In Greek mythology, Heracles was a demigod known for his strength and bravery. He was famous for performing twelve labors that were assigned to him by King Eurystheus as a punishment for killing his own wife and children in a fit of madness. However, completing these labors was no easy feat, and Heracles often needed help from the gods.
One of the gods who helped Heracles was Hermes, the messenger god. Hermes was known for his speed and agility, as well as his cleverness and wit. He was often called upon to assist other gods and mortals alike, and he played an important role in several of Heracles’ labors.
One of the most notable instances of Hermes helping Heracles occurred during his tenth labor, which was to retrieve the cattle of Geryon, a giant with three bodies who lived on an island in the far west. In order to reach Geryon’s island, Heracles had to cross the Mediterranean Sea, which at that time was infested with sea monsters.
To help him on his journey, Hermes gave Heracles a special helmet that made him invisible to the monsters. With this helmet, Heracles was able to sail safely across the sea and reach Geryon’s island without being attacked.
Once he arrived on the island, however, Heracles faced another challenge: Geryon’s cattle were guarded by Orthus, a two-headed dog who was also Geryon’s brother. But once again Hermes came to Heracles’ aid. He gave him a special flute that could lull Orthus to sleep.
Using the flute, Heracles was able to sneak past Orthus and steal Geryon’s cattle without being detected. He then sailed back across the sea with his stolen goods and successfully completed his tenth labor thanks in part to Hermes’ help.
Overall, Hermes played an important role in helping Heracles complete many of his labors. His speed, agility, and cleverness made him a valuable ally to the demigod, and without his help, Heracles may not have been able to accomplish everything that he did.