Hercules in Cambrai, France

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Hercules is the Roman name given to the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Zeus (Roman counterpart Jupiter) and the mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules is renowned for his remarkable strength and numerous far-reaching adventures. The Romans adopted the Greek hero's iconography and myths in their literature and art under the name Hercules. In later Western art and literature and in popular culture, Hercules is more commonly used than Heracles as the name of the hero. Hercules was a complex figure with contradictory characteristics, enabling later artists and writers to choose how to represent him. This article provides an introduction to representations of Hercules in the later tradition. This sculpture depicts him in his youth, in a more feminine representation compared to the majority of other sculptures and images of him. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access free. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.