A constellation in the N sky, fifth-largest of all, but hard to recognize because its stars are faint. It contains the largest and brightest globular cluster in the N sky, M13.
Hercules is the Latin name used in Rome for the divinity corresponding to the Greek mythological hero Heracles (or Herakles), the Roman name being a metathesis of the Greek name.
In popular culture the Romans adopted the Etruscan Hercle, a hero-figure that had already been influenced by Greek culture, especially in the conventions of his representation, but who had experienced an autonomous development.
This Hercle/Hercules, the Hercle of the ejaculation "Mehercle!", remained a popular cult figure in the Roman legions. The literary Greek versions of his life and works were appropriated by literate Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards, essentially unchanged, but Latin literature of Hercules added anecdotal detail of its own, some of it linking the hero with the geography of the Western Mediterranean. Details of the Greek cult, which mixed chthonic libations and uneaten holocausts with Olympian services, were adapted to specifically Roman requirements as well, as Hercules became the founding figure of Herculaneum and other places, and his cult became entwined with Imperial cult, as shown in surviving frescoes in the Herculanean collegium that was devoted to Hercules.
Roman images of Hercules were modelled upon Hellenistic Greek images and might be contrasted with the images of Heracles that appear in Attic vase-painting (see Heracles). One aspect of Greek Heracles was not adopted by Roman culture: the ambivalent relationship with his patroness/antagonist Hera that was an archaic aspect of "Hera's man", Heracles.
Character
In Roman works of art and in Renaissance and post-Renaissance art that adapts Roman iconography, Hercules can be identified by his attributes, the lion skin and the club: in mosaic he is shown tanned black, a virile aspect.
Roman Cult
The cult of Hercules may have been the first foreign one to be adopted in Rome. According to legend, Hercules is said to have founded his most important shrine in Rome, the Great Altar of Hercules (Ara Maxima Herculis), later housed within the Forum Boarium, the cattle market of Rome, within Rome's original Palatine settlement. Hercules became popular with merchants, who customarily paid him a tithe of their profits.
Mark Antony identified himself with Hercules, and even invented a son of Hercules, called Anton, from whom Antony claimed descent.
Some early emperors took up the attributes of Hercules (eg Trajan), and later Roman Emperors, in particular Commodus and Maximian, went further and often identified or compared themselves with him and supported his cult;
The cult of Hercules spread through the Roman world. In Roman Egypt, what is believed to be the remains of a Temple of Hercules are found in the Bahariya Oasis.
Myths of Hercules
The Romans adopted the Greek version of Heracles' life and works essentially unchanged, but added anecdotal detail of their own, some of it linking Hercules with the geography of the Western Mediterranean.
Hercules in popular culture
Since the Renaissance, Hercules has rarely been distinguished from Heracles, the Roman figure overshadowing the Greek. Hercules has also had an undeniable influence on modern pop culture characters such as He-Man, the main protagonist of the Masters of the Universe series, who is also widely admired for his massive strength. The legend of Hercules has been described in many movie and television adaptations. Hercules And The Princess Of Troy - A freeware game of Hercules and one of his great adventures created by 17 year old Michael Becker. Herc's Adventures is a tongue-in-cheek adventure-RPG on the Playstation where you must complete many tasks, many of which are not actually credited to Hercules anywhere else (such as slaying Medusa). Hercules appeared in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II
Children's Tales
Hercules' tale was later toned down into a children's movie.
Comic books
Hercules has also appeared in several comic book adaptations:
Hercules (a 1958 Dell comic adapting the film) Hercules Unchained (a 1959 Dell comic adapting the film) Hercules (Marvel Comics) Hercules (DC Comics)
User Comments Add a comment…