Some time went by and on a day Eurystheus
called on Hercules for his third labor.

- I will do whatever you ask
of me, said Hercules.

- This time I will not send you
to kill any beast or monster,
your task will be not an
easy one as you
may think.
On the high
mountains
between
Argolida...

and Arcadia, lives the Cerynitian hind the sacred deer of Artemis goddess of the hunt.

Eurystheus explained to Hercules that he was to capture the hind and bring it back to him alive. Though a female deer, this fleet-footed beast had golden horns and it run faster than the strongest wind.

Hercules realized that his third task will be very difficult and dangerous since the deer was uncatchable and he may also be facing the anger of the goddess.

After a few days journey he reached the wild mountains of Arcadia and on the mountain called Artemisius he came across a hunter and he asked him if he saw the deer with the golden horns.

- I have seen it many times, said the man, but dare not to kill it because is the sacred deer of the goddess Artemis.

- I want to capture it alive, said Hercules.

- You will not be able to do that my friend, said the hunter. This deer is fast as a lightning and if you pursuit it the deer will lead you on in a far away land from which you cannot return.

Hercules did not listen the hunters advice. He hunted it for an entire year before running it down on the banks of the River Ladon. Taking careful aim with his bow, he fired an arrow between the tendons and bones of the two forelegs, pinning it down without drawing blood and catching it put it on his shoulders and hastened through Arcadia.

On his way back Artemis met him, and would have wrested the hind from him, and rebuked him for attempting to kill her sacred animal. Howbeit, by pleading necessity and laying the blame on Eurystheus, he appeased the anger of the goddess after promising her that he will let the deer free as soon as he completed his task.

Hercules entered the palace and proved to the king the completion of his third labor.