Herakles

"There is more material available on Herakles than any other Greek god or hero. His story has many more episodes than those of other heroes, concerning his life and death as well as his battles with myriad monsters and other opponents. In literature, he appears in our earliest Greek epic and lyric poetry, is reinvented for the tragic and comic stage, and later finds his way into such unlikely areas as philosophical writing and love poetry. In art, his exploits are amongst the earliest identifiable mythological scenes, and his easily-recognisable figure with lionskin and club was a familiar sight throughout antiquity in sculpture, vase-painting and other media. He was held up as an ancestor and role-model for both Greek and Roman rulers, and widely worshipped as a god, his unusual status as a hero-god being reinforced by the story of his apotheosis. Often referred to by his Roman name Hercules, he has continued to fascinate writers and artists right up to the present day. In Herakles, Emma Stafford has successfully tackled the 'Herculean task' of surveying both the ancient sources and the extensive modern scholarship in order to present a hugely accessible account of this important mythical figure. Covering both Greek and Roman material, the book highlights areas of consensus and dissent, indicating avenues for further study on both details and broader issues. Easy to read, Herakles is perfectly suited to students of classics and related disciplines, and of interest to anyone looking for an insight into ancient Greece's most popular hero."--Publisher's website. Read more... Abstract: Examines the various aspects of Herakles' myth, representations in literature and art, monographs and articles, and presents an account of Herakles. This book highlights areas of consensus and dissent in the theories, and the discussion on Herakles. It is suitable for students of classics and related disciplines. Read more... There Is More Material Available On Herakles Than Any Other Greek God Or Hero. His Story Has Many More Episodes Than Those Of Other Heroes, Concerning His Life And Death As Well As His Battles With Myriad Monsters And Other Opponents. In Literature, He Appears In Our Earliest Greek Epic And Lyric Poetry, Is Reinvented For The Tragic And Comic Stage, And Later Finds His Way Into Such Unlikely Areas As Philosophical Writing And Love Poetry. In Art, His Exploits Are Amongst The Earliest Identifiable Mythological Scenes, And His Easily-recognisable Figure With Lionskin And Club Was A Familiar Sight Throughout Antiquity In Sculpture, Vase-painting And Other Media. He Was Held Up As An Ancestor And Role-model For Both Greek And Roman Rulers, And Widely Worshipped As A God, His Unusual Status As A Hero-god Being Reinforced By The Story Of His Apotheosis. Often Referred To By His Roman Name Hercules, He Has Continued To Fascinate Writers And Artists Right Up To The Present Day. In Herakles, Emma Stafford Has Successfully Tackled The 'herculean Task' Of Surveying Both The Ancient Sources And The Extensive Modern Scholarship In Order To Present A Hugely Accessible Account Of This Important Mythical Figure. Covering Both Greek And Roman Material, The Book Highlights Areas Of Consensus And Dissent, Indicating Avenues For Further Study On Both Details And Broader Issues. Easy To Read, Herakles Is Perfectly Suited To Students Of Classics And Related Disciplines, And Of Interest To Anyone Looking For An Insight Into Ancient Greece's Most Popular Hero.--publisher's Website. Why Herakles? -- Introducing Herakles -- Key Themes. Monsters And The Hero I: The Labours ; Monsters And The Hero Ii: Other Battles ; The Tragic Hero ; Vice Or Virtue Incarnate ; Political Herakles ; Worship Of The Hero-god -- Herakles Afterwards. Post-classical Variations. Emma Stafford. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [272]-294) And Index. HERAKLES 4 Copyright 5 CONTENTS 8 SERIES FOREWORD 12 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 16 LIST OF FIGURES 18 ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS 20 MAPS AND GENEALOGICAL TABLE 23 FOREWORD: WHY HERAKLES? 26 WHY HERAKLES? 28 INTRODUCING HERAKLES 30 Telling the story 30 Synopsis of the myth 31 Explaining Herakles 35 Contexts and sources 42 Overview 46 KEY THEMES 48 1 MONSTERS AND THE HERO I: THE TWELVE LABOURS 50 The strong man figure and monster-fighting 50 Development of the canon of labours 51 Individual labours 57 Overview 76 2 MONSTERS AND THE HERO II: OTHER BATTLES 78 A wealth of opponents 78 Early exploits 79 Strong men and transgressors 82 Strange beasts 95 Overview 105 3 THE TRAGIC HERO 106 A complex character 106 Early tragedy 107 Sophokles: death and deification 107 Euripides: madness and family values 114 Visual reflections of tragedy 123 Roman adaptations 125 Overview 130 4 VICE OR VIRTUE INCARNATE 131 From monster-slaying to comedy, philosophy and romance 131 The comic hero 132 Herakles intellectualized 144 The romantic hero 157 Overview 163 5 POLITICAL HERAKLES 164 The art of political legitimation 164 Herakles as ancestor and ideal ruler 164 Herakles the founder 183 Tyranny and democracy at Athens 190 Overview 197 6 WORSHIP OF THE HERO-GOD 198 Herakles heros-theos 198 Rituals and remains 202 The Roman cult of Hercules 221 Overview 224 HERAKLES AFTERWARDS 226 7 POST-CLASSICAL VARIATIONS 228 The afterlife of a hero 228 Herakles/Hercules and the Christians 229 Telling Hercules’ story I: Renaissance literature 233 Hercules’ image reborn: art from the Renaissance onwards 236 Herculean politics 245 From monarch to revolutionary: Hercules in France 248 Telling Hercules’ story II: literature from the seventeenth century on 252 Hercules the movie star 259 Conclusion: Herakles/Hercules now 266 NOTES 272 GLOSSARY 290 FURTHER READING 293 WORKS CITED 299 INDEX 322 Collating research over the past thirty years, Emma Stafford examines the various aspects of Herakles' myth, representations in literature and art, monographs and articles, and presents a hugely accessible account of this legendary figure. By highlighting areas of consensus and dissent in the theories and discussion on Herakles, the book is easy to read and perfectly suited to students of classics and related disciplines Collating research over the past 30 years, Emma Stafford examines the various aspects of Herakle's myth, representations in literature and art, monographs and articles, and presents a hugely accessible account of this legendary figure