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The Ceryneian Hind |
As a third labor, Eurystheus asked from Heracles to bring the Ceryneian hind to Mycenae.
The Ceryneian hind was a deer with golden horns, dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
Heracles had to capture the sacred animal, which was famous for its speed, without hurting it, because it was considered a blasphemy to injure or kill the animal.
The hero was obliged to chase the deer for one whole year until finally he fired an arrow to slow the animal down and captured it.
On his way to Mycenae, Heracles encountered goddess Artemis with her brother Apollo. When Artemis noticed her sacred animal on the hero's shoulder, she got very angry. But Heracles pleaded necessity, explaining that the responsible person was Eurystheus,so he calmed down the goddess and brought the hind to Mycenae.
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