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Hercules and Cacus, Baccio Bandinelli, 1525 - 34, marble. Piazza della Signoria, Florence
Originally a Roman god of fire, who became a fire-breathing demon, Cacus lived in a cave in Aventine Hill where he terrorized the countryside. When Heracles returned with the cattle of Geryon, he passed Cacus' home cave and lay down to sleep. At night Cacus took some of the cattle to his cave backward by their tails, so that their tracks would point in the opposite direction. However, the animals betrayed their presence in the cave to Heracles and he retrieved them and slew Cacus. Others claim that Cacus' sister told Heracles the location of his cave. On the place were Heracles slew Cacus he placed an altar.