Heracles Labors: The Girdle of Hippolyta.
     The Amazon queen Hippolyta possessed a girdle (belt) given to her by her father, Ares. It was desired by Admete, the daughter of Eurystheus, who sent Heracles (Hercules) on his ninth labor to retrieve it for her. Hippolyta welcomed Heracles, boarding his ship at the mouth of the Thermodon River, and readily promised him the girdle. But Hera, disguised as an Amazon, instigated a battle between Heracles and the Amazons in which Hippolyta was killed. Heracles then removed the girdle from her body and brought it to Tiryns.
     Many variants of this tale exist. In some, the Athenian hero Theseus joined Heracles in the expedition and was given Hippolyta’s sister Antiope as a reward. In others, Heracles captured Hippolyta’s second-in-command, Melanippe, who obtained the girdle for him as the price of her freedom. In differing accounts Antiope is sometimes confused or conflated with Hippolyta.

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' Labors are arranged under the following headings:
Heracles Labors, General List
The Nemean Lion
The Lernean Hydra
The Erymanthian Boar
The Ceryneian Hind
The Stymphalian Birds
The Stables of Augeas
Heracles and Antaeus
The Cretan Bull
The Mares of Diomedes
The Girdle of Hippolyta
The Cattle of Geryon
The Apples of the Hesperides
Cerberus

For Heracles entries generally:
Heracles