LP0047 - Labors End - Amazons, Geryon, & Hesperides, from the Library of Apollodorus

Legendary Passages #0047 - Labors End - Amazons, Geryon, & Hesperides, from the Library of Apollodorus. Last time we covered the final two labors of Hercules. This time we shall review more traditional versions of the Amazons, the Cattle of Geryon, and the Apples of the Hesperides. On his way to the Amazons, Hercules landed on the island of Paros; and after a misunderstanding, two of his men and four sons of Minos were dead. Hercules ends up taking the two sons of Androgeus along with him. Hercules kills Hippolyte, takes her girdle, and sails for Troy. There he rescues princess Hesione from a sea monster, for a price. On his way to fetch the Cattle of Geryon, the sun itself gives him a golden goblet to use as a ship. He kills the two-headed hound guarding the cattle, and Geryon as well, and sails away in the goblet. Heracles did not know where the Golden Apples were, and had many adventures searching for them. Eventually he rescued Prometheus, who told him to send Atlas to pick the apples for him. Next time we uncover a long forgotten war: Amazons vs Atlantis. http://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus2.html#5 Labors End, a Legendary Passage, from the Library of Apollodorus, translated by J. G. Frazer. BOOK 2 [2.5.9] - [2.5.11] The ninth labour he enjoined on Hercules was to bring the belt of Hippolyte. She was queen of the Amazons, who dwelt about the river Thermodon, a people great in war; for they cultivated the manly virtues, and if ever they gave birth to children through intercourse with the other sex, they reared the females; and they pinched off the right breasts that they might not be trammelled by them in throwing the javelin, but they kept the left breasts, that they might suckle. Now Hippolyte had the belt of Ares in token of her superiority to all the rest. Hercules was sent to fetch this belt because Admete, daughter of Eurystheus, desired to get it. So taking with him a band of volunteer comrades in a single ship he set sail and put in to the island of Paros, which was inhabited by the sons of Minos, to wit, Eurymedon, Chryses, Nephalion, and Philolaus. But it chanced that two of those in the ship landed and were killed by the sons of Minos. Indignant at this, Hercules killed the sons of Minos on the spot and besieged the rest closely, till they sent envoys to request that in the room of the murdered men he would take two, whom he pleased. So he raised the siege, and taking on board the sons of Androgeus, son of Minos, to wit, Alcaeus and Sthenelus, he came to Mysia, to the court of Lycus, son of Dascylus, and was entertained by him; and in a battle between him and the king of the Bebryces Hercules sided with Lycus and slew many, amongst others King Mygdon, brother of Amycus. And he took much land from the Bebryces and gave it to Lycus, who called it all Heraclea. Having put in at the harbor of Themiscyra, he received a visit from Hippolyte, who inquired why he was come, and promised to give him the belt. But Hera in the likeness of an Amazon went up and down the multitude saying that the strangers who had arrived were carrying off the queen. So the Amazons in arms charged on horseback down on the ship. But when Hercules saw them in arms, he suspected treachery, and killing Hippolyte stripped her of her belt. And after fighting the rest he sailed away and touched at Troy. But it chanced that the city was then in distress consequently on the wrath of Apollo and Poseidon. For desiring to put the wantonness of Laomedon to the proof, Apollo and Poseidon assumed the likeness of men and undertook to fortify Pergamum for wages. But when they had fortified it, he would not pay them their wages. Therefore Apollo sent a pestilence, and Poseidon a sea monster, which, carried up by a flood, snatched away the people of the plain. But as oracles foretold deliverance from these calamities if Laomedon would expose his daughter Hesione to be devoured by the sea monster, he exposed her by fastening her to the rocks near the sea. S