One remained from the 12 labors which Pythia commanded to Hercules. Eurystheus greatly feared Hercules and desired to free himself forever from him. He ordered him therefore to drag back the dog Cerberus from the underworld into the light. This dog guarded the entrance and exit of the underworld. And Hercules and Eurystheus knew this labor would be the most difficult of all; no one ever returned back from the underworld. Besides, this monster Cerberus was a horrible sight, which had 3 head encircled by snakes.
Hercules after he accepted the order from Eurystheus, he immediately brought himself into Laconiam. There he discovered a cave of enormous magnitude for which men descended to the underworld. He went where he came and he found the location of the cave from the inhabitant and will repel (?), he decided to descend without delay. And he did not make the journey alone; Mercury and Athena united with him themselves. Where he came to the bank of the Styx, he did not know a bridge that was on the river. Spirits of the dead were transported across the river by Charon, who waited near the river with a small boat. Charon required coins for this service. On account of this cause, the habit was to put in ancient coins on the mouth for the dead.
Because Hercules was a man of huge size of the body, Charon was not willing to set sail. He had considered that with so much weight his ship would have caused the boat to sink in the middle of the river. At last then alarmed by threats from Hercules, Charon set sail and transported him unharmed to the riverbank beyond.
After merely crossing this river, Hercules came into the realm of Pluto himself. There he informed to Pluto the cause of his journey, and Pluto, who had heard from the distinct Hercules, kindly excepted it. He gave him the means since he asked, but he ordered Hercules to obey the king's commands and after to return Cerberus back into the underworld. Hercules promised this. He dragged Cerberus pressing on with great labor out from the underworld into the light and to Eurystheus's city.
When he came to him, great terror seized the spirit of the king, who fled immediately from the court. With many tears, he ordered Hercules to return the monster without delay into the underworld. Thus contrary to the opinion of all, he completed the 12 labors, which the oracle had ordered, within 12 years. Hercules, freed finally from servitude, returned with great joy to Thebes.