Αs soon as the souls of the dead saw Hercules they scattered, terrified, except for that of Meleagros, whom Hercules had compassion on and promised to marry his sister Dhinera.

 

When Hercules presented himself to Hades and asked permission to take Cerberus with him to the upper world, Hades accepted, but on the condition that the hero should not use any weapon, neither shield nor club, but only his hands.
 

Thus, Hercules, wearing only his lion skin, met Cerberus at the gate of the river Acheron and overpowered him with his immense muscular strength, catching his three doggy heads between his arms. The Cerberus reacted at first by striking and biting the hero with his serpentine tail, but in the end he surrendered.

Hades, who did not believe that Hercules would succeed, as soon as he realized his success, refused to keep his promise. Angry, Hercules did not hesitate to convince him by wounding him with an arrow.

With the help of Athena, he crossed the river of the Underworld, the Styga, and reached its exit in the region of Troizina.