Hercules Épitrapézios at The Louvre, Paris

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Lysippos's marble representation could be identified thanks to ancient sources bearing witness. Two Latin poets from the end of the 1st Century A.D., Martial (Épigrammes, 9, 43 and 44) and Stace (Silvae, 4, 6), describe a small bronze Hercules statue with Lysippos's signature on its base. The lost statue was known then as 'Hercules Épitrapézios', from the Greek words Epi ('on') and trapeza ('table'). Carved by Lysippos before 335 B.C., it decorated a table for Alexander the Great, featuring Hercules holding wine and his head thrown back. Discovered in 1792 by Gavin Hamilton in Gabies (Italy), this sculpture is one of four variants representing Hercules sculpted by ancient Greek master Lysippos between 370-300 BC. As Zeus's son and Alcmene's child, Hercules is probably the most well-known and important Greek heroes, a demi-god given immortality. His cousin Eurytheus was forced to confront Hercules in the famous Labours of Hercules (Hera's candidate for Eurytheus and Zeus's was Hercules). Hercules is known for carrying a large wooden club and the 'Léonte', the skin of the Nemean Lion, the first creature he had to kill in his labours. The four statuettes featured in the Louvre are a collection of reproductions by sculptor Lysippos who considerably changed how heroes were depicted in art, seen reflecting in their exploits. We can attribute this image through his famous sculpture 'The Hercules Farnese' of the Naples museum and a colossal statue of Hercules sitting.