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Cancer Astrology - Cancer name is Latin for "crab". The modern Cancer zodiac symbol represents the pincers of a crab, but Cancer zodiac sign has been represented with various types of animals and creatures, usually those living in the water, like crayfish or lobster. In the Greek mythology Cancer, the giant crab, plays a role in the Twelve Labors of Hercules, the greatest of the Greek Heroes.
Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and stepson of Hera, the Goddess of Marriage. Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against Zeus's lovers and his natural children. In the myth of the birth of Hercules, Hera tried to delay his birth until her protege, Eurystheus, had been born first.
Hera hated him so much, she even sent two serpents to kill him when he was an infant, but did not succeed. She also stirred up the Amazons against him when he was on one of his quests. Driven mad by Hera, Hercules lost his judgment and killed his own family. To forgive the crime, Hercules was required to carry out twelve labors set by his rival, Eurystheus, who had become king in Hercules' place. If he succeeded, he would be purified of his sin and would be granted immortality.
Hercules accomplished all the tasks he was given, despite the fact that Hera attempted to make almost each of his Twelve Labors more difficult. As a reward for finishing these twelve treacherous tasks, he was given the gift of immortality by Zeus, his father. Hera forgave him and gave him her daughter Hebe for his bride.
One of the Twelve Labors was to kill Hydra, a water beast that had many heads and extremely poisonous venom. Upon reaching the swamp near Lake Lerna, where the Hydra dwelt, Hercules covered his mouth and nose with a cloth to protect him from the poisonous fumes. He fired flaming arrows into Hydra's cave and fought her with his sword, but the beast was growing two heads if one was cut off, so Hercules dipped his sword in Hydra's venom and used it to burn each head so it couldn't grow back.
Seeing that Hercules was winning the battle, Hera sent a large crab to bite his feet and distract him. The crab grabbed onto the hero's toe with its claws, but couldn’t stop him. Hercules crushed the crab with his foot and killed it.
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