Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar

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The Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar from Ancient Mythology
Read about gods, goddesses and mythical creatures in the story of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar

Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
The short mythical story of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar is one of the famous legends about Hercules, also referred to as Heracles, that feature in the mythology of ancient civilizations. Discover the myths about the ancient gods, goddesses, demigods and heroes and the terrifying monsters and creatures they encountered on their perilous journeys and quests. The amazing story of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar really is easy reading for kids and children who are learning about the history, myths and legends of the ancients. Additional facts and information about the mythology and legends of individual gods and goddesses of these ancient civilizations can be accessed via the following links:

Gods and Deities

Famous Myth Stories

Hercules

Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

 

 

The Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
The mythical story of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
by Gustav Schwab

The Myth of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
Then Hercules set out on his fourth undertaking. It consisted in bringing alive to Mycene a boar which, likewise sacred to Diana, was laying waste the country around the mountain of Erymanthus.
On his wanderings in search of this adventure he came to the dwelling of Pholus, the son of Silenus. Like all Centaurs, Pholus was half man and half horse. He received his guest with hospitality and set before him broiled meat, while he himself ate raw. But Hercules, not satisfied with this, wished also to have something good to drink.
"Dear guest," said Pholus, "there is a cask in my cellar; but it belongs to all the Centaurs jointly, and I hesitate to open it because I know how little they welcome guests."
"Open it with good courage," answered Hercules, "I promise to defend you against all displeasure."
As it happened, the cask of wine had been given to the Centaurs by Bacchus, the god of wine, with the command that they should not open it until, after four centuries, Hercules should appear in their midst.
Pholus went to the cellar and opened the wonderful cask. But scarcely had he done so when the Centaurs caught the perfume of the rare old wine, and, armed with stones and pine clubs, surrounded the cave of Pholus. The first who tried to force their way in Hercules drove back with brands he seized from the fire. The rest he pursued with bow and arrow, driving them back to Malea, where lived the good Centaur, Chiron, Hercules' old friend. To him his brother Centaurs had fled for protection.

Erymanthian Boar

The 12 Labors of Hercules - Picture of Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar

But Hercules still continued shooting, and sent an arrow through the arm of an old Centaur, which unhappily went quite through and fell on Chiron's knee, piercing the flesh. Then for the first time Hercules recognized his friend of former days, ran to him in great distress, pulled out the arrow, and laid healing ointment on the wound, as the wise Chiron himself had taught him. But the wound, filled with the poison of the hydra, could not be healed; so the centaur was carried into his cave. There he wished to die in the arms of his friend. Vain wish! The poor Centaur had forgotten that he was immortal, and though wounded would not die.
Then Hercules with many tears bade farewell to his old teacher and promised to send to him, no matter at what price, the great deliverer, Death. And we know that he kept his word.
When Hercules from the pursuit of the other Centaurs returned to the dwelling of Pholus he found him also dead. He had drawn the deadly arrow from the lifeless body of one Centaur, and while he was wondering how so small a thing could do such great damage, the poisoned arrow slipped through his fingers and pierced his foot, killing him instantly. Hercules was very sad, and buried his body reverently beneath the mountain, which from that day was called Pholoe.
Then Hercules continued his hunt for the boar, drove him with cries out of the thick of the woods, pursued him into a deep snow field, bound the exhausted animal, and brought him, as he had been commanded, alive to Mycene.

The Legend of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar

Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar - The 12 Labors of Hercules
The twelve labors of Hercules, or Heracles, involved dangerous tasks relating to the Nemean lion, the Hydra, the Ceryneian Hind, the Erymanthian Boar, the Augean stables, the Stymphalian Birds, the Cretan Bull, the Mares of Diomedes, the Belt of Hippolyta, the Cattle of Geryon, the Apples of the Hesperides and Cerberus. The mythical story of each of the 12 Labors of Hercules can be discovered via the following articles:

The 12 Labors of Hercules

Hercules

The First Labor of Hercules, the Nemean lion

The Second Labor of Hercules, the Hydra

The Third Labor of Hercules, the Ceryneian Hind
The Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
The Fifth Labor of Hercules, the Augean stables
The Sixth Labor of Hercules, the Stymphalian Birds
The Seventh Labor of Hercules, the Cretan Bull
The Eighth Labor of Hercules, the Mares of Diomedes
The Ninth Labor of Hercules, the Belt of Hippolyta
The Tenth Labor of Hercules, the Cattle of Geryon
The Eleventh Labor of Hercules, the Apples of the Hesperides
The Twelfth Labor of Hercules, Cerberus
The 12 Labors of Hercules

The Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
The story of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar is featured in the book entitled Myths and Legends of All Nations edited by Logan Marshall published in 1914 by the John C. Winston Company, Philadelphia. The stories of Hercules are translated form the the German works of of Gustav Schwab.

Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar - A Myth with a Moral
Many of the ancient Myth Stories, like the legend of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar, incorporate tales with morals that provided the old story-tellers with short examples of exciting tales for kids and children of how to act and behave and reflected important life lessons. The characters of the heroes in this type of fable demonstrated the virtues of courage, love, loyalty, strength, perseverance, leadership and self reliance. Whereas the villains demonstrated all of the vices and were killed or punished by the gods. The old, famous myth story and fable, like Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar, were designed to entertain, thrill and inspire their young listeners...

12  Labors of Hercules

The 12 Labors of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar

Satyr

The Magical World of Myth and Legend

The Short Story and Myth of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar
The story of the 12 Labors of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar is featured in the book entitled Myths and Legends of All Nations edited by Logan Marshall published in 1914 by the John C. Winston Company, Philadelphia. The stories of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar are translated form the the German works of of Gustav Schwab. The stories of the Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar are translated form the the German works of of Gustav Schwab. Learn about the exciting adventures and dangerous quests undertaken by the mythical characters that feature in the hero myths, fables and stories about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome that are available on this website.

Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar - Stories about heroes, monsters, gods and goddesses

Hercules

Fourth Labor of Hercules, the Erymanthian Boar

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