Last Update: 28 Mar 2021
3. Labor: The Ceryneian Hind
As a third labor, Eurystheus required Heracles to bring the Ceryneian hind to Mycenae.
The Ceryneian hind was a stag 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 blasphemy to hurt or kill the animal.
The hero had to hunt the stag for a whole year until he finally fired an arrow to slow the animal down and catch it.
On his way to Mycenae, Heracles encountered the goddess Artemis with her brother Apollo. When Artemis noticed her sacred animal on the hero's shoulder, she became very angry. But Heracles pleaded necessity and explained that the person responsible was Eurystheus, so he calmed the goddess and brought the hind to Mycenae.
