2.6.13 Stage 13: HolmiumLabor 11: The Cattle of Geryon.
Geryon was a triple bodied monster with a beautiful herd upon the west coast of Iberia (or in Erytheia at the other side of the big river Oceanos, near the underworld). Helios helped him to get there with his golden sun boat. The herd of red oxen was guarded by Eurytion and the dog Orthrus. Heracles killed them both with his poisoned arrows. Geryon with his 3 upper bodies and 6 arms attacks him, Heracles kills two bodies with his poisonous arrows, but then Hera intervenes and protects Geryon’s third body from the deadly arrows of Heracles. Zeus intervened with thunder and lightning, Hera flees and Heracles could kill Geryon's third body with a last arrow. He had to fight a lot of people while bringing the herd to Eurystheus.
Heracles has to travel further and further to perform his labors and has to go nearer the underworld. The underworld is part of the inner world, a
Lanthanides theme. The underworld is similar to the dark hole or black hole, also themes of the
Lanthanides.
Heracles can kill only 2 out of the 3 bodies of Geryon at first. Doing things in part or half is typical for
Stage 13.