12th Labour of Hercules: Capture and bring back Cerberus

Hercules and Cerberus.

The twelfth and final labour was the capture of Cerberus. Cerberus was the three-headed dog that was guardian of the gates of the Underworld. This was no ordinary task because Hercules would have to go to underworld and return alive with a living monster.

In Greek Mythology, after a person died, the spirit went to the world below and remained eternity in the depths of the earth. There is no distinction between good and bad should, thus, everyone was going to the kingdom of god Hades. The Underworld was the kingdom of Hades (Pluto), and his wife, Persephone. Depending on how a person lived his or her life, they might or might not experience never-ending punishment in Hades. Cerberus (Κέρβερος), often called the "hound of Hades", is a three-headed dog, who guards the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving. He was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon.


After learning what the task was, Hercules went to Eleusis to see the priest Eumolpus, to initiate the Eleusinian Mysteries. According to Greek Mythology, learning the secrets of mysteris will get you happiness in the underworld. Thus, Hercules got involved to learn how to enter and exit the underworld alive.

Cerberus next to the Greek God Hades.

He found the entrance to the underworld at Tanaerum in Laconia. Goddess Athena and god Hermes helped him to traverse the entrance in each direction. He passed Charon with Hestia's assistance and his own heavy and fierce frowning.

Hercules found Hades and asked permission to bring Cerberus to the surface. Hades agreed if Hercules could subdue the beast without using weapons. Hercules overpowered Cerberus with his hands and slung the beast over his back. He carried Cerberus out of the Underworld through a cavern entrance in the Peloponnese and brought it to Eurystheus. Eurystheus asked Hercules to return Cerberus to the Underworld, offering in return to release him from any further labours.

In one side story, Hercules also met Theseus and Pirithous while in the underworld. These two friends had been imprisoned by Hades for attempting to abduct goddess Persephone. When Hercules had pulled Theseus first from his prison chair, some of his thigh stuck to it, but the earth shook at the attempt to liberate Pirithous. Unfortunately, the desire to have the goddess Persephone for himself was so insulting he was doomed to stay behind.