Erymanthian boar

Heracles and the Jabalí of Erimantoby Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634 (Museo del Prado).

Cratera of the 5th century B.C. where Heracles is represented when he brings the Jabalí of Erimanto to the presence of Euristeo who, frightened, hides within a tina.

In Greek mythology, the Erymanthian boar (ἐρυμάνθιος κάπρος / erymánthios kápros; Latin: aper Erymanthius) was a creature that caused havoc all around and who lived in Erymanthus, a mountain in Arcadia and Elis (today it is called Olonos) and also the name of a tributary of the Alpheus (today Diminiza or Azicolos). It was a huge boar that fed on men and with such force that with its tusks it was capable of uprooting trees.

The Fourth Labor of Heracles

On the way to Erymanthus, Heracles made a stop to visit his friend the centaur Pholus, who in memory of distant times shared his food and wine with him. But the other centaurs, smelling the wine that was specially reserved for them, were so enraged that they attacked Heracles, who first repulsed them and then with his poisoned arrows killed several of them while the others withdrew.

While Heracles was burying his victims, his friend Pholus drew one of Heracles' arrows and examined it in amazement that something so small could kill such formidable creatures, but with such clumsiness that the arrow fell off, wounding him in a flash. foot.

Returning to the work that had to be finished, Heracles found the wild boar and, chasing it for several hours, cornered it in a snow-covered area where, jumping on its back, he tied it up and took it to Mycenae alive, loading it on his shoulders. When he presented it to Eurystheus, he was afraid and hid in a bronze jar. It was believed that the teeth of this wild boar were kept in the sanctuary of Apollo in Cumae. Hunting this enormous creature was the fourth (third in some versions) work of the twelve that Eurystheus ordered Heracles to do.