Sample Exhibit - Herakles in Greek Art
Herakles is a popular figure in ancient Greek mythology who is represented over and over again in ancient art. His popularity continues even into the modern period. In ancient Greek art, he is depicted primarily in the completion of his twelve labors. In early Greek mythology, the labors were not fully canonized, so there is a lot of variety in the representations. His most typical attributes are the skin of the Nemean lion, and his club. In this digital exhibit, five objects depicting Herakles are chosen, spanning from the Archaic to Hellenistic periods.
The Labors
Herakles and the Nemean Lion is generally thought to be the first labor of Herakles. The labors are tasks given to Herakles to do as punishment for the murder of his own family during a fit of madness caused by Hera. The skin of the Nemean Lion is impervious to attack, and after his defeat of the lion, Herakles uses the skin as a cape in his other pursuits. Occasionally, such as on this coin, representations of him with the skin show the head of the lion over his own as a cap.
The next task set to Herakles is to defeat the Lernean Hydra. A black-figure lekythos attributed to the Diosphos Painter shows the hero in middle of the battle against the Hydra with the support of his nephew, Iolaus. The Hydra is represented as a central body with numerous snake heads. Herakles wears the Nemean lion skin and a short tunic, while he holds a curved weapon over his head. His nephew wears a chiton and a pointed cap. Iolaus grasps one of the heads of the snake. Athena, wearing her aegis, watches from the side with one hand reaching towards Herakles.
Herakles fighting Triton is not always included among the canonical labors. It is depicted on this black-figure hydria. Athena and Iolaus stand at the sides as spectators as Herakles actively wrestles with Triton. Triton is depicted as half-man and half-fish. His scales are carefully incised. Herakles wears the lion skin over his back, but not over his head during this combat.
During his labor to get an apple of the Hesperides, famous golden apples, Herakles supports the vault of the sky, as seen on a metope from Olympia. A nude Herakles is seen supporting the sky in center as Atlas, also nude, returns with an apple of the Hesperides in each hand. Athen, dressed in a peplos, stands behind Herakles and appears to be about to lift the burden of Herakles so that it can be shifted back to Atlas.
After the Labors
Herakles continues his adventures after the completion of the labors and eventually ends up at Delphi seeking guidance. The Pythia did not give him the information he wanted, so he tried to steal the Delphic Tripod, but Apollo intervened and the struggle between the two figures is represented on this red-figure vase. Herakles is nude, not wearing his typical lion skin, but holds his club. Apollo is a calm and still figure, holding two shafts of wheat in one hand and the leg of the tripod in his other hand. Two female figures observe the scene: the one of the viewer's left is Athena, wearing her typical aegis; the one on the right could possibly be Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo.
