THE CERYNEIAN HIND IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
In the tales of Greek mythology, man and deity were not alone, for the world was said to have been inhabited by many mythical animals and monsters as well.
Many of the beasts and monsters, including the Sphinx and the Chimera are famous, especially because they were encountered by famous heroes, Oedipus and Bellerophon respectively. Some though are less well known, such as the Ceryneian Hind, which is curious for the Ceryneian Hind was encountered by the most famous of all Greek heroes, Heracles.
Many of the beasts and monsters, including the Sphinx and the Chimera are famous, especially because they were encountered by famous heroes, Oedipus and Bellerophon respectively. Some though are less well known, such as the Ceryneian Hind, which is curious for the Ceryneian Hind was encountered by the most famous of all Greek heroes, Heracles.
The Hind of Ceryneia
The Ceryneian Hind was a deer said to reside in the region of Ceryneia upon the Peloponnese; Ceryneia being one of oldest of all towns on the peninsula. The Ceryneian Hind though was no ordinary deer, for firstly it was enormous in size and stature, and often compared in size to a large bull.
The antlers of the Ceryneian Hind were said to have been made of gold, whilst the animal’s hooves were bronze.
Despite its size, the Ceryneian Hind was also said to be extremely fast, so fast indeed that it was said to have been able to outrun an arrow.
The antlers of the Ceryneian Hind were said to have been made of gold, whilst the animal’s hooves were bronze.
Despite its size, the Ceryneian Hind was also said to be extremely fast, so fast indeed that it was said to have been able to outrun an arrow.
The Ceryneian Hind and Artemis
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Unlike many mythical creatures of Greek mythology, no parentage for the Ceryneian Hind is given, but a tale is told of its arrival in the region of Ceryneia.
This tale begins with the Pleiad nymph Taygete, like her six sisters, Taygete found it difficult to keep her virtue intact. One day, when Taygete, was being chased by Zeus, Taygete called upon the goddess Artemis to protect her. Artemis thus transformed Taygete into an animal, some say a deer, and some say a cow, to confuse Zeus. The ruse worked, and in gratitude Taygete presented to Artemis five hinds. These hinds were subsequently to be found in the stables of Mount Olympus, alongside many of the god’s horses. Alternatively, Artemis simply captured the five hinds whilst she was hunting. Artemis would use four of the hinds to pull her chariot, whence they hinds were known as the Elaphoi Khrysokeroi. The fifth hind though managed to escape from the stables, and ran to Ceryneia, Artemis did not try and recapture the animal though, and the mythical beast remained sacred to the Greek goddess. |
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The Third Labour of Heracles
The Ceryneian Hind comes to prominence because of the Labours of Heracles, for the capture of the hind was set as the third of his tasks.
Heracles had already survived the supposedly deadly encounters with the Nemean Lion and the Lernaean Hydra, much to the chagrin of King Eurystheus, the setter of the Labours. Thus, Eurystheus set Heracles a third impossible labour, the capturing of the Ceryneian Hind.
Now there was a possibility of the Ceryneian Hind inflicting damage with its golden antlers, but if Heracles were to capture the Hind then this would bring down the wrath of Artemis.
Heracles had already survived the supposedly deadly encounters with the Nemean Lion and the Lernaean Hydra, much to the chagrin of King Eurystheus, the setter of the Labours. Thus, Eurystheus set Heracles a third impossible labour, the capturing of the Ceryneian Hind.
Now there was a possibility of the Ceryneian Hind inflicting damage with its golden antlers, but if Heracles were to capture the Hind then this would bring down the wrath of Artemis.
The Capture of the Ceryneian Hind
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Undaunted by the hunt ahead of him, Heracles departed from the court of King Eurystheus. Indeed, the Ceryneian Hind proved either to locate, but capturing it proved no easy fete; for as soon as the Ceryneian Hind caught sight of Heracles, it ran away. Heracles of course set off in pursuit.
Some of the writers in antiquity would tell of Heracles chasing the Ceryneian Hind for a whole year, for whilst Heracles might not have had the same turn of speed as the dear the Greek hero had the endurance. |
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Finally, as the stamina of the Ceryneian Hind waned Heracles closed in on the foothills of Mount Artemisium, a mountain in the border between Arcadia and Argolis. The Ceryneian Hind started to ford the River Ladon and as it slowed down, Heracles came within arrow row.
The Labour though was to capture the Ceryneian Hind not to harm it, and so Heracles aimed his arrow between the legs of the animal, causing it to trip up. Before the Ceryneain Hind could regain its feet, Heracles managed to grab hold of it. Heracles then successfully tied the legs of the deer together, immobilising before he lifts the Ceryneian Hind across his shoulders.
Heracles then set off to return to Tiryns.
The Labour though was to capture the Ceryneian Hind not to harm it, and so Heracles aimed his arrow between the legs of the animal, causing it to trip up. Before the Ceryneain Hind could regain its feet, Heracles managed to grab hold of it. Heracles then successfully tied the legs of the deer together, immobilising before he lifts the Ceryneian Hind across his shoulders.
Heracles then set off to return to Tiryns.
The Anger of Artemis
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Heracles though had not gone far when he found his path blocked by an angry Artemis, who was in the company of her brother Apollo.
Heracles was not known for his humility, especially when dealing with mortals, but powerful Olympian gods was perhaps a different prospect, for Heracles immediately asked for Artemis to forgive him for his actions. Heracles explained why he had had to capture the animal that was sacred to Artemis. The pleading of Heracles was eloquent enough that Artemis did indeed forgive him for trussing up the Ceryneian Hind, although Artemis made Heracles promise to release her animal as soon as his Labour was complete. |
Apollo and Artemis -
Gavin Hamilton (1723–1798) - PD-art-100
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The Release of the Ceryneian Hind
Upon the return of Heracles to Tiryns, Eurystheus was annoyed to see that Heracles had successfully captured the Ceryneian Hind, and had not been harmed by Artemis in the process, but overcoming his annoyance, Eurystheus now sought to add the Ceryneian Hind to his menagerie.
Heracles now faced a dilemma, for he could not break his promise to Artemis, and thus Heracles concocted a plan to keep that promise but without having any blame placed on himself.
Heracles therefore convinced King Eurystheus that he would have to personally take possession of the Ceryneain Hind. As the King of Tiryns went to take hold of the rope holding the Hind, Heracles himself released his own hold. Quick as a flash the deer leapt away, running free back to Ceryneia. The fact that Eurystheus was so close to the Hind when it ran away allowed Heracles to avoid blame for its escape.
Back in Ceryneain the Hind avoided all future attempts to capture it, and the fact that the hinds who pulled Artemis’ chariot were immortal, gave rise to the prospect of the Ceryneain Hind still running free through Greece.
Heracles now faced a dilemma, for he could not break his promise to Artemis, and thus Heracles concocted a plan to keep that promise but without having any blame placed on himself.
Heracles therefore convinced King Eurystheus that he would have to personally take possession of the Ceryneain Hind. As the King of Tiryns went to take hold of the rope holding the Hind, Heracles himself released his own hold. Quick as a flash the deer leapt away, running free back to Ceryneia. The fact that Eurystheus was so close to the Hind when it ran away allowed Heracles to avoid blame for its escape.
Back in Ceryneain the Hind avoided all future attempts to capture it, and the fact that the hinds who pulled Artemis’ chariot were immortal, gave rise to the prospect of the Ceryneain Hind still running free through Greece.
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