12 подвигов Геракла

This book tells the myths of Heracles. He was ancient Greece’s strongest hero. It traces his life from birth to his arrival on Olympus. Anna Zimova retells these tales for primary school children. The book forms part of the «Библиотека начальной школы» series. Dmitry Prokopyev, an artist from St Petersburg, drew the pictures.

The first tales deal with Olympus. They tell of the births of Heracles and Eurystheus. Heracles kills snakes, grows up, and learns. The book then tells of all twelve labours. He faces the Nemean lion and the Lernaean hydra. He also faces the Stymphalian birds. He catches the Ceryneian hind and the Erymanthian boar. He fights centaurs. More tasks concern Augeas’s cattle yard and the Cretan bull. They also involve Diomedes’s horses. He seeks Hippolyta’s belt and Geryon’s cattle. He seeks Cerberus and the apples of the Hesperides too.

The book also tells of his deeds beyond these tasks. Heracles helps King Admetus. He saves the daughter of the Trojan king. Tales of his search for love concern Iole and Deianira. Later parts tell how he takes revenge on Augeas. They also tell how he takes Troy. He joins the gods to fight the giants. He then reaches Olympus.