Topic 2 - Hercules

Who was Heracles’ Mother?

Alcmene

Who was Alcmene’s husband?

Amphitryon

Who gave Heracles the labours?

King Eurystheus (His cousin)

Why did Heracles consult Delphi for advice? And why did he have to do his labours?

He accidentally killed his wife (Megara) and their two children, after realising this he consulted the oracle. The oracle then ordered Heracles to serve his cousin - king Eurystheus for 10 years, as a punishment.

DO THE SUMMARY OF LABOURS FLASCARDSPL!!!

YES OR NO?

What is a Pithos?

A large clay storage jar

What is the river Tiber?

The main river flowing through Rome

Who composed the Homeric Hymn to Heracles the lion hearted?

Homer, an ancient Greek poet

When was this homeric Hymn composed?

Around 700BC

Why is the Homeric Hymn so important?

The poem outlines some of the key aspects of Heracles’ life

What did Heracles do after he killed his wife?

1. Exiled himself from Thebes

2. Consulted the oracle at Delphi

3. Served his cousin (King Eurystheus) for 12 years/12 labours

What is one foundation story for the Olympic Games?

1. Kind of Pisa (Oinomaos) was told he was going to die when his daughter got married

2. He set up a chariot race and whoever won could marry his daughter

3. Pelops challenged the king to a race - but he won by bribing the Oinamos’ charioteer.

4. He replaced the bronze lichpins with wax

5. Causin the king to die in the race

6. Peplos set up the games in honour of Oinamos

What is another version of the story?

1. Heracles founded the games after killing Augeas to celebrate his journey through the labours

2. The games were a sign of his strength

What are the stories on the temple of Zeus at olympia?

1. Story of Pelops on the pediment

2. Heracles’ 12 labours are on the 12 metopes

What is the cult of Hercules in Rome?

1. The cult was run by Portitii and Pinarii family

2. Slaves and Gladiators would worship him and were give a wooden sword to hand in the temple of Hercules Victor

3. Only men were allowed to participate in rituals

What happened in the story of Hercules and Cacus?

1. Cacus was a monster that stole 8 of Hercules’ cattle after the cattle of Geryon labour

2. Hercules found Cacus’ cave by hearing the distressed cows and their footsteps

3. Hercules found Cacus (who was trying to hide in black smoke) and threw trees and stones at him, before strangling him to death

What happened in the story of Hercules and Achelous?

1. Both were fighting to marry Dienera

2. Hercules said he had divine lineage and was extremely strong

3. Achelous said he was a god and had superior status

4. Achelous attacked Hercules’ birth claim

5. Achelous changed forms throughout the battle and Hercules broke Achelous’ horn when he transformed into a bull

6. This horn would go on to become the cornucopia

What happened in the story of Hercules and Nessus?

1. When Hercules was travelling with Dienera they had to cross the river Evenus which was too deep for Dienera

2. Nessus (a centaur) offered to help but he abducted her

3. Hercules used his poisonous arrows to kill Nessus.

4. Nessus gave Dienera his blood-soaked tunic as a symbol of his loyalty to her

What happened in the death of HErcules?

1. Rumor had spread that Hercules was in love with Iole

2. So Dienera gave Hercules the tunic of Nessus in hope that he would love her

3. The slave gave it to him and he wore whilst preparing a sacrifice

4. It stuck to his skin and tore his limbs apart - before he dies he built a funeral pyre.

5. Jupiter convinced the Gods to alloy Hercules into Olympus and he was deified