Hercules and the Cattle of Geryon
Long ago, when heroes walked among men and the gods watched from their thrones on Olympus, Hercules was given a daunting task for his tenth labor. King Eurystheus, always hoping to see Hercules fail, commanded him to travel to the distant island of Erytheia and bring back the prized red cattle of the giant Geryon.
Now Geryon was no ordinary foe. He was a fearsome creature with three bodies, three heads, and the strength of ten men. He lived far to the west, near the edge of the known world, where the sun dipped into the sea. His cattle were guarded by a two-headed dog named Orthrus and herded by a strongman named Eurytion. The island was hot, rocky, and desolate—a place few dared to visit, and fewer returned from.
Hercules knew this journey would not be easy. He traveled across deserts so dry his lips cracked, through lands scorched by the sun. As the heat grew unbearable, he grew angry with the blazing sun itself. With a shout, he drew his bow and fired an arrow at the sky. The sun god Helios, amused and impressed, didn't take offense—instead, he admired Hercules's boldness and rewarded him with a golden cup that could carry him across the sea.
Using the cup like a boat, Hercules sailed westward to Erytheia. As he landed, Orthrus, the two-headed guard dog, came charging. But Hercules was ready. With a swift swing of his club, he struck the beast down. Eurytion rushed to protect the cattle, but he too fell to Hercules's strength.
Then came Geryon himself. Towering, terrible, and wielding three swords, Geryon approached, his three heads roaring in unison. The battle was fierce—each of Geryon's bodies attacked in turn, and Hercules had to dodge and block from every angle. But the son of Zeus was not one to be easily overwhelmed. With poisoned arrows dipped in Hydra's blood, Hercules brought down each of Geryon's heads, ending the giant's reign over the island.
The red cattle were finally his—but the return trip would be no simple thing. As Hercules herded them back across continents, he faced many trials. At one point, Hera, ever his enemy, sent a gadfly to scatter the herd. Hercules had to spend days rounding the cattle up again. Another time, the cattle were stolen by a local king, and Hercules had to retrieve them by force.
Eventually, weary but undaunted, Hercules returned to King Eurystheus with the cattle. The king accepted them, though he secretly hoped Hercules wouldn't survive the journey. Yet again, the mighty hero had triumphed.
So around the fire, remember this tale—not just of strength and battle, but of cunning, endurance, and the will to complete a journey others wouldn't dare begin. For Hercules didn't just face monsters—he faced the limits of the world itself... and pushed beyond.