Heracles: Did you mean...?

Originality in literary compositions in the ancient world did not carry the same weight and value as it does today. In recent centuries, authors have been applauded for the creation of original works and have been derided for plagiarism or...

Characteristics of Sicilian Archaic Temples The large dimensions of the components, the presence of a propteron, an adyton, and other specific elements of the plan and elevation speak for an originally very autonomous development of Sicilian...

Possibly being overjoyed by the tales of mythical exploits of Heracles, Semiramis, the fabled queen of Assyria, Cyrus, King of Persia and so on, Alexander the Great set out from the tiny kingdom of Macedon for a daring adventure, unheard...

This infographic illustrates the Twelve Olympian Gods (Dodekatheon), central figures of ancient Greek religion believed to reside on Mount Olympus. Each deity ruled over key aspects of nature, society, or cosmic order, forming a divine hierarchy...

Mithridates VI ruled Pontus and Armenia minor 120-63 BCE. Here, he is depicted as Heracles wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion. (Louvre Museum, Paris)

Heracles depiction of Vajrapani as the protector of the Buddha, 2nd century AD Gandhara, British Museum.

The Mixoparthenos (half-maiden), is a hybrid creature with a double fish-tail from the Black Sea. The limestone sculpture dates back to the 1st-2nd century CE and comes from Panticapaeum in Taurica (Crimea, Ukraine). In Herodotus' Histories...

Heracles fighting the Nemean Lion. Silver missorium, 6th century CE (?) (Cabinet des Médailles, more formally known as Département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France.)

Etruscan votive bronze statuette of Hercle (Heracles), 4th - 2nd century BCE. (Altes Museum, Berlin)

Hydria (ceramic water container) depicting Heracles killing the Lernaean Hydra (an ancient serpent-like water monster), from Etruria, attributed to the Painter of Aquila, 530-500 BCE. (photo taken at the Monsters. Fantastic Creatures of Fear...