The Ceryneian Hind

The third of Heracles' Twelve Labors

Nov 9, 2006 Robin Fowler

Frustrated by the success of the young hero, Eurystheus hoped to get the gods on his side by getting Heracles on their bad side.

For his third task, Heracles (Roman Hercules) was sent to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a large and beautiful female deer that was sacred to Artemis. This hind was a spectacular creature with antlers of gold, hooves of brass, and with speed so swift that it could out-dash a flying arrow.

This would prove to be quite a formidable task for Heracles, much to the glee of Eurystheus. When Heracles found the hind, he had to chase it for over a year throughout the Greek world. But, when the hind, exhausted from running, stopped for a drink, Heracles shot it with an arrow poisoned with the blood of the hydra, and immobilized it.

As Heracles was taking the animal to Eurystheus, he came upon Artemis and Apollo. This had been part of Eurystheus' plan, and he had hoped that Artemis would be angry with Heracles for stealing her precious hind, and punish him accordingly. However, Heracles explained that he took the hind as part of his punishment by Eurystheus, and promised to return the animal to her. Artemis quickly forgave the hero, and he was on his merry way, with the hind in tow.

When Heracles arrived with the hind at the kingdom of Eurystheus, he offered the animal to him. Remembering his promise to Artemis, he agreed to give the hind to Eurystheus only if he came out to get it himself. When Heracles let go of the hind, it promptly sprinted back to Artemis.

Having foiled Eurystheus' plan and completed the third labor successfully, Heracles smugly told Eurystheus that he should have been swifter with the hind.

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