LP0044 - The Amazons and Geryon - The 9th & 10th Labors of Heracles, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History

Legendary Passages #0044 - The Amazons and Geryon - The 9th & 10th Labors of Heracles, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History. Last time the Argonauts sailed past the Amazon river after leaving Heracles. This time we see the story from Heracles point of view. He had been commanded to bring back the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. She refused, went to war, and lost. Heracles took the girdle, and gave the amazon princess Antiope to Theseus, who married her. His next labor was to retrieve the cattle herds of Geryon from a land far to the west, probably in Spain. His first stop was the Isle of Crete, where he rid the island of wild predators. Next he landed at Libya and wrestled the giant Antaeus, killed King Busiris of Egypt, and journeyed to the west, past Carthage. Between Africa and Spain he set up the Pillars of Heracles. After killing the sons of Chrysaor he took possession of the herds, and gave a significant portion to an Iberian King. Lastly, he went north to Celtica, probably France, killed some bandits, and founded the city of Alesia. Next time, Theseus has many misadventures with Antiopa and Peirithous. http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4A.html#24 Amazons and Geryon, a Legendary Passage, from Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, translated by C. H. Oldfather. [4.16.1] - [4.19.2] HERACLES LABOUR 9: THE AMAZONS Heracles then received a Command to bring back the girdle of Hippolytê the Amazon and so made the expedition against the Amazons. Accordingly he sailed into the Pontus, which was named by him Euxeinus, and continuing to the mouth of the Thermodon River he encamped near the city of Themiscyra, in which was situated the palace of the Amazons. And first of all he demanded of them the girdle which he had been commanded to get; but when they would pay no heed to him, he joined battle with them. Now the general mass of the Amazons were arrayed against the main body of the followers of Heracles, but the most honoured of the women were drawn up opposite Heracles himself and put up a stubborn battle. The first, for instance, to join battle with him was Aella, who had been given this name because of her swiftness, but she found her opponent more agile than herself. The second, Philippis, encountering a mortal blow at the very first conflict, was slain. Then he joined battle with Prothoê, who, they said had been victorious seven times over the opponents whom she had challenged to battle. When she fell, the fourth whom he overcame was known as Eriboea. She had boasted that because of the manly bravery which she displayed in contest of war she had no need of anyone to help her, but she found her claim was false when she encountered her better. Then next, Celaeno, Eurybia, and Phoebê, who were companions of Artemis in the hunt and whose spears found their mark invariably, did not even graze the single target, but in that fight they were one and all cut down as they stood shoulder to shoulder with each other. After them Deïaneira, Asteria and Marpê, and Tecmessa Alcippê were overcome. The last-named had taken a vow to remain a maiden, and the vow she kept, but her life she could not preserve. The commander of the Amazons, Melanippê, who was also greatly admired for her manly courage, now lost her supremacy. And Heracles, after thus killing the most renowned of the Amazons and forcing the remaining multitude to turn in flight, cut down the greater number of them, so that he race of them was utterly exterminated. As for the captives, he gave Antiopê as a gift to Theseus and set Melanippê free, accepting her girdle as her ransom. HERACLES LABOUR 10: CATTLE OF GERYON Eurystheus then enjoined upon him as a tenth Labour the bringing back of the cattle of Geryones, which pastured in the parts of Iberia which slope towards the ocean. And Heracles, realizing that this task called for preparation on a large scale and involving great hardships, gathered a notable armament and a multitude of soldiers such as would