![]() Location : Caucasus Mountains, East of the Black SeaĬENTAURS (Kentauroi) A tribe of half-horse men who inhabited the Arcadian mountain of Pholoe. Time : During the 11th Labour (Hesperian Apples) Heracles slew it and released the Titan from his chains. It assisted the Hydra in the fight with Heracles, but was crushed beneath the hero's heel.ĬAUCASIAN EAGLE (Aetos Kaukasios) A giant eagle which fed on the ever-regenerating liver of the Prometheus. Time : During the 10th Labour (Geryon's Cattle)ĬARCINUS (Karkinos) A giant crab which inhabited the swamps of Lerna. When Heracles was returning to Greece with the cattle of Geryon, Cacus stole from the herd, and was slain by the hero. Heracles was captured but broke his bonds and slew the king.ĬACUS (Kakos) A fire-breathing giant of Latium. Time : (1) The 5th Labour (2) After the 12 LaboursīUSIRIS (Bousiris) A King of Egypt who sacrificed foreigners to the gods. However, Augeias denied him payment, so after his labours were complete he led an army to conquer the country. Eurystheus commanded Heracles clean his stables which he did by diverting a river. Time : During the 12th Labour (the Hesperides)ĪUGEAS (Augeias) A king of Elis who possessed an enormous herd of cattle. Heracles agreed to take on the burden, if Atlas would fetch for him the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. Heracles released him from his prison when he travelled to the underworld in the quest for Cerberus.ĪTLAS A Titan who was forced to hold the sky aloft. When Heracles was a young man they offered him a choice in life and he chose the path of valour.ĪSCALAPHUS (Askalaphos) The orchadist of Hades who was buried beneath a rock by the goddess Demeter. Time : During the 11th Labour (the Hesperides)ĪRETE and CACIA (Kakia) The goddesses of virtue and vice. He challenged Heracles to a wrestling death match but was defeated when the hero lifted him from the earth and crushed him. He was immortal within the bounds of his land, but Heracles incapacitated him with arrows and dragged him beyond the border to die.ĪNTAEUS (Antaios) A Libyan giant who drew his strength directly from the earth. Time : After the Labours - the Aetolian CampaignsĪLCYONEUS (Alkyoneus) The king of the Thracian giants. He was defeated by Heracles in a wrestling match when the pair vied for the hand of Deianeira in marriage. He faced down Thanatos and brought her back to Mount Olympus.A SELECTION OF CHARACTERS & CREATURES FROM THE MYTHS OF HERACLES STYMPHALIAN BIRDSĪCHELOUS (Akheloios) An Aetolian river-god. Eventually, he journeyed into the underworld to find her. Even though he had never seen Semele, he was concerned for her. Dionysus was also one of the very few characters able to bring a dead person back from the underworld. There, they might go into a state of ecstasy and madness, ripping apart and eating raw any animal they might come upon. While other gods had temples to be worshipped at, the followers of Dionysus worshipped him in the woods. He was accompanied by the Maenads, wild women, flush with wine, shoulders draped with a fawn skin, carrying rods tipped with pine cones. Dionysus wandered the world actively spreading his cult. After this, Zeus arranged for his protection and gave him to the mountain nymphs to be raised. The Titans ripped him to pieces however, Rhea brought him back to life. Hera, still jealous of Zeus' infidelity and the fact that Dionysus was alive, arranged for the Titans to kill him. His birth from Zeus conferred immortality upon him. ![]() Zeus managed to rescue the fetal Dionysus and stitched him into his thigh until he would be ready to be born. ![]() He appeared in his true form and Semele was instantly burnt to a crisp by the sight of his glory. Zeus was unhappy knowing what was about to happen, but bound by his oath, he had no choice. She then asked him to show her his true form. When Zeus visited her again, she made him promise to grant her one wish. She went to Semele in disguise and convinced her she should see her lover as he really was. Word soon got around and Hera quickly assumed who was responsible. Semele was pleased to be the lover of a god, even though she did not know which one. God of wine, theater and fertility - son of Zeus and Semele - always holding a kantharos (tall drinking vessel) - ivy branches and flower crown - Zeus went to Semele in the night, unseen by human eyes, but could be felt as a divine presence.
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