Girdle of Hippolyta
conceptThe ninth labour of Heracles: obtaining the war belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyta, a gift from her father Ares.
The Myth
Hippolyta was going to give it to him willingly — then Hera ruined everything. Heracles sailed to the land of the Amazons to retrieve the magical war girdle Ares had given his daughter Hippolyta. The queen was impressed by Heracles and agreed to hand it over. But Hera, disguised as an Amazon, spread a rumor that Heracles planned to kidnap the queen. The Amazons attacked, and in the chaos Heracles killed Hippolyta and took the girdle by force. He gave it to Eurystheus's daughter Admete. The labour is unusual because it would have succeeded peacefully if not for divine sabotage — Hera manufactured the violence specifically to taint Heracles with Amazon blood.
Symbols
Fun Fact
This is the only labour that would have been completed peacefully without Hera's interference.
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