Task 12 of Hercules, three breeds of dogs still claimed to see the dead and interact with them. Nereus Sea God, Prometheus connected to 11th task.

Task 12 of Hercules, three breeds of dogs still claimed to see the dead and interact with them. Nereus Sea God, Prometheus connected to 11th task.
by valpetridis @ 2008-06-28 - 22:52:18
Task 12 of Hercules, three breeds of dogs still claimed to see the dead and interact with them. Nereus Sea God, Prometheus connected to 11th task.
In the popular version Hercules first encounters Nereus and has to force him to give Hercules directions to the three apples he had to retrieve. Nereus is a sea god who represents the journey Hercules had to take to find Atlantis.In some versions he frees Prometheus who tells him to seek atlases help to retrieve the applesPrometheus represents the enlightenment and freedom seeking the fruit and the holy blood of atlas offers. It portrays the enlightenment Hercules gains to achieve this task.In some versions atlas authority is a burden he sees as a punishment and is more than happy to help Hercules.
The twelfth and final task
Hercules was sent to retrieve Cerberus the three headed dog of Hades. He enlists the help of Athena and Hermes to get there. Hermes is the god who gave Odysseus the gift of strychnine or poison to resist Cerci whose beauty made men into pigs and animals. Hermes and Athena have Hercules the wisdom and knowledge necessary to enter Hades. In Hades Hercules asks permission to bring Cerberus to the world of the living, Hades agrees as long as Hercules does not use a weapon to do so/ Hercules tirelessly wrestles the three headed dog until it collapses , brings the dog to king Eurystheus, who is so scared he relieves Hercules with the promise of returning the dog to Hades.
This tale tells of Hercules descent into Hades or what Albinus calls a Katabasis, a journey decent that heroes like Odysseus, Hercules, Christ and others experience, it begins with a ritual or real death, followed by a journey in the place of the dead and a subsequent return to life or resurrection After his ascent into the western paradise Hercules descends into Hades. The image of Cerberus comes from the three breeds of dogs people have associated with the dead, many having marks above the eyes that look like shades where eyes might go. These dogs are considered gifted and the marking shades spiritual eyes that allow them to see the dead. Such dogs are still believed to have such powers, for example Slavic peoples believe such markings give these breed of dogs the power to see and interact with the dead. In Germany these marks are the sign of hell hounds that guard one from evil dead and their spirit. After going to Hades and returning with the gift of second sight like the dogs and the wisdom of the dead Hercules completes his takes and is releases as the king and Greeks he represents fear such knowledge and more the person who was capable of having such wisdom and knowledge of the underworld.Hercules could not use a weapon because his journey was spiritual and not one in which he could carry a weapon with him.
Most that ascend with a walk with God also experience katabasis.
I will deal with the last part of the tale of Hercules his death later this week.

For blogger school starts tomorrow and I am buzy till the weekends so I will post more then, have fun tomorrow be ye work or be ye starting school.

Peace