Heracles and Cacus.
     According to a tale related in Virgil’s Aeneid, Hercules stopped at the future site of Rome while driving the cattle of Geryon homeward to complete his tenth labor. While the hero was entertained by King Evander, some of the cattle were stolen by Cacus, a fire-breathing, threeheaded monster who was a son of Vulcan. By dragging the animals backward into his cave on the Aventine hill, Cacus made it impossible to track them. Hercules abandoned his search for them and set out with the rest of the herd, but as he passed the cave he heard lowing from within. Entering the cave, Hercules killed Cacus and recovered the stolen cattle. The site of this encounter is said to be near the Ara Maxima, an altar where Hercules was worshiped by the Romans as the god of victory and commercial enterprise.

Further Reference:
Galinsky, G. Karl. 1972. The Herakles Theme: The Adaptations of the Hero in Literature from Homer to the Twentieth Century. Totowa, N.J., Rowman & Littlefield.

Listings for Heracles are arranged under the following headings:
; Birth of Heracles; Infant Heracles and the Serpents; Choice of Heracles; Madness of Heracles; Pillars of Heracles; Heracles and Cacus; Heracles and Antaeus; Heracles and Deianeira; Heracles and Iole; Heracles and Omphale; Death of Heracles; Apotheosis

See also Heracles, Labors of; Alcestis; Jason, and the Argonauts; Laomedon; Odysseus, in Hades; Pirithous, Wedding; Prometheus, Freed; Theseus, and the Amazons; Titans and Giants