At the legendary crossroads, Hercules before achieving his glory, before the twelve labors, when the path split, found himself before two goddesses:
- Kakia, who offered him the easy path: all the temptations, luxuries, and pleasures he could imagine.
- Areté, who offered him a more difficult path: she promised no rewards beyond those earned through effort:
“Nothing truly good and admirable is offered by the gods to humans without effort and dedication.”
Was this a real episode? Did it actually happen? And if it’s just a legend, does it really matter?
The legend of Hercules symbolizes the choices we must make every day in our lives. We must decide who we want to be and what we are willing to do to achieve it.
Do you seek a life without sacrifice, or a life with purpose? Will you take the easy path and let yourself be carried along, or will you choose the harder path of striving to improve?
This ring is your reminder:
Choose the path that forges your excellence and develops your potential.
Inspired by the sculpture “Hercules vs Cerberus”, one of the twelve labors.