Article translated from spanish to english.
Hercules child kills the serpent sent by Hera
The Sun travels through the zodiac in the period of a year, passing through each sign in approximately one month. On March 20 or 21 of each year, the Sun enters Aries marking the astrological new year, since Aries represents “the first” of the twelve signs, a symbol of the beginning, the start, the departure.
To complement material on the signs of the zodiac, this time we will add the twelve tasks of Hercules, as a representative of the human spirit and a symbol of what the hero learns from each sign in his twelve labors. There are different versions about the relationship of the labors of Hercules with the zodiac, we have mainly nurtured the one exposed by Alice Bailey.
Where do these twelve labors come from?
In Greek mythology Zeus, husband of Hera, after impregnating Alcmene -who will give birth to Hercules-, proclaimed that the next son born in the house of Perseus would become king. Hera brought forward the birth of Eurystheus, cousin of Hercules, who was born at seven months of gestation, while Hercules will remain until he is ten in his mother’s womb. In this way Eurystheus becomes the king of Mycenae. When Zeus realizes what has happened, he flies into a rage, but his reckless proclamation continues. Hera will make Euristeo her armed arm, and he will be the one who will give orders to Hercules, sending him to travel the world and face the worst dangers, hoping that at one moment and another he will succumb to them.
These tasks have divine origin, since it is Hera who commissions them and they symbolize the impulse to the inner development of the individual. They are prescribed by Eurystheus who represents the terrestrial world where the work will have to be completed.
First Labor of Hercules:
The wild mares of the Thrace
Euristeo commissions Hercules to bring him the carnivorous mares of Diomedes, king of Thrace. These have been bred for war and feed on human flesh. Diomedes kept the mares tied with iron chains to bronze mangers and fed them with the flesh of his unsuspecting guests.
Hercules must bring them alive to Eurystheus.