CLASSICS 2B03 Lecture 8: HERACLES – OCTOBER 22.docx

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Classics
• Course: CLASSICS 2B03
• Professor: Graeme Ward

Document Summary

I will sing of heracles, the son of zeus and much the mightiest of men on earth. Alcmena bare him in thebes, the city of lovely dances, when the dark-clouded son of cronos had lain with her. A mortal of my blood will be born today who shall rule over all men - zeus: iliad 19. Zeus is usually the father of great heroes. Right off the bat, hercules is special. Associated with many cities: argos, thebes, and trachis (s. thessaly) where he dies. Passing references in other works, authors: homer, aristophanes, vergil. All to do with his death and sufferings. 3 consecutive wives: megara, de anira, hebe (special) Hera sends snakes to strangle the infant. Heracles strangled the snakes as an infant. Key themes for heracles: persecution of hera, glory of hera , subservience to eurystheus, labours or challenges (athloi) athletics, variety of challenges, geographic breadth, violence of heracles, heroic, tragic, comic.