Hydria with Herakles and Cerberus

This scene unfolds at the very entrance to Hades, the Greek Underworld, as indicated by the column at the far right. With the aid of Athena, standing behind, and Hermes, crouching, Herakles, dressed in his lion skin and wielding his trademark club, leads the chained Cerberus from the realm of the dead. Forced to bring back the ferocious three-headed guard dog as his final of twelve labors, Herakles defeated the creature without a weapon (as dictated by Hades, God of the Underworld) in his most difficult task. Keeping his promise to Hades, Herakles later returned Cerberus unharmed, completing his labors and atoning for his crimes (see gallery card).