The labors of Hercules – The mares of Diomedes, the belt of Hippolyta and the cattle of Geryon
After completing his previous labors, Hercules journeyed to Thrace, where he encountered King Diomedes and his infamous man-eating mares. As part of his next task, Hercules was tasked with capturing these dangerous beasts and delivering them to Eurystheus. In order to accomplish this, Hercules had to first defeat Diomedes and then feed the mares to calm them down. Finally, he was able to transport them safely to Mycenae, completing yet another incredible feat.
Hercules embarked on a journey to Euxinus Pontus with the sole purpose of obtaining the belt of Hippolyta, the queen and leader of the Amazons. This tribe of female warriors was renowned for their exceptional riding and archery skills, as well as their striking beauty. Upon arriving at their land, he encountered Hippolyta, and questioned him why he visited this place. He explained that he sought her belt to present to Eurystheus. However she agreed, a misunderstanding led to Hippolyta being killed. Nevertheless, Hercules was able to successfully obtain the belt and deliver it to Eurystheus.
Later, Hercules embarked on a journey to the West in order to acquire the cattle of Geryon and transport them to Mycenae. Geryon, a unique creature with three bodies in one, had his cattle guarded by his fierce dog Orthus, who boasted two heads and a snake for a tail. Despite the daunting challenge, Hercules valiantly defeated both Geryon and Orthus, and successfully retrieved the cattle to bring back to Mycenae. Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, sacrificed the cattle to the goddess Hera.