In Greek mythology, which boar was Heracles required to capture during his third labor?
Answer
The Erymanthian Boar
Answer
The Erymanthian Boar
In Greek mythology, the Erymanthian Boar was the animal Heracles had to capture during his third labor.
The enormous boar lived on Mount Erymanthus, a rugged mountain associated with the regions of Arcadia and Achaea. Heracles was ordered to bring it back alive to Eurystheus, the king who assigned his labors. Unlike several of his other tasks, this challenge required capture rather than killing.
According to the best-known tradition, Heracles drove the boar into deep snow, where it became exhausted and could no longer escape. He then bound it and carried it back. Eurystheus was so frightened by the beast that he hid in a large bronze jar; this scene became a popular subject in ancient art.
The Erymanthian Boar is sometimes confused with the Calydonian Boar, which was hunted by a separate group of heroes in a different story. It is also distinct from the Crommyonian Sow, another destructive boar associated with Theseus. These similar monsters belong to separate Greek myths.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026