Hercules & the Cattle of Geryon
An Ancient Greek Myth for Kids
The 9th Labor of Hercules
The Cattle of Geryon
His 9th labor was to capture the entire herd of the cattle of Geryon and present the herd to King Eury.
The Geryon was part man and part monster. He had two legs, the size of tree trunks. Three bodies grew from his waist, each with its own head and arms. He was very mean. And very strong. He owned a herd of red oxen that he kept on the island of Erythia. The island helped to protect his cattle from thieves. So did his two-headed dog.
Hercules had to fight the Geryon and his two-headed dog. Finally at last, when both lay quietly, either dead or exhausted (Hercules didn't actually care by then), Hercules herded the nervous red oxen aboard his ship and sailed for home.