LP0046 - Cerberus and Apples - 11th & 12th Labors, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History

Legendary Passages #0046 - Cerberus and Apples - 11th & 12th Labors, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History. Last time Theseus fought with amazons and was imprisoned in Hades. This time Heracles must also go to Hades and complete his own labors. But first an overview of Orpheus, master of melodies. He was an Argonaut who, after he lost his wife, went to Hades to try to bring her back to life. His son induced Heracles into the Eleusinian Mysteries and he descended into the underworld. Hercules was welcomed by his half-sister Persephone, who gave him Ceberus and also released Theseus. His last labor was to retrieve the so-called "Golden Apples" of the Hesperides. Here the author speculates that they might have been gold-colored sheep, guarded by a shepherd named 'Dracon'. The Hesperides were the beautiful daughters of Atlas and Hesperis. King Bisuris had pirates kidnap them, but Heracles killed the pirates and then the King. As a reward Atlas taught him the science of astrology. Lastly, the Amazons and Scythians invaded Attica to rescue Princess Antiope. Though she died in battle, the Athenians prevailed, and the Amazons forsake their homeland and retreated to Scythia. Next time we review the Amazons, Geryon, Hesperides, and Cerberus in Labor's End. http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4B.html#10 Cerberus and Apples, a Legendary Passage, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, translated by C. H. Oldfather. [4.25.1] -  [4.31.1] And now that he had performed the tenth Labour he received a Command from Eurystheus to bring Cerberus up from Hades to the light of day. And assuming that it would be to his advantage for the accomplishment of this Labour, he went to Athens and took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries, Musaeus, the son of Orpheus, being at that time in charge of the initiatory rites. ORPHEUS Since we have mentioned Orpheus it will not be inappropriate for us in passing to speak briefly about him. He was the son of Oeagrus, a Thracian by birth, and in culture and song- music and poetry he far surpassed all men of whom we have a record; for he composed a poem which was an object of wonder and excelled in its melody when it was sung. And his fame grew to such a degree that men believed that with his music he held a spell over both the wild beasts and the trees. And after he had devoted his entire time to his education and had learned whatever the myths had to say about the gods, he journeyed to Egypt, where he further increased his knowledge and so became the greatest man among the Greeks both from his knowledge of the gods and for their rites, as well as for his poems and songs. He also took part in the expedition of the Argonauts, and because of the love held for his wife he dared the amazing deed of descending into Hades, where he entranced Persephonê by his melodious song and persuaded her to assist him in his desires and to allow him to bring up his dead wife from Hades, in this exploit resembling Dionysus; for the myths relate that Dionysus brought up his mother Semelê from Hades, and that, sharing with her his own immortality, he changed her name to Thyonê. But now that we have discussed Orpheus, we shall return to Heracles. HERACLES LABOUR 11: CERBERUS Heracles, then, according to the myths which have come down to us, descended into the realm of Hades, and being welcomed like a brother by Persephonê brought Theseus and Peirithoüs back to the upper world after freeing them from their bonds. This he accomplished by the favour of Persephonê, and receiving the dog Cerberus in chains he carried him away to the amazement of all and exhibited him to men. HERACLES LABOUR 12: APPLES OF HESPERIDES The last Labour which Heracles undertook was the bringing back of the golden apples of the Hesperides, and so he again sailed to Libya. With regard to these apples there is disagreement among the writers of myths, and some say that there were golden apples in certain gardens of the Hesperides in Libya, where they wer