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Hercules 12 Labors Study GuidePart I : Eurystheus and Hercules Introduction to the Labors There are many basic stories of Hercules (Greek: Heracles/Herakles) and many versions. One of the most common variations on the story of the 12 Labors is that Hercules undertook them to atone for the crime of murder. Within that variation the order of the labors changes. Part II : The SourcesCanonical LaborsThose we consider the 12 canonical Labors of Hercules were carved into stone between 470 and 456 B.C. on the metopes of the Doric Temple to Zeus at Olympia.Archaic AgeNot all the canonical labors are attested in the Archaic Age.Classical PeriodNone of the extant literary sources from this period lists all twelve, although the carvings on the metopes of Temple of Zeus at Olympia show them. It isn't until later, in the Roman period, that we find the complete list.Roman EraIn his Bibliotheca, the historian Diodorus Siculus (fl. 49 B.C.) provides the earliest preserved literary account containing all 12 of the labors of Hercules.The LaborsLabor 1Labor 2 Labor 3 Labor 4 Labor 5 Labor 6 Labor 7 Labor 8 Labor 9 Labor 10 Labor 11 Labor 12 Apollodorus on the Labors Index of Names and Places Apollodorus Labor 1 Apollodorus Labor 2 Apollodorus Labor 3 Apollodorus Labor 4 Apollodorus Labor 5 Apollodorus Labor 6 Apollodorus Labor 7 Apollodorus Labor 8 Apollodorus Labor 9 Apollodorus Labor 10 Apollodorus Labor 11 Apollodorus Labor 12 |
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