[Greek heroic] This was the eighth labor, Heracles was sent by Eurystheus to capture and bring back the mares of Diomedes, a Thracian chief (according to some sources he was the son of Ares and Cyrene, and was known as Diomedes king of Thrace). He lived in the wild and rugged region on the shores of the Black Sea. Diomedes kept four savage mares, to which he fed the flesh of unsuspecting strangers. It is said he was as savage as his mares; they were totally uncontrollable and were tethered by chains to a bronze manger. When Heracles arrived at the palace, the hero took the king prisoner. Then Heracles, knowing the brutality and suffering Diomedes had caused, took the king to his stables and threw him into the bronze manger, whereupon the mares devoured their own master. This caused the mares to be calm and subdued, which made it easy for Heracles to drive them back to king Eurystheus. When Heracles led the mares meekly into the palace Eurystheus, the king dedicated them to Hera, then let them ...
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