Hercules

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The Legendary Champion One of twelve monumental tasks: vanquish the Nemean Lion Who is immortalized? Hercules is the Roman reimagining of the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the offspring of Zeus (Roman equivalent Jupiter) and mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules stands out for his unmatched power and for his numerous extraordinary escapades. The Romans reinterpreted the Greek hero's imagery and legends in their literature and art under the name Hercules. In later Western art and literature and in popular culture, Hercules is more frequently used than Heracles as the designation of the champion. Hercules was a multifaceted figure with conflicting traits, which allowed later artists and writers to select and choose how to portray him. This article offers an introduction to representations of Hercules in the later tradition.