A Project of the Department of Classics at the Public Latin School of Boston (

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1 HERCULES Text from Fabulae Graecae ( Longman Publishing Group) A Project of the Department of Classics at the Public Latin School of Boston (

2 12. THE HATRED OF JUNO Hercul s, Alcm nae f lius, quondam in Graeci habit bat. Hic omnium hominum validissimus fuisse d citur. At I n, r g na de rum, Alcm nam derat, et Herculem etiam tum nfantem nec re voluit. Itaque du s serpent s saevissim s m sit; hae medi nocte in cubiculum Alcm nae v n runt, ubi Hercul s cum fr tre su dormi bat. Nec tamen in c n s, sed in sc t magn cub bant. Serpent s iam appropinqu v runt et sc tum mov bant; ita puer somn excit t sunt. Iuno, regina deorum, quae Alcmenam oderat. Quaestiones: Who was Alcmena? What was said about Hercules? Quis erat Iuno? Why did Juno want to kill baby Hercules? Quid fecit Iuno? Where did the serpents enter? In quo cubabant Hercules fraterque Iphicles? Quid fecerunt serpentes in cubiculo? What happened to the sleeping boys?

3 13. HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS Fresco from Pompeii. The infant Hercules strangles serpents while his parents watch. Jupiter s eagle hovers above, protectively. phicl s, fr ter Herculis, magn v ce excl m vit; at Hercul s ipse, fortissimus puer, null mod territus est. Parv s manibus serpent s statim prehendit, et colla e rum magn v compressit. T l mod serpent s puer interfectae sunt. Alcm na autem, m ter puer rum, cl m rem aud verat et mar tum suum somn excit verat. Ille l men accendit et gladium suum arripuit; tum ad puer s proper vit, sed, ubi ad locum v nit, rem m ram v dit; Hercul s enim r d bat et serpent s mortu s d m nstr bat. Quaestiones: What did Iphicles do after the serpents moved the shield? Quo modo (How) sunt serpentes interfectae? What did Alcmena do when she heard the shouting? What three things did her husband then do? Quam rem miram vidit ille, ubi in cubiculum venit? Athena, left, watches over the infant hero Hercules while Iphicles, his mortal brother, reaches for his mother and father.

4 14. THE MUSIC-LESSON Hercul s puer corpus suum d ligenter exerc bat; Magnam partem di in palaestr c ns m bat. Didicit etiam arcum intendere et t la conicere. H s exercit ti nibus v r s eius c nfirm tae sunt. In m sic etiam Lin qu dam rudi b tur; huic tamen art minus d ligenter stud bat. Linus Herculem quondam obi rg bat, quod n n studi sus erat; puer r tus citharam subit arripuit, et omnibus v ribus caput magistr nf l cis percussit. Ille ict pr str tus est, et paul post v t excessit; neque quisquam poste id officium suscipere voluit. bama.ua.edu/~ksummers/ cl222/lect13/img007.jpg Quaestiones: Quo modo (How, In what way) consumebat Hercules magnam partem diei? What art did Hercules learn from Linus? Qualis (What sort of) discipulus erat ille in hac arte? Why did Linus criticize Hercules? Quo modo interfecit Hercules Linum? Why do you think Hercules didn t like the study of music? What aspect/s of Hercules personality or character does this story reveal? Why did no one want the job of teaching Hercules afterward?

5 15. HERCULES ESCAPES SACRIFICE Herakles (Hercules) murders Busiris, hoisting him by his ankles and slamming him down on the sacrificial altar. One priest tries to kill Hercules with a sacrificial axe while another crouches behind the altar in terror. De Hercule h ec etiam n rrantur. Quondam dum iter facit, in fin s Aegypt rum v nit. Ibi r x qu dam, n mine B s ris, ill tempore r gn bat; hic autem vir cr d lissimus homin s immol re c nsu verat. Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coni cit. Tum n nti s d m sit et diem sacrifici dixit. Iam ea di s appet bat, et omnia r te par ta sunt. Man s Herculis cat n s ferre s v nctae sunt, et mola salsa in caput eius imposita est. M s enim erat apud ant qu s salem et far in caput victim rum imp nere. Iam victima ad aram st bat; iam sacerd s cultrum sumpserat. Subit tamen Hercul s magn conat vincula perrupit. Tum ict sacerdotem prostravit; alter regem ipsum occidit. Quaestiones: Where did Hercules travel to? What sort of person was the king there? How did he treat travlelers? Quid egit Busiris postquam Herculem corripuit et in vincula coniecit? What was the custom among ancient people? Qu mod Hercul s fugit? How were the king and priest killed?

6 16. A CRUEL DEED Hercul s iam adul sc ns Th b s habit bat. R x Th b rum, vir ign vus, Cre n appell b tur. Minyae, g ns bellic sissima, Th b n s f nitim erant. L g t autem Miny s ad Th b n s quotann s mitt bantur; h Th b s veni bant et centum bov s postul bant. Th b n enim, quoniam Miny s super t erant, trib tum r g Miny rum quotann s pend bant. At Hercul s c v s su s h c tribut l ber re c nstituit; itaque l g t s comprehendit atque aur s e rum absc dit. L g t autem apud omn s gent s s nct habentur. CREON REX THEBARVM VIR IGNAVVS server.kossuth-saujhely.sulinet.hu/ mkpic/xena. Quaestiones: Qua in urbe habitabat Hercules adulescens? Qualis (What sort of) vir erat Creon? Qualis gens erant Minyae? Cur legati a Minyis Thebas quotannis mittebantur? Cur pendebant Thebani hoc tributum? Quid facere constituit Hercules? Quid fecit Hercules contra (against) legatos Minyarum? Cattle were very important in the ancient economy, and local wars were often fought over their possession. Here is a larnax from Crete with cattle painted on it, from around the time of the Trojan War ( BC). Herakleion, Crete Archaeological Museum.

7 17. THE DEFEAT OF THE MINYAE Erg nus, r x Miny rum, ob haec vehementur r tus, statim cum omnibus c pi s in f n s Th b n rum contendit. Cre n adventum eius per explor t r s cogn vit. Ipse tamen pugn re n luit; nam magn tim re affectus erat. Itaque Th b n Herculem imper t rem cre v runt. Ille n nti s in omn s part s d m sit et c pi s co git; tum proxim di cum magn exercit profectus est. Locum id neum d l git et aciem nstruxit. Tum Th b n superi re loc impetum in host s f c runt. Ill autem impetum sustin re n n potu runt; ita aci s hostium pulsa (est) atque in fugam conversa est. The acropolis of Orchomenos, city-state of the Minyans, as seen from the south. Through antiquity, Orchomenos had been a rival of Thebes, located to the south. In myth, Hercules freed the Thebans from continuing to pay a tribute to the Minyans and their king, Erginus. Quaestiones: Who was Erginus? Cur erat Erginus iratus? Why didn t Creon want to fight with Erginus? Quo modo (How) Hercules exercitum fecit? How were the enemy defeated? Extra points: How does this story compare to or contrast with the movie It s a Bug s Life?

8 18. MADNESS AND MURDER Antonio Canova, Hercules in his Madness (1801). Post hoc proelium Hercul s copi s su s ad urbem red xit. Omnes Th ban h c victori maxim gaud bant; Cre n autem magn s hon ribus Herculem decor vit, atque e f liam suam in m trim nium dedit. Hercul s cum ux re su be tam v tam ag bat; sed subit in fur rem incidit, atque liber s su s ipse su man occ dit. Paul post ad s nit tem reductus est, et propter hoc facinus magn dol re affectus est. Brev tempore ex urbe f git et in silv s s rec pit; c v s enim serm nem cum e hab re n l bant. Quaestiones. Postquam Hercules copias suas ad urbem reduxit, quid fecerunt Thebani? Quem dedit rex Creon Herculi in matrimonium? Quomodo Hercules liberos suos occidit? Post mortem liberorum suorum, quid fecit Hercules? Quid deinde (then) nolebant cives sui cum Hercule habere?

9 19. HERCULES CONSULTS THE ORACLE The Pythia (left) seated opposite Apollo in his sacred tripod. In very early prehistoric times, this was possibly a kettle used to cook human flesh, partaken of by men who believed they then became werewolves and had second sight. An old name for Apollo was Lykaios, Wolf-Man. Hercul s tantum scelus expi re magnopere cupi bat, atque ad oraculum Delphicum re c nstituit; hoc enim erat omnium racul rum n tissimum. Ibi templum erat Apollinis pl rim s d n s rn tum. H c in templ sed bat f mina quaedam, n mine Pythia, et c nsilium dabat e s qu ad raculum v nerant. Haec autem f mina ab ips Apolline doc batur, et volunt tem de hominibus n nti bat. Hercul s igitur, qu Apollinem praecipu col bat, h c v nit. Tum rem t tam exposuit, neque scelus c l vit. Quaestiones: C r Hercul s ad r culum Delphicum iit? Quam ob rem (For what reason) erat r culum Delphicum notissimum? Quid in templo faci bat Pythia? Quis Pythiam docuerat? Quid fecit Hercules ubi ad Pythiam venit?

10 20. THE ORACLE S REPLY Ubi Hercul s f nem f cit, Pythia pr m tac bat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem T ryntha re, et Eurysthe r gis omnia iussa facere. Hercul s ubi haec aud vit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurysthe r g s in servit tem tr didit. Duodecim ann s cr d lissim Eurysthe serv vit, et duodecim lab r s, qu s ille imper verat, c nf cit; h c enim n mod tantum scelus expi r potuit. D h s lab ribus pl rima po t s scr pta sunt. Multa tamen quae po tae n rrant cr dibilia n n sunt. Pythia, priestess of Apollo at Delphi. For more information: Reconstruction of ancient Tiryns, where Hercules served Eurystheus. The heavy fortification walls are typical of Mycenaean cities (ca BC). Questiones: Quam ad urbem iussit Pythia Herculem ire? Cui Pythia iussit Herculem servire? Quot annos Hercules illi crudeli regi serviebat? Quot labores sunt a Hercule confecti?

11 21. FIRST LABOR: THE NEMEAN LION Hercules wrestling the Nemean Lion. Philadelphia L , Attic red figure stamnos, ca. 490 B.C. Quaestion s : Heracles wearing the skin of the Nemean lion, holding his club, his other main attribute. 1. Quem laborem primum iussit Eurystheus Herculem agere, et cur? 2. Ubi habitabat le? Pr mum ab Eurysthe iussus est Hercul s le nem interficere qu ill tempore vallem Nemeaeam redd bat nfestam. Itaque in silv s in quibus le habitabat statim s contulit. Ubi feram v dit, arcum quem s cum attulerat intendit; eius tamen pellem, quae d nsissima erat, tr icere n n potuit. Tum cl v magn quam semper ger bat le nem fr str percussit; neque enim h c mod eum interficere potuit. Tum d mum collum m nstr bracchi s su s complexus est, et fauc s eius omnibus v ribus compressit. H c mod le brev tempore exanimatus est; n lla enim resp rand facult s e dab tur. Tum Hercul s cad ver ad oppidum umer s rettulit; et pellem, quam d tr xerat, poste pr veste ger bat. Omn s autem qu eam regionem incol bant, ubi f ma d morte le nis ad aur s e rum perv nit, vehementer gaud bant, et Herculem magn in hon re hab bant. 3. Cum qu percussit Hercul s leonem? 4. Quo mod est le interfectus? 5. Quid rettulit Hercul s ad urbem? 6. Quid gessit Hercules postea pro veste?

12 22. SECOND LABOR: THE LERNEAN HYDRA Paul post ab Eurysthe Hydram interficere iussus est. Hoc autem erat m nstrum cui novem erant capita. Hercul s igitur cum am c Iol profectus est ad pal dem Lernaeam, in qu Hydra habit bat. Brev tempore m nstrum inv nit; Et, quamquam r s erat magn per cul, id sinistr prehendit. Tum dextr capita novem absc dere coepit; quoti ns tamen hoc f cerat, nova capita exori bantur. Di frustr lab r bat; tandem h c c n t d stitit. Deinde arbor s succ dere et ignem accendere c nstituit. Hoc celeriter f cit; postquam ligna ignem comprehend runt, face rdente colla adussit, unde capita exori bantur. Nec tamen sine magn lab re haec f cit; cancer enim ing ns auxili Hydrae v nit, qu, dum Hercul s capita abscind bat, cr ra eius mord bat. Postquam m nstrum t l mod interf cit, sagitt s su s sanguine eius imbuit, itaque mortifer s reddidit. Hercules (left) cuts off the Hydra s heads with a sickle (falx) while a crab bites his legs. Minerva (unseen, far left) stands behind him, holding out her protective aegis, her magic goat-skin cape covered with serpent scales and fringed with live snakes. Iolaos (right) singes the cut necks with a flaming torch. Because Hercules had the help of Iolaos in this Labor, Eurystheus refused to accept it; but it is usually included as the second of his Twelve Labors. The Hydra s poisonous blood (or gall, according to Apollodorus) will play a significant and recurring part in Hercules life and even in the manner of his death.

13 23. THIRD LABOR: THE CERYNEAN STAG. detail from a Hercules Mosaic, Roman, 3 rd century CE. Madrid, Archaeological Museum. Postquam Eurysthe caed s Hydrae n nti ta est, magnus timor animum eius occup vit. Itaque Herculem cervum quendam ad s referre iussit; virum enim tantae aud ciae in urbe retin re n l bat. Hic autem cervus, cuius cornua aurea fuisse tr duntur, incr dibil fuit celeritate. Hercul s igitur pr m v st gi s eum in silv persequ batur; deinde, ubi cervum ipsum v dit, omnibus v ribus currere coepit. sque ad vesperum curr bat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad qui tem relinqu bat. Fr str tamen tantum lab rem susc pit; n ll enim mod cervum c nsequ poterat. Tandem, postquam t tum annum cucurrit, (ita tr ditur), cervum curs exanim tum c pit, et v vum ad Eurystheum rettulit. Quaestiones: Ubi magnus timor animum Eurysthei occupavit? Qualia (Of what sort, What kind of) cornua cervi fuisse traduntur? Ubi Hercules cervum persquebatur? Quid fecit Hercules, ubi cerbum ipsum vidit? Quam diu cervus cucurrit?

14 24. FOURTH LABOR: THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR Hercules (Herakles), the Erymanthian Boar, Eurystheus, Athena. Detail from Athenian black-figure clay vase, about 510 BC. Paris, Musée du Louvre. Tum v r iussus est Hercul s aprum quendam capere, qu ill tempore agr s Erymanthi s v st bat, et incol s huius regi nis magnopere terr bat. Hercul s rem susc pit, et in Arcadiam profectus est. Postquam in silvam paulum pr gressus est, apr occurrit. Ille autem, simul atque Herculem v dit, statim refugit, et, tim re perterritus, in altam fossam s pr i cit. Hercul s apr laqueum quem attulerat ini cit, et summ cum difficult te eum foss extr xit. Ille, ets fortiter repugn bat, tamen null mod s l ber re potuit, atque ab Hercule ad Eurystheum v vus rel tus est. Quaestiones: Quid Eurystheus Herculem suscipere iussit? Quid fecit aper illo tempore? Quid egit aper postquam Herculem vidit? Quid apro iniecit Hercules? Quo modo aper e fossa est extractus? Qualis aper relatus est ad Eurystheum?

15 25. HERCULES AT THE CENTAUR S CAVE D qu rt lab re, quem supr n rr vimus, haec etiam tr duntur. Hercul s, dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regi nem v nit quam centaur incol bant, qu erant equ, sed (qui) hominis caput hab bant. Cum nox iam appet bat, ad sp luncam d vertit, in qu centaurus qu dam, n mine Pholus, habit bat. Ille Herculem benign exc pit et c nam par vit. At Hercul s, postquam c n vit, v num Phol postul vit. Erat autem in sp lunc magna amphora v n, quam centaur ibi d posuerant. Pholus id vinum dare n l bat, quod reliqu s centaur s tim bat; n llum tamen v num praeter hoc in sp lunc hab bat. "Hoc v num," inquit, "mihi commissum est. S id deder, Centaur m interficient." Hercul s tamen eum irr sit, et ipse p culum v n ex amphor hausit. Hercul s in Phol spelunc, ubi ille amphoram v n haurit. Quaestion s: Ubi Heracles iter f cit? Qu in e regione habit bant? Cur Hercules in speluncam devertit? Quis in spelunc habitabat? Qu mod Hercules Centaur exceptus est? Quis cenam paravit? Cen confect, quid Hercules Phol postul vit? Cur Pholus vinum Hercul dare nol bat? S Pholus Herculi vinum dederit, quid accidet?

16 26. THE FIGHT WITH THE CENTAURS The Battle between Hercules and Centaurs ( ), by Gian Jacopo Caraglio. This was one of a series of engravings produced by Caraglio depicting the labors of Hercules. Hercules is shown here in the foreground beating a fallen centaur with his club; two centaurs have aimed arrows at his backside in retaliation. The piece is currently on display at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in Russia. Simul atque amphora v n optim pl na aperta est, odor i cundissimus undique diff sus est; v num enim su vissimum erat. Centaur n tum od rem s ns runt, atque omn s ad locum conv n runt. Ubi ad sp luncam perv n runt, magnopere r t erant, quod Herculem bibentem v d runt, ac Pholum interficere vol bant. Hercul s tamen in adit sp luncae c nstitit et impetum e rum fortissim sustin bat. Fac s rdent s in e s coni cit; mult s etiam sagitt s su s vulner vit. Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant quae sanguine Hydrae imb tae erant. Omn s igitur qu s ille sagitt s vulner verat ven n statim abs mpt sunt; reliqu autem ubi hoc v d runt, terga vert runt et fug sal tem peti runt. Quaestiones: Qu mod v num perscr ptum est? C r centaur r t erant? Quid facere vol bant? Qu mod Hercul s impetum e rum sustin bat? Qu sagittae Herculis imbutae erant? Quid accidit ill s qu s ille vulner vit? Qu mod reliqu sal tem peti runt?

17 27. THE FATE OF PHOLUS Pholus (center) was a centaur who once entertained Hercules (right), who is dipping his cup in the wine-jar. The lid of the jar leans up to the right. Two other centaurs, angry that Hercules is drinking their wine, enter on the left. Quaestiones: Quid spect bat Pholus ubi ex spelunc egressus est? C r m r batur Pholus? Quid Pholus vulnere extr xit? In qu parte corporis Pholus se (acc.- himself) vulner vit? Quid deinde Phol accidit? Quid git Hercul s postquam Pholum mortuum v dit? Cum reliqu fugissent, Pholus ex spelunc gressus est, et corpora spect bat e rum qu sagitt s interfect erant. Magnopere autem mir batur quod tam lev vulnere exanimat erant, et causam eius re quaer bat. Itaque adiit locum ubi cadaver cuiusdam centaur iac bat, ac sagittam vulnere extr xit. Haec tamen, s ve c s s ve c nsili de rum, d manibus eius lapsa est et pedem leviter vulner vit. Ille statim gravem dolorem s nsit, et brev tempore v ven n exanim tus est. Ubi Hercul s, qu reliqu s centaur s secutus erat, ad sp luncam rediit, magn cum dol re Pholum mortuum v dit. Mult s cum lacrim s am cum sepel vit; tum, postquam alterum p culum v n exhausit, somn s dedit.

18 28. THE AUGEAN STABLES. Deinde Eurystheus Hercul imper vit ut hunc lab rem gravi rem c nficeret. Aug s qu dam, qu ill tempore r gnum in lide obtin bat, tria m lia boûm hab bat. H in stabul ingentis magnit dinis incl s erant. Stabulum autem squ l re erat obsitum; neque enim ad id tempus umquam p rg tum erat. Hoc Hercul s n di p rg re iussus est. Ille, ets r s erat multae operae, neg tium susc pit. Pr mum magn lab re fossam duod v gint pedum d xit, per quam fl minis aquam d montibus ad m rum stabul d xit. Tum, postquam m rum perr pit, aquam in stabulum imm sit; et t l mod contr op ni nem omnium opus c nf cit. Quaestiones: Quis erat Augeas? Quot (How many) boves habebat ille? Ubi erant illius boves inclusi? Quid iussit Augeas Herculem facere? Quid primum fecit Hercules? Quid fecit Hercules posquam aquam fluminis per murum duxit? Quid factum est contra opinionem omnium? Above: Relief panel from the temple of Zeus at Olympia. Hercules (Herakles) originally held a long-handled spade, with which he dug the ditch to direct the river water into the stables of Augeas. His helper, Minerva (Athena), stands beside him to guide and direct him in this Labor. Left: a modern image of this Labor.

19 29. THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS. Quaestiones: Qu speci erant aves Stymphalides? Quam ob rem erat tam difficile avibus appropinquare? Qu mod adiuvit Minerva Herculem? Quis erat Volcanus? Quid fecit Hercules ut aves perterreret? Quo modo interfecit Hercules illas aves? Post pauc s di s Hercul s ad oppidum Stymph lum iter f cit; imper verat enim e Eurystheus ut av s Stymphalid s interficeret. Hae av s rostra a nea hab bant, et carne hominum v sc bantur. Ille, postquam ad locum perv nit, lacum v dit; in h c autem lac, qu n n procul erat ab oppid, av s habit bant. N lla tamen appropinquand facult s dab tur; lacus enim n n ex aqu, sed l m c nstitit. Hercul s igitur neque pedibus neque lintre pr gred potuit. Cum magnam partem di fr str c nsumpsisset, h c c n t d stitit et ad Minervam s contulit, ut auxilium ab e peteret. Illa e crotala dedit quae ipse Volc nus (qu ab fabr s maxim col batur) ex aere f cerat. Cum Hercul s h s crotal s crepitum cerrimum f cisset, av s perterritae vol v runt. Ille autem, dum volant, magnum numerum e rum sagitt s tr nsf xit. Left: Hercules shoots the Stymphalian birds. In what way is this picture different from the ending of the story above?

20 30. SEVENTH LABOR: THE CRETAN BULL Tum Eurystheus Hercul imper vit ut taurum quendam fer cissimum ex nsul Cr t v vum referret. Ille n vem c nscendit, et cum ventus id neus esset, statim solvit. Cum tamen nsulae iam appropinqu ret, tanta tempest s subit coorta est ut n vis cursum ten re n n posset. Tantus autem timor anim s naut rum occup vit ut paene omnem spem sal tis d p nerent. Hercul s ets n vigand imper tus erat, tamen n ll mod territus est. Paul post summa tranquillit s c nsec ta est, et nautae, qu s ex tim re iam rec perant, n vem incolumem ad terram appul runt. Hercul s n v gressus est et cum ad r gem Cr tae v nisset, causam veniend docuit. Deinde, postquam omnia par ta sunt, ad eam regi nem contendit quam taurus v st bat. Brev tempore taurum v dit et, quamquam r s erat magn per cul, cornua eius prehendit. Tum, cum m nstrum ad n vem ingent lab re tr xisset, cum praed in Graeciam rediit. Amphora, ca. 520 B. C. Hercules subdues the Cretan bull. Hermes, holding the caduceus, stands behind, ready to help Quaestiones: Quid Herculi imperavit Eurystheus? Quid accidit (happened) cum navis insulae appropinquaret? Quid fecit Hercules cum ad regem Cretae venisset? Quomodo (How) prehendit Hercules illum taurum? Quam ob rem (For what reason, Why) erat res magni periculi illud monstrum capere?

21 31. EIGHTH LABOR: THE HORSES OF DIOMEDES Postquam ex nsul Cr t rediit, Hercul s ab Eurysthe in Thr ciam missus est, ut equ s Diom dis red ceret. H equ carne hominum v sc bantur; Diom d s autem, vir cr d lissimus, e s obici bat peregr nos omn s qu in eam regi nem v nerant. Hercul s igitur magn celerit te in Thr ciam contendit, et ab Diom de postul vit ut equ sibi tr derentur. Cum tamen r x hoc facere n llet, Hercul s, r comm tus, eum interf cit et cad ver eius equ s obic iussit. Ita m ra r rum comm t ti facta est; is enim qu ante mult s cum cruci t nec verat ipse e dem supplici nec tus est. Cum haec n nti ta essent, omn s qu eam regi nem incol bant Athenian black-figure vase: Hercules and one of Diomedes maxim laetiti affect sunt, mares. Note shoulder and arm in the horse s mouth. et Hercul meritam gr tiam rettul runt. N n mod maxim s hon ribus et praemi s eum d cor v runt, sed etiam r bant ut r gnum ipse susciperet. Ille tamen hoc facere n l bat; et cum ad mare red sset, n vem occup vit. Ubi omnia ad n vigandum par ta sunt, equ s in n v colloc vit; deinde, cum id neum tempest tem nactus esset, sine mor port solvit, et paul post equ s in l tus Argolicum exposuit.

22 32. NINTH LABOR: THE BELT OF HIPPOLYTE. G ns Am zonum omn n ex mulieribus c nstitisse d citur. Hae summam scientiam re m lit ris hab bant, et tantam virt tem adhib bant ut cum vir s proelium committere aud rent. Hippolyt, Am zonum r g na, balteum habuit n tissimum, quem M rs e dederat. Adm t autem, Eurysthe f lia, d h c balte aud verat, et eum possid re vehementer cupi bat. Eurystheus igitur Hercul mand vit ut c pi s c geret et bellum Am zonibus nferret. Ille n nti s in omn s part s d m sit; et cum maxima multit d conv nisset, e s tamen s l s d l git qu maximum sum in r m lit r hab bant. Right: an Amazon hunting with horses and dog. Philadelphia MS4832, Attic black figure amphora, c B.C. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of The University of Pennsylvania Museum. Quaestiones: Qualis erat gens Amazonum? Quam scientiam habebant illae? Quis Hippolytae illum balteum notissimum dederat? Quis erat Admete, et quid illa cupiebat? Quae mandavit Eurystheus Herculi? Quid deinde fecit Hercules? Quos delegit Hercules ad eam rem conficiendam?

23 33. THE BELT IS REFUSED. Hercul s postquam causam itineris exposuit, fortissim s vir s persu sit ut s cum iter facerent. Tum cum e s quibus persu serat n vem c nscendit; et pauc s post di bus, cum ventus id neus esset, ad stium fl minis Therm dontis appulit. Postquam in f n s Am zonum v nit, n ntium ad Hippolyt n m sit, qu causam veniend doc ret et balteum posceret. Ipsa Hippolyt balteum tr dere vol bat, quod f ma d Herculis virt te ad eam all ta erat; reliquae tamen Am zon s e persu s runt ut neg ret. At Hercul s, cum haec n nti ta essent, bell fort nam tempt re c nstituit. Proxim di cum c pias d xisset, locum id neum d l git atque host s ad pugnam voc vit. Am zon s quoque c pi s su s castr s d x runt et n n magn interv ll ab Hercule aciem nstr x runt. Amazons arming. Malibu 77.AE.11, Attic red figure volute krater, c. 490 B.C. J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California

24 34. THE BATTLE Pal s erat n n magna inter du s exercit s; neutr tamen initium tr nseundi facere vol bant. Tandem Hercul s signum dedit; et, ubi pal dem tr nsiit, proelium comm sit. Am zon s impetum vir rum fortissim sustinu runt et, contr omnium op ni nem, tantam virt tem praestit runt ut mult s e rum occ derent, mult s etiam in fugam conicerent. Vir enim nov genere pugnae perturb bantur, nec magnam virt tem praest bant. Hercul s autem cum haec vid ret d su s fortun s d sp r re coepit. Itaque m lit s vehementer cohort tus est ut pr stinae virt tis memoriam retin rent, neu tantum d decus admitterent, hostiumque impetum fortiter sustin rent. Quibus verb s anim s omnium ita c nfirm vit ut mult etiam qu vulneribus c nfect essent proelium sine mor redintegr rent. In one version of the Hercules myth, the young hero Theseus went on the expedition to capture Hippolyte s belt; he is seen here in the fighting. On that adventure he captured the Amazon Antiope, with whom he had an illegitimate son, Hippolytus. The tragic death of Hippolytus years later is told in a play of that name by the great Athenian dramatist Euripides. Quaestiones: Quid nolebant neutri facere? Quid fecerunt Amazones, contra omnium opinionem? Qua re (Why) erant viri tam perturbati? Cum Hercules de suis fortunis desperare coepisset, quid fecit deinde? Quo modo (In what way) se egerunt milites cum verba Herculis audivissent?

25 35. THE DEFEAT OF THE AMAZONS Di et criter pugn tum est; tandem tamen ad s lis occ sum tanta comm t ti r rum facta est ut mulier s terga verterent et fug sal tem peterent. Multae autem, vulneribus d fessae, dum fugiunt, captae sunt; in qu numer erat ipsa Hippolyt. Hercul s summam cl mentiam praestitit; postquam balteum acc pit, l bert tem omnibus capt v s dedit. Tum v r soci s ad mare red xit; et, quod n n multum aest tis supererat, in Graeciam profic sc m t r vit. Itaque n vem c nscendit et, tempest tem id neam nactus, statim solvit. Priusquam tamen in Graeciam perv nit, ad urbem Troiam n vem appellere c nstituit; fr mentum enim quod s cum hab bat iam d ficere coeperat. Mississippi , Attic black figure neck amphora, c B.C. Side A: Amazon on left, detail: Note the belt on the fallen Amazon, probably Hippolyte. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the University Museums, University of Mississippi. Hercules fighting the Amazon Andromache. Right: detail from an Athenian black-figure clay vase, about 550 BC. Boston, Museum of Fine Arts Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Quae commutatio rerum est facta in proelio inter Graecos et Amazones? Quid tandem factum est (happened) Hippolytae, Amazonum reginae? Quo modo (How) tractavit (treated) Hercules Amazones victas captasque? Quam ob rem (For what reason) maturaverunt Graeci rursus (back) in Graeciam? Consideranda: Cur (Why) appul runt illi ad urbem Troiam? What might the story of Hercules and the Amazons reveal about masculine Greek attitudes toward women in general?

26 36. LAOMEDON AND THE SEA-MONSTER L omed n qu dam ill tempore r gnum Troiae obtin bat. Ad hunc Nept nus et Apoll superi re ann v nerant; et, cum Troia n ndum moenia hab ret, ad hoc opus auxilium obtulerant. Postquam tamen e rum auxili moenia c nfecta sunt, L omed n praemium quod pr posuerat persolvere n l bat. Nept nus et Apoll, ob hanc causam r t, m nstrum quoddam m s runt speci horribil, quod cot di mar veni bat atque homin s pecud sque vor bat. Artist s reconstruction of Troy II, BC. Troi n autem, tim re perterrit, in urbe contin bantur, et pecora omnia ex agr s intr m r s compulerant. L omed n, h s r bus comm tus, r culum c nsuluit, ac deus e praec pit ut f liam H sion n m nstr obiceret. The walls of Troy I (the earliest level of city construction). Ancient people thought that the huge walls must have been built by giants, the Cyclops; such walls today are called cyclopean.

27 37. THE RESCUE OF HESIONE The Monster of Troy Vase, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Hercules attacks the monster with the assistance of Hesione. Note the similarities with the story of Perseus and Andromeda. Paleontologists believe the monster s head is modeled after the skull of a dinosaur seen by the ancient artist. Quaestiones Quid erat responsum oraculi? Cur Laomedon oraculo parere constituit? Quo tempore Hercules Troiam attigit, et navem appulit? De quibus rebus certior factus est Hercules? Quid rex Laomedon Herculi concessit? Quid fecit Laomedon, postquam puella reducta est? L omed n, cum hoc resp nsum ren nti tum esset, magnum dol rem perc pit; sed tamen, ut c v s su s tant per cul l ber ret, r cul par re c nstituit, et diem sacrifici d xit. Sed, s ve c s s ve c nsili de rum, Hercul s tempore opport nissim Troiam attigit; ips enim temporis p nct qu puella, cat n s v ncta, ad l tus d d c b tur, n vem appulit. n v gressus, d e s r bus quae ger bantur certior factus est; tum, r comm tus ad r gem s contulit atque auxilium obtulit. Cum r x libenter e concessisset ut, s posset, puellam l ber ret, Hercul s m nstrum interf cit; et puellam, quae iam omnem spem sal tis d posuerat, incolumem ad patrem red xit. L omed n magn cum gaudi f liam acc pit, et Hercul pr tant benefici meritam gr tiam rettulit.

28 38. TENTH LABOR: THE OXEN OF GERYON Tum v r missus est Hercul s ad nsulam Eryth am, ut bov s G ryonis arcesseret. R s erat summae difficult tis, quod bov s qu dam Euryti ne et cane bicipite cust di bantur. Ipse autem G ry n horribilem speciem praeb bat; tria enim corpora inter s coni ncta hab bat. Hercul s etsi intelleg bat quantum per culum esset, tamen neg tium susc pit. Postquam per mult s terr s iter f cit, ad eam partem fricae perv nit quae Eur pae proxima est. Ibi in utr que l tore fret quod Eur pam ab frica d vidit column s c nstituit, quae poste Herculis Columnae appell bantur. The Straits of Gibraltar, between Spain and Morocco. The steep rock cliffs and mountains on either side were called The Pillars of Hercules by ancient Greeks and Romans. Geryon, cui tria corpora inter se coniuncta erant. Quaestiones: Cur erat tam difficile boves Geryonis arcessere? Cur erat species Geryonis tam horribilis? Ad quam partem Africae tandem pervenit Hercules? Quid ibi fecit ille?

29 39. THE GOLDEN BOAT Hercul s dum h c mor tur magnum incommodum cal re s lis accipi bat; tandem, r comm tus, arcum suum intendit ac s lem sagitt s petiit. S l tamen aud ciam vir tantum adm r tus est ut e lintrem auream daret. Hercul s hoc d num libentissim acc pit; n llam enim n vem in h s regi nibus inven re potuerat. Tum lintrem d d xit et, ventum nactus id neum, pauc s post di bus ad nsulam perv nit. Ubi ex incol s cogn vit qu in loc bov s essent, in eam partem statim profectus est atque r ge G ryone postul vit ut bov s sibi tr derentur. Cum tamen ille hoc facere n llet, Hercul s et r gem ipsum et Euryti nem, qu erat ingent magnit dine corporis, interf cit. Hercules battles Geryon and Eurytion (lying wounded on the ground). Black-figure amphora by the master Exekias, ca. 550 BC. Louvre. Hercules sailing to Erytheia (Red Island) in the Sun s golden bowl. Interior of an Attic red-figure kylix (wine cup), attributed to Circle of Douris, c. 480 BCE, from Vulci. Vatican Museums. Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Quam ob rem petiit Hercules Solem sagittis suis? Quid ex admiratione Herculi dedit Sol? Quid postulavit Hercules a Geryone? Quid deinde factum est (happened, was done) regi Geryoni Eurytionique?

30 40. A MIRACULOUS STORM Tum Hercul s bov s per Hisp niam et Liguriam compellere c nstituit. Postquam omnia par ta sunt, bov s ex nsul ad continentem tr nsportavit. Ligur s autem, g ns bellic sissima, dum ille per f n s e rum iter facit, magn s c pi s c g runt atque eum longius pr gred prohib bant. Haec r s Hercul magnam difficult tem attulit; barbar enim in loc s superi ribus c nstiterant, et lapid s t laque in eum conici bant. Ille quidem paene omnem spem sal tis d posuerat; sed tempore opport nissim Iuppiter imbrem lapidum ingentium cael d m sit. H tant v cecid runt ut magnus numerus Ligurum interficer tur; ipse tamen Hercul s (ut in t libus r bus accidere c nsu vit) nihil incommod acc pit. Quaestiones: Ubi est Liguria hodie? Possible return route of Hercules with the cattle of Geryon. Qualis gens erant Ligures? Quas difficultates Herculi attulerunt Ligures? Cum Hercules paene omnem spem salutis deposuisset, quid fecit Iuppiter? Quo modo (How) sunt Ligures interfecti

31 41. THE PASSAGE OF THE ALPS Postquam Ligur s h c mod super t sunt, Hercul s quam celerrim pr gressus est, et brev tempore ad Alpes perv nit. Necessse erat h s tr ns re, ut in Italiam bov s ageret; r s tamen summae erat difficult tis. H enim mont s, qu Galliam ab Itali d vidunt, nive perenn sunt t ct ; Monte Bianco Range (Mont-Blanc), the Alps between France and Italy, so called because they are covered with almost perpetual snow (nive perenni sunt tecti). quam ob causam neque fr mentum neque p bulum in h s regi nibus inven r potest. Hercul s igitur, priusquam ascendere coepit, magnam c piam fr ment p bul que compar vit, et h c comme t bov s oner vit. Postquam in h s r bus tr s di s c ns mpsit, quart di profectus est et, contr omnium op ni nem, bov s incolum s in Italiam tr d xit. Cur erat necesse Herculi transire Alpes? Ubi sunt hi montes hodie? Quas ob causas erat tam difficile illos montes transire? Quae comparavit Hercules antequam Alpes ascendit?

32 42. CACUS STEALS THE OXEN Brev tempore ad fl men Tiberim v nit. Tum tamen n lla erat urbs in e loc ; R ma enim n ndum condita erat. Hercul s, itinere fessus, c nstituit ibi pauc s di s mor r, ut s lab re reficeret. N n procul valle ubi bov s p sc bat sp lunca erat, in qu C cus, horribile m nstrum, tum habit bat. Hic terribilem speciem praeb bat, n n mod quod ingent magnit dine corporis erat, sed quod ignem ex re effl bat. C cus autem, qu d advent Herculis f mam aud verat, noct v nit et, dum Hercul s dormit, quattuor pulcherrim s bov s abripuit. H s caud s in sp luncam tr xit, n Hercul s vestigi s cogn scere posset qu in loc abdit essent. What is the story of Cacus the cattle thief about? In carrying out his famous Labors, Hercules had a number of side-labors, called parerga. The story of Cacus and Hercules is one of these. Despite his often violent nature, Hercules was worshiped throughout the ancient Mediterranean world as an agent of civilization, a culture hero. By killing or capturing monsters, wild animals, giants, and ogres like Cacus, Hercules made the world safer for ordinary people to live decent, peaceful lives. Cattle were extremely important to ancient Europeans: they were needed for meat, milk, and leather, and possession of cattle was a basis of wealth. The theft (rustling) of cattle was therefore regarded as a very serious crime and disturbance of society. Here is an archaic plaque of a cattle raid: Limestone metope from Delphi, ca. 560 BC. Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Cur constituit Hercules ad flumen Tiberim paucos dies morari? In quibus duobus modis erat species Caci horribilis? Quid faciebat Hercules dum Cacus in vallem venit? Quo modo (How) traxit Cacus boves in speluncam, et quam ob rem (Why)? Vestigia boûm praeter ripam fluminis.

33 43. HERCULES DISCOVERS THE THEFT Caput bovis. Poster di, simul atque somn excit tus est, Hercul s f rtum animadvertit, et bov s miss s omnibus loc s quaer bat. H s tamen nusquam reper re poterat, n n mod quod loc n t ram ign r bat, sed quod vestigi s fals s d ceptus est. Tandem, cum magnam partem di frustr c ns mpsisset, cum reliqu s b bus pr gred c nstituit. At, dum profic sc parat, nus b bus qu s s cum habuit m g re coepit. Subit e qu in sp lunc incl s erant m g tum reddid runt; atque h c mod Hercul s cogn vit qu in loc abdit essent. Ille vehementer r tus ad sp luncam quam celerrim s contulit, ut praedam reciperet. At C cus saxum ing ns ita d i cerat ut aditus sp luncae omn n obstruer tur. Boves mugientes. Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Ubi animadvertit Hercules boves amissos esse? Quas ob causas non poterat Hercules illos reperire? Quid demum (finally) constituit Hercules? Quo modo cognovit Hercules ubi boves amissi essent? Cur deiecerat Cacus saxum ingens? Who is Cacus really? Cacus (the name is simply the Greek adjective meaning bad, evil ) belongs to a class of fire-breathing, cave-dwelling monsters who rob passersby and hoard their loot; sometimes they appear as dragons, sometimes as giants, ogres, or trolls. Roman folklore held that Cacus cave was in the southwest corner of the much later Palatine Hill, and that his sister Caca lived across the valley (later the Circus Maximus) in her cave on what would become the Aventine Hill. We are to understand that this exploit took place about five hundred years before Romulus founded Rome on the Palatine. The Romans used the story of Hercules and Cacus to explain their worship of Hercules at the Ara Maxima (Greatest Altar) near the Forum Boarium (Cattle Market) and the Circus Maximus.

34 44. HERCULES AND CACUS Hercul s cum n llum alium introitum reper re posset, hoc saxum mov re c n tus est, sed propter eius magnit dinem r s erat difficillima. Di fr str lab r bat neque quicquam efficere poterat; tandem tamen magn c n t saxum m vit ac sp luncam patef cit. Ibi miss s bov s magn cum gaudi c nspexit; sed C cum ipsum vix cernere potuit, quod sp lunca pl na erat f m, quem ille m re su effl bat. Hercul s in sit t speci turbatus, paul sper haesit bat; post tamen in sp luncam irr pit, et collum m nstr bracchi s complexus est. C cus ets multum repugn vit, null mod s l ber re potuit; et, cum n lla facult s resp rand dar tur, brev tempore exanim tus est. A clay sculpture of Hercules wrestling Cacus by the great Renaissance artist Michaelangelo Buonarotti. The theme of struggle between good and civilized against wicked and barbaric was very important in Renaissance art, and Hercules is often central in such works. Below and left, detail from Landscape with Hercules and Cacus, by Nicholas Poussin, Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Cur erat tam difficile saxum amovere? Quid conspexit Hercules postquam speluncam patefecit? Cur erat Herculi tam difficile Cacum ipsum conspicere? Quo modo est Cacus tandem exanimatus?

35 45. ELEVENTH LABOR: THE GOLDEN APPLES Eurystheus, postquam bov s G ryonis acc pit, lab rem ndecimum Hercul imposuit, gravi rem quam qu s supr n rr vimus. Mand vit enim e ut aurea m la ex hort Hesperidum auferret. Hesperid s autem nymphae erant quaedam f rm praestantissim, quae in terr longinqu habit bant, quibusque aurea quaedam m la I n ne commissa erant. Mult homin s, aur cupidit te induct, haec mala auferre iam ante c n t erant. R s tamen difficillima erat; namque hortus in qu m la erant mur ingent undique circumdatus erat. Praetere drac qu dam, cui centum erant capita, portam hort d ligenter cust di bat. Opus igitur quod Eurystheus Hercul imper verat erat summae difficult tis, n n modo ob caus s qu s com-memor vimus, sed etiam quod Hercul s omn n ign r bat qu in loc hortus ille situs esset. The dragon who guarded the golden apples was called Ladon, and the name Hesperides means Girls of the Evening/West/Setting Sun. The ancients thought that the Garden was at the western end of the known world-- either at the northwest corner of Africa in the Atlas Mountains in present-day Morocco, or on one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Notice that Hercules labors take him further and further away from Greece each time. Do you know other myths involving a dragon or serpent-like creature guarding a special treasure, perhaps a fruit, hanging in a tree in a far-off garden? QUAESTIONES: Qualis erat undecimus labor quem Eurystheus Herculi imposuit? Quid imperavit Herculi Eurystheus? Quae erant Hesperides et ubi habitabant? Quis commisit Hesperidibus aurea mala? Cur conati erant multi homines iam antea aurea mala auferre? Ob quas tres causas erat tam difficile Herculi illa mala auferre?

36 46. HERCULES ASKS THE AID OF ATLAS Hercul s, quamquam qui tem vehementer cupi bat, tamen Eurysthe par re c nstituit; et simul ac iussa eius acc pit, profic sc m t r vit. mult s merc t ribus quaes verat qu in loc Hesperid s habit rent ; nihil tamen certum reper re potuerat. Fr str per mult s terr s iter f cit et multa per cula subiit; tandem, cum in h s itineribus t tum annum c ns mpsisset, ad extr mam partem orbis terr rum, quae proxima est cean, perv nit. H c st bat vir qu dam, n mine Atl s, ingent magnit dine corporis, qu caelum (ita tr ditum est) umer s su s sustin bat, n in terram d cideret. Hercul s tant s v r s magnopere miratus statim in colloquium cum Atlante v nit; et cum causam itineris docuisset, auxilium ab e petiit. Kasbah du Toubkal, a resort hotel at the foot of Jebel Toubkal the highest peak in the Atlas Range of North Africa. mages/destinations/1293midimg1.jpg Atlas was one of the Titans who refused to accept Zeus authority; his punishment was to hold up the rim of the sky-bowl at the far edge of the world. In another myth, he refused hospitality to Perseus, who showed him Medusa s head, turning him to stone, the Atlas Mountains of present-day Morocco, giving his name to the Atlantic Ocean. QUAESTIONES: Ubi maturavit Hercules ad laborem undecimum proficisci? Quid quasivit ille a mercatoribus? Quantum temporis consumpsit Hercules? Ubi stabat Atlas, et quid faciebat ille? Quid petiit Hercules ab Atlante?

37 47. HERCULES BEARS UP THE HEAVENS In this 5th-century red figure vase from Athens (London E 224 British Museum), the Hesperides vie for the attention of Hercules, seated on the right, either by getting him the golden apples (note the serpent coiled around the tree) or in more obviously personal ways, as the third sister does. Ancient images like these tell us that there was a different version of this labor, in which Hercules himself obtains the golden apples directly from the Hesperides. Atl s autem Hercul maxim pr desse potuit; nam cum ipse esset pater Hesperidum, sci bat qu in loc esset hortus. Postquam igitur aud vit quam ob causam Hercul s v nisset, "Ipse," inquit, "ad hortum b et f li bus me s persu d b ut m la su sponte tr dant." Hercul s cum haec aud ret, magnopere g v sus est; vim enim adhib re n luit, s r s aliter fier posset. Itaque auxilium obl tum accipere c nstituit. Atl s tamen postul vit ut, dum ipse abesset, Hercul s caelum umer s sustin ret. Hoc autem neg tium Hercul s libenter susc pit. Quamquam r s erat summ lab ris, t tum pondus cael continu s compl r s di s s lus sustinuit. QUAESTIONES: Quo modo potuit Atlas Herculi prodesse? Quam ob rem gavisus est Hercules postquam responsum Atlantis audivit? Quid postulavit Atlas de Hercule?

38 48. THE RETURN OF ATLAS Atl s intere abierat, et ad hortum Hesperidum, qu pauca m lia passuum aberat, s quam celerrim contulerat. E cum v nisset, causam veniend exposuit f li sque su s vehementer hort tus est ut m la tr derent. Illae di haer bant; n l bant enim hoc facere, quod ab ips I n ne (ita ut ante dictum est) hoc m nus acc perant. Atl s tamen aliquand e s persu sit ut sibi p r rent, ac m la ad Herculem rettulit. Hercul s intere cum pl r s di s expect visset neque llum n ntium d redit Atlantis acc pisset, h c mor graviter comm tus est. Tandem qu nt di Atlantem v dit redeuntem, et brev tempore magn cum gaudi m la acc pit; tum, postquam gr ti s pr tant benefici git, ad Graeciam profic sc m t r vit. mage/p25.1ladon.jpg Different myths: In the image above, Hercules himself retrieves the apples, dealing with a Hydra-like Ladon as he does so. But in the relief panel opposite, Atlas brings the apples to Hercules, holding the sky-bowl on his shoulders (note the cushion) with the help of his divine protectress Athena. Relief from the temple of Zeus at Olympia, ca. 460 BC. QUAESTIONES: Quas duas res fecit Atlas cum ad hortum venisset? Cur haerebant Hesperides aurea mala patri suo tradere? Cur erat Hercules tam graviter commotus? Quid fecit Hercules antequam ad Graeciam profectus est?

39 49. TWELFTH LABOR: THE DOG CERBERUS Postquam aurea m la ad Eurystheum rel ta sunt, nus modo relinqu b tur duodecim lab ribus qu s Pythia Hercul praec perat. Eurystheus autem cum Herculem magnopere tim ret, eum in aliquem locum mittere vol bat unde numquam red re posset. Itaque neg tium e dedit ut canem Cerberum ex Orc in l cem traheret. Hoc erat omnium operum difficillimum; n m enim umquam ex Orc redierat. Praetere Cerberus iste monstrum erat horribil speci, cui erant tria capita serpentibus saev s c ncta. Sed priusquam d h c lab re n rr mus, n n ali num esse vid tur, quoniam d Orc menti nem f cimus, pauca d e regi ne pr p nere. A modern depiction of Cerberus ( What detail in his appearance, as given in the Latin, is missing in this model? But what does at least suggest that detail? QUAESTIONES: Quis erat Pythia et quam ob rem Herculi labores praeceperat? (vide capitula XIX et XX) Cur volebat Eurystheus Herculem in Orcum mittere? Cur erat tam difficile Cerberum ex Orco trahere? Qualis erat Cerberi species?

40 50. CHARON S FERRY D s de mortu rum, quam po tae Orcum appellant, haec tr duntur. Ut quisque d vit d cesserat, m n s eius ad Orcum de Mercuri d d c bantur. Huius regi nis, quae sub terr fuisse d citur, r x erat Pl t n, cui uxor erat Pr serpina, Iovis et Cereris f lia. M n s igitur Mercuri d duct pr mum ad r pam veni bant Stygis, qu fl mine r gnum Pl t nis contin b tur. Hoc tr ns re necesse erat priusquam in Orcum ven re possent. Cum tamen in h c fl mine n llus p ns factus esset, m n s tr nsv hebantur Charonte qu dam, qu cum parv lintre ad r pam exspect bat. Char n pr h c offici merc dem postul bat, neque quemquam, nisi qu hanc prius dederat, tr nsvehere vol bat. Quam ob causam m s erat apud ant qu s nummum in re mortu p nere e c nsili, ut, cum ad Styga v nisset, pretium tr iect s solvere posset. E autem qu post mortem in terr n n sepult erant Stygem tr ns re n n poterant, sed in r p per centum ann s err re c g bantur; tum d mum Orcum intr re lic bat. Map of the Underworld, showing the routes taken by two later heroes, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Aeneas. The name Hades applies both to the god-king of the dead (Pluto to the Romans) and to the place itself. In Homer s Odyssey, the entrance to Hades is at the western edge of the world, on the Atlantic coast of Europe. But in Vergil s Aeneid it is through a cave near the Bay of Naples in Italy. Nearly every human culture imagines death as a place, with entrance requirements and a definite landscape; why do you suppose that is so? CarlosParada, Greek Mythology Link. Hermes greets Charon. Hermes (Mercurius) had many functions in Greek myth, among them the Guide of Souls (Psychopompus), who led the dead to the Styx. He is identified by his magic traveling-hat (petasus) and messenger s staff (caduceus) with twin serpents at its head. Here is how Vergil describes Charon: A fearsome ferryman guards these waters and rivers, Charon, of indescribable filth, on whose chin lies a great grey beard, unkempt, his eyes ablaze with fire, a foul cloak hangs from his shoulders by a knot. He himself pushes the boat with his pole and sees to its sails, and he carries the corpses in his rust-colored skiff, now on in years, but with a god s fresh green old age.

41 51. THE REALM OF PLUTO Ut autem m n s Styga h c mod tr nsierant, ad alterum fl men veni bant, quod L th appell b tur. Ex h c fl mine aquam bibere c g bantur; quod cum f cissent, r s omn s in v t gest s memori d p n bant. D nique ad s dem ips us Pl t nis veni bant, cuius introitus cane Cerber cust di b tur. Ibi Pl t n nigr vest t ind tus cum ux re Pr serpin in soli sed bat. St bant etiam n n procul ab e loc tria alia solia, in quibus sed bant M n s, Rhadamanthus, Aeacusque, i dic s apud nfer s. H i s d c bant et praemia poen sque c nstitu bant. Bon enim in camp s lysi s, s dem be t rum, veni bant; improb autem in Tartarum mitt bantur, ac mult s vari sque supplici s ibi excruci bantur. The divine brothers Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon once drew lots for their different realms. Zeus got the sky and the world, Hades the Underworld, and Poseidon the sea and waters. Hades had a difficult time getting a wife to share his gloomy kingdom with him, so, with Zeus approval, he kidnapped Persephone (his own neice) and took her below to be his wife. The girl s mother, Demeter (Ceres) so grieved for her that no crops grew and human beings began to die. Zeus was afraid that no mortals would be left to worship the gods, so he arranged that Persephone should spend part of the year with her husband in the Underworld, part of the year on earth with her mother. Hades is assisted in the management of the dead by the three Cretan kings Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus. What do you think these myths mean? Marble statue group from Heraklion Museum, Crete: Hades (Pluton), Cerberus, and Persephone (Proserpina). Quaestiones: Quid accidit mortuis postquam aquam e flumine Lethe biberunt? Qualem vestitum habebat Pluton? Quid faciebant tres iudices apud inferos? In quam partem mittebantur boni? improbi?

42 52. HERCULES CROSSES THE STYX Hercul s postquam imperia Eurysthe acc pit, in Lac niam ad Taenarum statim s contulit; ibi enim sp lunca erat ingent magnit dine, per quam, ut tr ditur, homin s ad Orcum d scend bant. E cum v nisset, ex incol s quaes vit qu in loc sp lunca illa sita esset; quod cum cogn visset, sine mor d scendere c nstituit. Nec tamen s lus iter f cit; Mercurius enim et Minerva s e socios adi nxerant. Ubi ad r pam Stygis v nit, Hercul s c nscendit, ut ad ulteri rem r pam tr ns ret. Cum tamen Hercul s esset ingent magnit dine corporis, Char n solvere nol bat; magnopere enim ver b tur n linter sua tant pondere oner ta in medi fl mine merger tur. Tandem tamen min s Herculis territus Char n solvit, et eum incolumem ad ulteri rem r pam tr nsvexit. Hermes (Mercurius) and Athene (Minerva) always help heroes. These deities sometimes furnish magic weapons and skills (such as invisibility), and give the hero abilities of quick thinking, clever strategy, and good planning. Here Herakles sits on his own altar while Hermes plays the flute to honor him and Athene pours an offering of wine, which he catches in his wine-cup. Quaestiones: Responde Latine! Ubi descendebant homines ad Orcum? Quid cognovit Hercules ex incolis Taenari in Laconia? Cur nolebat Charon Herculem trans Styga transvehere? Quo modo persuasit Hercules Charonti ut lintrem solveret? Charon ferries the hero across the Styx. From the television series Hercules.

43 53. THE LAST LABOR IS ACCOMPLISHED Nice doggy Herakles prepares to put a chain around Cerberus s neck; Athene stands behind him, to the left. Amphora of the Andocides Painter, Paris. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Musée du Louvre. After chaining Cerberus, Herakles leads him out of the Underworld. Hermes (Mercurius), with hat, sandals, cape, and caduceus, helps to guide him. Persephone (Proserpina) stands to the left, watching and Athene is off to the right. Note that these two images show Cerberus as having only two heads. Postquam Styga h c mod tr nsiit, Hercul s in s dem ips us Pl t nis v nit; tum causam veniend docuit, atque ab e pet vit ut Cerberum auferre sibi lic ret. Pl t n, qu d Hercule aud verat, eum benign exc pit, et facult tem quam ille pet bat libenter dedit. Postul vit tamen ut Hercul s ipse, cum iussa Eurysthe f cisset, Cerberum in Orcum r rsus red ceret. Hercul s hoc pollicitus est, et Cerberum, quem n n sine magn per cul manibus prehenderat, summ cum lab re ex Orc in l cem atque ad urbem Eurysthe tr xit. E cum v nisset, tantus timor animum Eurysthe occupavit ut ex tri statim refugeret; cum autem paulum s ex tim re rec pisset, mult s cum lacrim s Herculem obsecr vit ut m nstrum sine mor in Orcum red ceret. S c contr omnium op ni nem duodecim ill lab r s qu s Pythia praec perat intr duodecim ann s c nfect sunt; quae cum ita essent, Hercul s servit te tandem l ber tus magn cum gaudi Th b s rediit. Herakles brings Cerberus to king Eurystheus, who is hiding in a jar. Hydria 520 BC.

44 54. THE CENTAUR NESSUS Poste Hercul s multa alia praecl ra perf cit, quae perscr bere longum est. Tandem iam aet te pr vectus D ian ram, Oene f liam, in m trim nium d xit. Tribus post ann s accidit cas ut puerum quendam occ deret, cui n men erat Eunomus. Cum autem m s esset ut, s quis hominem cas occ disset, in exsilium ret, Hercul s cum ux re su f nibus c vit tis ex re m t r vit. Dum iter faciunt, ad fl men quoddam perv n runt in qu n llus p ns erat. Dum quaerunt qu mod fl men tr ns re possent, accurrit centaurus Nessus, qu vi t ribus auxilium obtulit. Hercul s ux rem suam in tergum eius imposuit; tum ipse fl men tr n vit. At Nessus paulum in aquam pr gressus ad r pam subit revertit ac D ian ram auferre c n tus est. Quod cum animadvertisset Hercul s, graviter comm tus arcum intendit et pectus Ness sagitt tr nsf xit. In this wall-painting from Pompeii, we see Nessus offering his help in crossing the river. Deianeira, a little afraid, stands in their chariot while Hercules, holding their son and leaning on his club, stands near Nessus, thinking the offer over. Notice how Nessus is looking up and slightly toward Deianeira. Those centaurs: always causing trouble! With two exceptions (Chiron and Pholus), the centaurs are presented in Greek myth as uncivilized brutes, rude to strangers, lustful, and drunkards. In this 6th cent. BC amphora from Attica, Nessus tries to carry off Deianeira while Herakles kills him with a sword (not arrows); Deianeira calls out for help. Athene stands behind the hero, while another centaur stands by Nessus. Staatliche Antikensammlung, Munich.

45 55. THE POISONED ROBE Itaque Nessus sagitt Herculis tr nsf xus mori ns hum iac bat; sed n occ si nem su ulc scend d mitteret, ita loc tus est: "T, D ian ra, verba morientis aud. S am rem mar t tu c nserv re v s, hunc sanguinem qu nunc pectore me effunditur s me ac rep ne; tum, s Hercul s umquam in suspici nem tibi v nerit, vestem eius h c sanguine tingue." Haec loc tus Nessus animam effl vit; D ian ra autem nihil mal suspic ns eius iussa f cit. Paul post Hercul s bellum contr Eurytum, r gem Oechaliae, susc pit. Cum r gem ipsum cum f li s interf cisset, Iol n tamen eius f liam s cum red xit. Sed priusquam domum perv nit, n vem ad C naeum appulit, et in terram gressus ram c nstituit, ut Iov sacrificium faceret. Dum sacrificium parat, Licham comitem suum domum m sit, qu vestem albam referret; m s enim erat apud ant qu s, cum sacrificia facerent, albam vestem gerere. At D ian ra verita n Hercul s am rem erg Iol n hab ret, vestem priusquam Lichae dedit, sanguine Ness t nxit. Poor naïve Deianira. Hoping to keep Hercules in love with her, she was too easily tricked by the evil centaur Nessus. Here she (not Lichas) gives her husband the robe on which she has smeared the dying Nessus s blood, which will cause Hercules unbearable agony and, finally, death. London E 370, Attic red figure pelike, c B.C. Hercules trades in his old lionskin for the new cloak Deianira has woven him. Photograph courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum, London

46 56. THE DEATH OF HERCULES Hercul s nihil mal suspic ns vestem quam Lich s attulerat statim induit. Paul post magnum dol rem s nsit et quae causa esset eius re magnopere m r b tur. Dol re paene exanim tus vestem d trahere c n tus est; illa tamen in corpore haesit, neque ll mod d trah potuit. Tum d mum Hercul s quasi fur re impulsus in montem Oetam s contulit, atque in rogum, quem summ celerit te extr xit, s imposuit. Hoc cum f cisset, e s qu circumst bant r vit ut rogum quam celerrim succenderent. Omn s di rec s bant; tandem tamen p stor qu dam ad misericordiam inductus ignem subdidit. Tum, dum omnia f m obsc rantur, Hercul s d ns n be t ctus Iove in Olympum abreptus est. Munich 2360, Attic red figure pelike, c. 410 B.C. Athena and Hercules leave the funeral pyre, headed for Mount Olympus. Photograph copyright Staatl. Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, München Peace for the hero at last. Above, Herakles feasts with Athena. Munich 2301, Attic bilingual amphora. Staatl. Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, München Right, he takes as his new, divine bride Hebe, goddess of youth. Philadelphia MS5462, Attic red figure pyxis, c. 350 B.C. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Museum