Cacus is a fire-breathing giant shepherd from Italy...
Some experts argue that he is the son of Vulcan...
This monstrous giant used to dwel in a cave on the Aventine Hill of Latium, which was to become the site of Rome.
Distinguish between the Roman Cacus and the Greek Kakos who is a man-eating orge and the sun of Hephaestus...
Cacus was encountered and slain by Herakles as the hero was on his way back to Greece after fetching the cattle of Geryon in Erytheia (Spain)....
According to Evander, Hercules stopped to pasture the cattle he had stolen from Geryon near Cacus' lair.
As Hercules slept, the monster took a liking to the cattle and slyly stole eight of them - four bulls and four cows - by dragging them by their tails, so as to leave a trail in the wrong direction.
When Hercules awoke and made to leave, the remaining herd made plaintive noises towards the cave, and a single cow lowed in reply.
Angered, Hercules stormed towards the cave. A terrified Cacus blocked the entrance with a vast, immoveable boulder, forcing Hercules to tear at the top of the mountain to reach his adversary.
Cacus attacked Hercules by spewing fire and smoke, while Heracles responded with tree branches and rocks the size of millstones.
Eventually losing patience, Hercules leapt into the cave, aiming for the area where the smoke was heaviest.
Hercules grabbed Cacus and strangled the monster, and was praised throughout the land for his act....
He vanished numerous centuries ago but thought to become lost in time and space and should be restored soon...
More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacus
See Vulcan:
Post Image: http://bit.ly/NzTGtY