In the Twelve Labors of Hercules, Geryon’s cattle were red.
The red cattle were the prize of Hercules’ tenth labor. They belonged to Geryon, a powerful giant associated with the far western island of Erytheia. The unusual color helps distinguish this herd from other animals in the labor cycle, including the white Cretan Bull and the man-eating Mares of Diomedes.
Hercules had to drive the cattle back toward Greece after defeating their guardians. The journey was difficult because it covered a great distance and included encounters with hostile figures. In some traditions, the cattle also gave their name to later geographical or ritual associations in the western Mediterranean.
Retellings sometimes describe the herd as golden because “red” cattle sound less familiar to modern readers. Ancient descriptions, however, consistently make their striking color red or reddish.