View source for Capturing the Kerberos from an Ideological and Comparatist Perspective

==Overview of the task==

The capture of the Kerberos from [[character::Hades]] is, appropriately, the final [[The Labours of Herakles|Labour of Herakles]]. His task is to capture the Kerberos alive without any weapons. Prior to entering Hades,  Herakles is initiated into the Eleusinian Ministries . While on his way to wrestle the Kerberos he frees [[character::Theseus]],  and then asks Hades for the beast, who replies that he must wrestle  and capture him without weapons. The Kerberos is described by [[author::Apollodoros]] as having three heads and a serpent’s tale.

The [[term::Polycephaly]] motif is popular in Greek Mythology and includes the [[character::Typhon]] and [[character::Skylla]], the six headed dog that terrorizes [[character::Odysseus]], and the hydra that guards the Golden Fleece. In many examples, these beasts are hindering rather than helping the hero in their quest. In particular, the Kerberos’  heads could be depicting the past present and future or birth, life and death and wrestling the dog into submission could be analogous to cheating death.

The Kerberos myth can be traced back Hinduism perhaps. [[character::Yama]], the first mortal, like a pioneer, is searching for a way for all his descendants to reach him at the great rivers on high. He sends his two dogs each day to find men who can join their fathers in Yama’s company .
            
In later mythology, Norse myth depicts two wolves lying at [[character::Odin]]’s feet, [[character::Geri]] and [[character::Freki]]. They hurl themselves across the land when war breaks out from which you could interpret as dead warriors being taken to an afterworld. What is unique about Herakles, is that he defeats the Kerberos (cheats death), which burnishes his heroic qualities further.      
  
==Ideological perspective== 
Herakles has demonstrated his aristocratic qualities through the Labours. Even though his tasks are a penance they can also be seen as series of contests ([[term::athloi]]) in which he displays his strength, athleticism and triumphs. In this final labour, he demonstrates his bravery and courage by descending down to Hades and his strength by wrestling the Kerberos without weapons. His nobility is emphasized through being able to converse with gods [[character::Hermes]] and Hades and his heroic qualities by succeeding in his task and returning triumphant. We note that [[character::Eurystheus]] was so petrified, he cowered in his pot.

By descending and returning from Hades both Herakles and Odysseus set themselves apart from other otherwise great warriors. They become almost other worldly, more heroic and more glorious.
The polychephaly  motif takes on a slightly different meaning as it is symbolic of frustration. He has not one head to subdue but many. However, it is a frustration that is eventually overcome and by cheating death and returning from Hades he has achieved glory ([[term::kleos]]) freedom ([[term::eleutheria]]) from death and more literally freedom from penance and obligation.

To the Greeks, Herakles becomes symbolic of Greek cultural superiority (aristocratic virtues where the concept of ten slaves to serve one aristocrat that was echoed by Aristotle’s view that it was a natural order of things rather than a form of subjection ). Secondly, it is symbolic of Greek city state military power in the region. A land of aristocratic nobleman whose life was dedicated to contest and preparing for war would be a match for any invading armies from the East.  Herakles is not associated with any one Greek city, unlike [[character::Theseus]] and Athens,  and therefore  represents and symbolizes the greater Greek aristocratic values as depicted in classical art. 

[[File:kerberos.jpg|Kerberos]]
Figure 1: Eurystheus hiding in the bronze jar. 525-530BCE Louvre Museum, Paris

I find both the comparatist and the ideological approach possible ways to explain the myth and are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. The symbols, motifs and archetypes that have appeared in other tales in Greek and other cultures have been reassembled in the Kerberos myth to reflect  and reinforce the ideological cultural and  political supremacy in the region.  However, it can be taken further. If a myth is something to think with  then this labour can be appropriated and interpreted for Greek times and other historical times and purposes. Using both the comparatist and ideological approach the myths can live on forever in different narratives and contexts. 


[[Category:Greek Mythology]]