Hercules had to clean stables that
belonged to King Auguea’s for his fifth task. He also had to clean the cattle
of Auguea in one day. Hercules told the mortal, King Auguea, that he would
clean his stables in one day in exchange for one tenth of his cattle. Hercules
flooded the stables with water from the river, cleaning it out completely. Once
this action occurred, he demanded to be paid. The king denied ever making a
deal with Hercules and didn’t pay him. His son told a judge about the deal that
was made and the king was forced to pay. When Hercules returned to Eurystheus
and he was told that the labor didn’t count because he was paid to complete it.
For the
sixth labor, Hercules had to drive away an enormous flock of birds that were
resting on a lake, near the city of Stymphalos. In some versions of Greek
mythology, it is believed that the birds are man-eating. When Hercules
approached the lake, he had no idea how he was going to get rid of the pesky
birds. Athena helped Hercules by giving him krotala. The krotala was a kind of
clapper that would rid Hercules of the task set in front of him. The krotala
was built by Hephaestus, so it was built superbly and had immortal qualities.
This drove away the birds and Hercules set off to receive his next labor from
Eurysthesus.
Hercules
had to wrestle the Cretan Bull to the ground for his seventh labor. The king of
Minos had to prove himself to the sea god, Poseidon. He was to sacrifice
anything that came out of the sea. Poseidon sent out a bull to the king, but
the king thought it was too beautiful to kill. Instead of sacrificing this
bull, he sacrificed a different one. Poseidon was furious and the Cretan Bull
wandered relentlessly. Hercules easily wrestled the bull with his strength and
successfully completed his seventh task.
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