What crime led Hercules to seek purification through the Twelve Labors?

Hercules sought purification after killing his family in a fit of madness.

Greek myths explain that Hera drove Hercules mad, and during that madness he killed his wife Megara and their children. When he recovered, he was horrified by what had happened and sought guidance from the Delphic oracle.

The oracle directed him to serve King Eurystheus and complete the tasks that became known as the Twelve Labors. In some versions, Hercules initially receives a set of ten tasks, but two are rejected: the Hydra was counted as receiving help, and the Augean stable task involved payment.

The details differ between ancient authors, especially regarding the number and identity of the victims. The central point remains consistent in the standard tradition: the labors functioned as penance and purification, not simply as adventurous challenges.