Herakles 10th Labor: The Oxen of Geryon - I
The fetching of these oxen was a subject which was capable of great poetical embellishments, owing to the distant regions into which it carried the hero.
The story runs as follows: Geryon, the monster with three bodies, lived in the fabulous island of Erytheia (the reddish), so called because it lay under the rays of the setting sun in the west. Geryones kept a herd of red oxen, which fed together with those of Hades, and were guarded by the giant Eurytion and the two-headed dog Orthrus.
Heracles was commanded by Eurystheus to fetch those oxen of Geryon. He traversed Europe, and, having passed through the countries of several savage nations, he at length arrived in Libya. On the frontiers of Libya and Europe he erected two pillars (Calpe and Abyla) on the two sides of the straits of Gibraltar, which were hence called the pillars of Heracles. As on his journey Heracles was annoyed by the heat of the sun, he shot at Helios, who so much admired his boldness, that he presented him with a golden cup, in which he sailed across the ocean to Erytheia.
He there slew Eurytion, his dog, and Geryon, and sailed with his booty to Tartessus, where he returned the golden cup (boat) to Helios.
The depicted scene shows Heracles, supported by Athena, fighting against the triple Geryon. The giant Eurysteus, slain by Heracles, lies on the ground. On the amphora’s neck: Dionysius.
Attic white ground black-figured amphora
Attibuted to “The Class of the Cabinet des Medailles 218"
About 550-500 BC
From Athens
Paris, Musée du Louvre
Herakles 10th Labor: The Oxen of Geryon - I
The fetching of these oxen was a subject which was capable of great poetical embellishments, owing to the distant regions into which it carried the hero.
The story runs as follows: Geryon, the monster with three bodies, lived in the fabulous island of Erytheia (the reddish), so called because it lay under the rays of the setting sun in the west. Geryones kept a herd of red oxen, which fed together with those of Hades, and were guarded by the giant Eurytion and the two-headed dog Orthrus.
Heracles was commanded by Eurystheus to fetch those oxen of Geryon. He traversed Europe, and, having passed through the countries of several savage nations, he at length arrived in Libya. On the frontiers of Libya and Europe he erected two pillars (Calpe and Abyla) on the two sides of the straits of Gibraltar, which were hence called the pillars of Heracles. As on his journey Heracles was annoyed by the heat of the sun, he shot at Helios, who so much admired his boldness, that he presented him with a golden cup, in which he sailed across the ocean to Erytheia.
He there slew Eurytion, his dog, and Geryon, and sailed with his booty to Tartessus, where he returned the golden cup (boat) to Helios.
The depicted scene shows Heracles, supported by Athena, fighting against the triple Geryon. The giant Eurysteus, slain by Heracles, lies on the ground. On the amphora’s neck: Dionysius.
Attic white ground black-figured amphora
Attibuted to “The Class of the Cabinet des Medailles 218"
About 550-500 BC
From Athens
Paris, Musée du Louvre