[5] Heracles killed Orthrus, and later slew Eurytion and Geryon before taking the red cattle to complete his tenth labor.
[9] Depictions of Orthrus in art are rare, and always in connection with the theft of Geryon's cattle by Heracles.
[11] It shows a two-headed Orthrus, with an arrow protruding from one of his heads, crouching at the feet, and in front of Geryon.
Orthrus is facing Heracles, who stands to the left, wearing his characteristic lion-skin, fighting Geryon to the right.
A red-figure cup by Euphronios from Vulci c. 550–500 BC (Munich 2620) shows a two-headed Orthrus lying belly-up, with an arrow piercing his chest, and his snake tail still writhing behind him.
223), shows a two-headed Orthrus, at the feet of a three-bodied Geryon, with two arrows protruding through one of his heads, and a dog tail.