Classical Civilisation: Hercules: Ovid's Metamorphoses:

Classical Civilisation

Who is Hercules?

Hercules is a legendary hero in Roman mythology known for his strength and heroic deeds, including the Twelve Labors. He is the son of Jupiter and Alcmene, half-brother to Iphicles and step-son to Amphitryon and Juno, who hates him very much.

Who is Deianira?

Deianira is the second wife of Hercules who is the daughter of Oeneus.

Who is Achelous?

Achelous is a river god who wrestled with Hercules and can shapeshift.

What does Achelous insult about Hercules?

He insults how Hercules boasts about being the son of Jove, especially as this means that his mother committed adultery.

How does Hercules respond?

He responds by saying that his right arm is stronger than Achelous’ tongue and they begin wrestling.

Why are they fighting in the first place?

They have both come to marry Deinaria.

What does Achelous change form into?

At first a snake, which Hercules responds how he strangled them in the crib and killed the hydra.

What does he transform into next?

A bull which Hercules wrestles to the ground and breaks off.

What does his horn become a symbol of?

The cornucopia, a horn of plenty.

Name three things you discover about Hercules

• Arrogant - Boasts about his achievements, “my task in the cradle was to defeat snakes”

• Ferocious - Begins the fight straight away with animalistic rage, “blazing”

• Ultimate fighter - He wrestles with a god!

Name three things you discover about Achelous

• Arrogant - Self-assured in his divine supermacy, happy to insult the son of Jupiter, king of the gods. “Jupiter whose child you boast off being, is either wrongly called your father or is truly a wrongdoer”

• Intelligent - Fights cleverly using magic against Hercules immense strength, “and slipped his grasp in the shape of a long snake.”

• Persuasive - A skilled talker to convince Deinaria’s father to marry him, “in me you see the lord of the waters that flow in your rivers through your kingdom.”

• Defends himself - Does not concede himself to Hercules and talks and fights back

Who is Achelous telling this story to?

Theseus, son of Neptune (Poseidon)

Is Acheous upset over his loss?

Not anymore as Hercules was famous.