Bust of the Farnese Hercules

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This colossal statue of Hercules originates from the Farnese type. The Farnese Hercules is a massive marble sculpture, likely a Roman replica of an even older Greek bronze created in the fourth century BC. The enlarged version, now the most famous, was crafted for the Baths of Caracalla in Rome (dedicated in 216 AD) where the statue was recovered in 1546 and is currently on display at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples. The sculpture portrays a muscular yet weary Hercules leaning on his club, which has the skin of the Nemean lion draped over it. In myths about Hercules, killing the lion was one of his initial tasks. He holds the apples of the Hesperides behind his back, suggesting he has just completed one of the final Twelve Labours. The Farnese type was well known in ancient times, and several other versions have been discovered, including a Hellenistic or Roman bronze reduction found at Foligno now housed at the Musée du Louvre. A small Roman marble replica can be seen at the Museum of the Ancient Agora in Athens.