Heracles

Heracles of Thebes

The demigod of great feats

Heracles, son of the god Zeus, renowned for his Twelve Labours, held the first Games at Olympia, in honour of his father, and emerged victorious in all athletic events. He introduced wild olive into Olympia from the Land of the Hyperboreans and set the boundaries of the Altis, the sacred precinct of Zeus. His Labours were depicted in the metopes of the temple of Zeus at Olympia, whereas he himself turned into a symbol of the athletic ideal.

Heracles Idaios (Idaean Heracles)

“Parastates”

Heracles Idaios (Idaean Heracles), from Mount Ida on Crete — of the same name as Heracles who performed the Labours— competed in a footrace at Olympia (the Olympia) against his brothers, the Dactyls (or Curetes), deities who had defended Zeus against Cronos. In addition, he instituted the olive wreath as the victor’s prize, determined the length of the stadium, whereas the athletes referred to him as parastates (assistant).

Statuette of Heracles

Statuette of young Heracles, who stands upright, with his head turned slightly to his left. The most popular hero of ancient Greece is shown naked and his head is covered by the lion’s pelt, which is tied across his breast in the so called “Heracles knot”, and wrapped around his left arm.

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Black figure oinochoe (wine jug) depicting Heracles with the Cretan bull between Athena and Hermes

In the center of the scene, Heracles is depicted, nude as a hero, leading the bull of Crete. With his left hand, he grasps the animal by the horn while with his right he holds him by the chest. In the background, between the legs of the animal, the hero's club can be seen.

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Attic red-figure cup depicting Heracles against Antaios

The exterior of the cup depicts the two mythical inventors of wrestling, Heracles and Theseus. On the one side, Heracles applies a hold to his shoulder and defeats the Libyan giant Antaios, son of Poseidon and Gaia (Earth), who drew strength from his mother by standing on her.

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Attic red-figure cup depicting Heracles against Antaios

Black-figure plate (pinakion) depicting the dispute between Heracles and Apollo over the Delphic tripod

Attic black-figure plate, with white ground. Οn its interior is depicted the dispute between Heracles and Apollo over the Delphic tripod, a theme from the Delphic mythology that became widespread in the vase-painting of the 6th c. BC. Heracles has grabbed the symbolic vessel and raises his club threatening Apollo, who follows and tries to retrieve the tripod.

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