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The twelve labors

Third labor: The Hind of Keryneia (Ceryneia)

 

The Hind of Keryneia (Ceryneia), cup 480 BC, Louvre Museum
The Hind of Keryneia (Ceryneia), cup 480 BC

 

In the third labor, Herakles was assigned to bring alive the hind of Keryneia, a beloved animal by Artemis, with golden horns and bronze hoofs, which was living on the mount Artemision, fifty miles distance from Mykenae.
Herakles was trying to catch the deer for one full year, without success. Finally, he wounded her near a stream, with his arrow and caught her.
The goddess Artemis initially was angry, but Herakles explained to her, that he had no purpose to hurt the sacred animal and he was only following the orders of king Eurystheus.  Heracles explanation appeased the goddess and she let him carry the hind  to Mykenae.

 

Artemis holding a deer and a panther, 570 BC. Florence Museum
Artemis holding a deer and a panther, from Kleiteia's krater, 570-560 BC.

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