Hercules

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Hercules emerges as the Roman interpretation of the legendary Greek hero Heracles, born to Zeus (the Roman counterpart Jupiter) and mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules stands out for his incredible strength and numerous epic quests that took him far beyond the confines of Greece. The Romans adopted the iconic imagery and mythological stories of their Greek counterparts under the name Hercules. As Western art and literature evolved over time, as well as in popular culture, Hercules became more widely used than Heracles to refer to the legendary hero. A multifaceted figure with paradoxical traits, Hercules offered later artists and writers a wide range of possibilities for interpreting him, allowing them to pick and choose how to portray this complex character. This article offers an overview of the various representations of Hercules in later artistic traditions.