The 12 Labors of Hercules | Disney Explained - Jon Solo

Hercules' had to complete 12 grueling labors for his archenemy King Eurystheus before he could be immortal... learn about how those labors went down and how Disney found creative ways to include them in the movie!

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» 0:00 - Why 12 Labors?
» 4:07 - The First Labor: Slay the Nemean Lion
» 7:12 - The Second Labor: Slay the Lernaean Hydra
» 9:10 - The Third Labor: Capture the Ceryneian Hind
» 10:56 - The Fourth Labor: Capture the Erymanthian Boar
» 12:11 - The Fifth Labor: Clean the Augean Stables
» 13:38 - The Sixth Labor: Slay the Stymphalian Birds
» 14:31 - The Seventh Labor: Capture the Cretan Bull
» 15:12.- The Eighth Labor: Capture the Mares of Diomedes
» 16:36 - The Ninth Labor: Retrieve the Belt of Hippolyta
» 17:12 - The Tenth Labor: Retrieve the Cattle of Geryon
» 18:51 - The Eleventh Labor: The Golden Apples
» 20:04 - The Twelfth Labor: Capture Cerberus
» 21:43 - But wait! There's more!

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[-Chadnik]

I think you're the only youtuber who calls his viewers "family" and doesn't sound obnoxious or manipulative. I'm honestly suprised at how genuine someone doing videos online can be.

[vasatus]

To add on to your statement about Hera raising the hydra specifically to kill Heracles, there is actually more to this. Obviously, Hera just wanted Heracles dead, so she was initially planning on having him go after the hydra first (she was also the one directly influencing the choices and labors through the mind of Eurystheus). However, Hera was tricked by the rainbow goddess, Iris, to have Heracles go after the Nemean Lion first, under the pretense that the beast would toy with Heracles before killing him, whereas the hydra would kill him instantly with its poison. Little did Hera know that Iris did this while telling Heracles how to kill it and to use its skin as a type of body armor against the hydra. This was all due to a lesser known story in which a young Heracles rescued Iris from Boreas, god of the north wind. She developed a crush on him to say the least and this was a way of paying him back and a final attempt at winning Heracles' affections, though they were unsuccessful.

This is just a little side note to what you covered. I'm a bit of a Greek myth nut, so I can definitely appreciate videos and content like this. Keep up the good work.

[Dalinos]

As a Greek, I grew up as a child with my grandmother reciting to me the original, uncut and uncensored versions of all Greek Mythology (including the raping, the cheating, how Kronos got castrated etc.) Basicly every Greek who grew up in Greece knows the 12 labours by heart, the 12 gods by heart, most of their origin stories, all of the members of the "Heroic Era" (Heracles, Theseus, Belerophon, Jason and others) and of course various nymphs and other divine creatures.

After watching your video twice, I can say your research was spot on. However, there are a two points I would like to address.

1) King Eurystheus actually used a massive Oil jug, called a "Pithari" (Πυθάρι). We know for a fact Ancient Greek palaces had massive storage areas for products that last long, such as wheat and Olive oil. Ancient clay tablets that were basicly the storage lists of the time have survived until today, which is how we know this.

2) At some point during his life, Heracles joined the most legendary crew to sail the Mediterranean in the ancient world, Jason's Argonauts. Although not a labour in and of itself, it's worth mentioning that Heracles interacted with Jason when he was on his quest to go find the Golden Fleece. It is also worth mentioning that contrary to her situation with Heracles, Hera actually HELPED Jason on his quest, much like Athena helped Heracles on his quest.

Those 2 points aside, the vid was enjoyable and well researched. Keep up the good work.

[marjanabrstilo]

The moment I heard the words "zero to hero" I had the lyrics "bless my soul, Herc was on a roll" stuck in my head for a long time

[KimmyKeldeo]

It wouldve been so much more interesting if disney made hera the villain instead of hades.
But disney wasnt pulling those plot twists yet lmao.

[lidular]

I love how Heracles isn't just a dumb brute. Everything he does is out remorse, and he is relatively cunning. I one version og the 12th labor, Hades only allows him to take Cerberus because Heracles said it would annoy Hera.

[Estarfigam]

Heracles: Mind if I borrow your dog?
Hades: Sure, just don't hurt my dog.
Heracles: Ok.

Interesting fact Cerberus means spot in Greek

[Dezzerray]

Fun fact : The reason Hercules went to Atlas for help, for the golden apples was because Hermes visited him before and told him not to go to the garden himself, because the Dragon that guards the tree would absolutely slaughter him despite his incredible strength. He thus went to Atlas because the dragon was the Titan's son and would simply not harm his father, making the Labor easier. It was then that Hercules offered to hold the Heavens.

Of course this could just be another version of this story or something.

[gargoyles]

*fights Nemean Lion*
Hera: Weren't you listening?! His hide is impenetrable!!
Hercules: YEAH WHAT ABOUT IT

[davisowens]

I always get so sad when I run out of Jon Solo video's to watch.

*Re watches every messed origins for the twentieth time*

[Pikagirl]

"Her father, the king..." She was a princess? I'm surprised Disney didn't work that detail in.

[spyrosw]

Hercules (Herakles) means "Hera's glory"
From Hera(the goddess) and kleos(glory, greatness)

[NegiTaiMetal]

There was another version on what he did to Atlas: Heracles constructed two mighty pillars that would sustain the heavens Atlas was doomed to carry, thus freeing Atlas and allow him to journey east where he would reign a region that would become the Atlantic Ocean.

[TheHysteriaMan]

22:07
Hercules had to wear women's clothes.
Thor had to wear a wedding dress.
Did Horus have to dress in drag and do the hula?

[hadleighlivingston]

Mythology explained would be amazing! Especially the story of Zeus killing the titans and Cronos his father

[fernybern]

mythology of gods and demi gods are always so damn interesting it makes me a knowledge addict.

[usagitsukino]

One detail I would like to add: The two pilars that Hercules erected to signify his travel are said to be the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, the point where the Atlantic Ocean connects to the Mediterranean Sea.


Also the Garden of Hesperides is speculated to be in Spain, with the golden apples being, well, oranges. Oranges, lemons and everything in this family are called "hesperidoeidi" in greek, and Ancient Greeks were not familiar with them, as they did not grow naturally on Greek land.

[JonSolo]

As always, I just want to say THANK YOU all for watching! I hope you enjoyed my telling of the story! 💙

And for those correcting me on my pronunciation of OH MY GOD!!! I GET IT!!! 😂Lmao, there's a hundred other comments telling me it's pronounced "Hair-uh" so trust me... I won't make that mistake again! Sorry if this comes across as defensive but honestly, I'd just rather you leave a comment with YOUR personal thoughts about the story and how it made you feel than a correction that's already been pointed out repeatedly. Makes the comments a more fun and interesting place to be for everyone 😘

[greyisometrix]

As a kid, I loved how Heracles would use knowledge/items he'd gained from previous labors to complete the newer ones. Man was smart...shame about the madness though.

[sionatube]

I knew it! Scar is the Nemean Lion!

Some of these tasks appear in Assassins Creed Odyssey...