alone?

Hercules nodded.

OK. Stay if you really want to.
And find yourself a friend here.

***
Hercules nodded again.
And then, lifting Alice, he placed her very close to Pasha.

And he laid Pasha's hands on Alice.
Like, just stand there.
Since you tell me to look for a girlfriend, then do not lag behind yourself.

Pasha glanced at Alice to see how she felt about Hercules' proposal.
Seeing that she did not mind, Pasha hugged her tighter, showing Hercules that they accepted his idea.

Hercules smiled approvingly.

It was time to say goodbye.
So that in the MIV they are not strongly scolded for their arbitrariness.

I never thought it would be so hard to part with Hercules.

Me too. Yes, I was not going to leave him at all.

He will grow up and become an adult male.
And then what? Leave him single? Or bring him a girlfriend from the past?
And then, when will their children appear?
Should they also bring friends from the past? Or send yourself to the past?

I do not know what we would do and how better.
But it is possible that the current option is the best.

Well... if that's the best thing for Hercules.

Pash, he is our friend.
And many do not perceive him even as a match for modern people.
He didn't even know how to speak.

But he feels everything no worse than others.

Yes, I understand that.
But you can't explain everything.

By the way, you might be right.

I'm actually getting better.

Well, that's good.

Is Hercules really my ancestor?

Do not know.
Let's see what the geneticists tell us.

You, mademoiselle, are in your repertoire.
Can't you wait?

What to expect?

Permissions. With stamps.

Are you afraid of being late?

While waiting for you - time can be missed.

Time…

Yes. My friend was getting worse.
It was impossible to wait.

What if he got sick there? In past?
There aren't even doctors there.
What if he hadn't experienced time travel?

As you can see, everything worked out.

You are incorrigible.
Okay, go.
And by the way, I don't know how you guessed it, but you're actually right.
Heracles is Pasha's ancestor.

That's for sure?

Not absolutely.
But coincidences in some loci of chromosomes show that the probability is not small.
And now you will share the secret - how did you guess?

Intuition for the laws of cause and effect.

Alice, I'm tired of being called Mademoiselle.

Be patient, someday they will call you madam.

Let's not ever.
Let's register our union now.

And you won't regret it?

I'll be sorry.

I'll regret it if we don't register.
And ... we promised Hercules.
Or it seemed to me?

Oh yes. promises are sacred.

So you didn't just agree then?

Of course not.

There is there - https://ficbook.net/readfic/1057337

And the last monster fighter and rescuer of beautiful strangers who needs no introduction. This is the well-known Hercules (the Latin name of the hero of ancient Greek mythology Hercules), known for his twelve labors. Here, during the execution of the ninth of them - obtaining the belt of the Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta, and there was a meeting with Hesion. The story of the rescue of Hesiona, with some discrepancies in names and details, repeats one to one the myth of Andromeda. In sources with many names of heroes of the same myths, there is often a little confusion, although it is clear to everyone: we say Jupiter, we mean Zeus, Neptune is Poseidon, and Hercules is, of course, the same Hercules. Next on the list!

Hercules and Hesion

Hercules rescues Hesione. Medieval miniature 15th century

So, the myth says that once Neptune, who conceived a plot against Jupiter, was convicted of treason and was expelled from Olympus to earth as punishment. Here he was sentenced to build the walls of Troy for the king of this city, Laomedon, who in return promised to pay well. But the king turned out to be a miser and refused to pay the fee. The arrogant king even threatened to cut off the ears of the sea god (!!!) if he would demand payment for his work.
Then Neptune called a terrible monster from the sea, which came ashore and began to devour people and devastate the surroundings. The ubiquitous oracles suggested to the king and the Trojans the idea of ​​a beautiful girl as a victim for a monster. They also reported that this “food” would be enough for the beast for a year. And so they healed, giving another beauty to the monster once a year. But one day the turn of Hesiona, the only daughter of the king, came. According to another version of the myth, the oracles immediately offered to give the monster a daughter so that Neptune-Poseidon would calm down. And, they say, Laomedon personally tied his child to the sea cliff. Immediately, Laomedont sent heralds everywhere with orders that he would pay off the money to the savior of the princess and give the magic horses presented to him by Zeus himself.

Southern Netherlands (Flemish) miniature Heracles and Hesione. 1510-20s Aline Dold, private collection

Francois Le Moyne (French, 1688-1737) Heracles delivering Hesione.

Hercules, returning home with the extracted belt of Hippolyta (according to another version, only heading for it), made a stop in Troy, heard the speeches of the heralds and decided: to save the girl and earn some money. With one blow of his club, which was always with him, he killed the monster at the moment when it crawled ashore for another victim. Again, there is a version according to which Hercules climbed into the monster and cut it into pieces there. True, this version does not fit with the lack of a cudgel. There are other versions of this story, in which they write that when Hercules was swallowed by a monster, he became bald, or that the girl was saved during the famous campaign of the Argonauts, and his friend Telamon helped Hercules to kill the monster. Perhaps that is why a boatman is depicted next to Hercules in several paintings.

Charles Le Brun (French, 1619-1690) Hercules rescuing Hesione. 1650-55

Author Unknown after painting of Charles le Brun (French, 1619-1690) Hercules rescuing Hesione (engraving). 1713-1719

Jacob Toorenvliet (Dutch, ca.1640-1719) Hercules and Hesione. 1704

Louis de Silvestre (French, 1675-1760) Hercule délivre la fille de Laomedon.

M. Baron Hercules delivering Hesione. Illustration for The Project Gutenberg EBook of "Heathen Mythology". 2010

Either way, Hesiona was saved. It remains to add that Laomedon deceived Hercules, without paying him either. We read in the myth: Hercules came for the promised reward.
“A dead monster lies on the shore,” he said to Laomedon. - Go look at him if you want. Where are your four immortal horses?”
The Trojan king laughed: “Why do you need horses, Hercules? You have a ship. So, keep sailing on it. These horses were given to me by Zeus himself, is it good to give a gift?”
For these words, the greedy king was severely punished. Hercules, having gathered a company of friends, returned to Troy, took the city by storm, killed the king and almost all of his family. Hercules gave Hesion to wife to his friend Telamon, he left alive the youngest son of Laomedont named Gift. “I give life to the last of the Trojan kings,” said Hercules, “but first he must be sold as a slave.” The gift, along with the captured Trojans, was put up for sale. The bride of Telamon was given the right to buy one of the captured fellow citizens, and she, of course, chose her younger brother, giving as a ransom a gilded veil from her head. Later, the young man received the name Priam (that is, bought) and became the king of Troy, the last Trojan king ...
But that's a completely different story...

Bartolomeo Salvestrini (Italian, 1599-1633) Hercules and Hesione. 1630

Marco Antonio Franceschini (Italian, 1648-1729) Hercules and Hesione 1690

Remi Henri Joseph Delvaux (1750-1823), Emmanuel de Ghendt (1738-1815), Barthélemy Joseph Fulcran Roger (1767-80-1841), Jean Baptiste Simonet (1742-1813) Engraving after Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (1741- 1814) Hercules and Hesione Illustration from "Demoustier"

Giuseppe Cades (Italian, 1750-1799) Hercules liberating Hesione.

Information from Wikipedia and Mythological Encyclopedias