Labor Three - Capture the Cerynian Hind

For his third labor, Hercules was to capture the Cerynian Hind. This was hard because Hercules needed to bring the hind to Eurystheus unharmed. Some thought that Hercules' strength would harm the gentle creature.

The Cerynian Hind was not just an ordinary animal. This animal was sacred to the goddess Artemis, who was in charge of all hunting. Artemis, of course, protected the hind because she loved it so much. It was the only one of his kind, and so she cherished it.

Hercules went to the warm sunny valley and saw a small hind. He glanced at the animal thinking of a plan at the same time. Hercules swiftly ran to a nearby and huge tree. The deer was drinking from a small stream.

As the deer turned to run away, Hercules ran up to him and wrapped his arms around the deer's stomach. Hercules tried his hardest not to hurt the soft and stubborn deer. The deer kicked up his back legs.

Hercules tried and tried to capture the hind, but nothing was working. He thought it was hopeless. But then he thought of how wonderful it would be to be rid of his guilt. That gave him enough determination to finally capture the hind with a net. Hercules grabbed the deer's legs, grinned, and began walking back to his town.
 

Written by Crystal Rose Gonzalez and Maria Yannaco

Illustration by Andrew Busone