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The Labours of Herakles, Labor 7: The Cretan Bull

The Labours of Herakles, Labor 7: The Cretan Bull - Essay Example

Summary

Heracles was the twin brother of Iphicles. Heracles was the son of Zeus, a god, and Alcmene, a Greek mortal woman. He is one of the most renowned divine heroes in Greek mythology owing to his…

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The Labours of Herakles, Labor 7: The Cretan Bull

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Subject: History
Type: Essay
Level: Ph.D.
Pages: 4 (1000 words)
Downloads: 2
Author: hintzeula

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Heracles was an excellent marksman and skillful wrestler known for his daring exploits. Heracles marriedMegara with whom they sired several children. However, Hera cursed him with madness and Heracles ended up killing his wife and children in the frenzy. He consulted the oracle of Delphi, which directed him to serve his enemy, King Eurystheus. Eurystheus ordered him to complete ten labors in order to atone for his sins. On completion of the ten, Heracles was instructed to complete two more. The paper will examine the seventh labor and explore its significance.

After the elimination Stymphalian birds, Heracles went on to his next labor which was to capture the Cretan bull. During that period, Crete was ruled by Minos who also governed several islands around Greece. Minos was a powerful king, and to lay further claim on his dominion, he promised to sacrifice any gift sent from the Cretan sea by the gods. Poseidon, the god of the sea, sent King Minos a large bull2. The king was enthralled with the beauty of the ox and kept it among his herds. Minos rescinded on his promise to the gods and decided to sacrifice a different bull instead.

Poseidon was infuriated by the betrayal and struck the bull with rage. He also made Minos’ wife, Pasiphae, to fall in love with the bull and have a half-human half-bull creature called Minotaur with the ox. The bull caused devastation all over Crete by razing down orchards anddestroying crops. Heracles was ordered by Eurystheus to sail across the Mediterranean Sea to Crete and capture the bull. Minos wanted the bull captured so much that he offered to aid Heracles in his labor. Heracles declined the help and decided to seize the bull by himself.

Heracles subdued the bull by creeping behind it and smothering it. Heracles rode the bull to the sea and took it back to Mycenae. Eurystheus wanted to sacrifice the bull to Hera butthe goddess rejected the sacrifice because it manifested the might and courage of Heracles. Having no

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