Hercules
Roman mythological figure (Greek origin).
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Agrigento | Temple of Heracles/Hercules | |
| Archaeological Site of Delphi | The Oracle directed Hercules to serve King Eurystheus for ten years and perform any task which he required | |
| Assisi | Temple of Minerva: "The attribution to the goddess Minerva derives from the finding of a female statue, although a dedication stone to Hercules has been found, and the temple was likely dedicated to this male demi-god." | |
| Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe | Hercules monument | |
| Bisotun | "Of the post-Achaemenid remains, the Seleucid figure of a resting Heracles dates from 148 B.C. Though not of high standard technically, it is important because of its datable Greek inscription....The head of the Heracles statue was stolen in 1993, but was later recovered and restored. It is now in museum, while a replica has been placed in situ." (AB). | |
| Danube Limes | Carnuntum (ID No 31): The heated camp sanctuary (sacellum) was located exactly in the central axis of the basilica. The most famous ancient stone sculptures from Carnuntum were found between the hypocaust pillars. To the west and east of the sacellum, the excavators were able to uncover two more rooms. The eastern one contained the statue of Hercules, which had probably been made in Virunum. | |
| Ferrara | Above the entrance of the Palazzo Prosperi-Sacrati, situated on the Quadrivio degli Angeli, there are two tondos, in one of which the bust of Hercules is visible wearing the skin of the Nemean lion, a clear reference to Ercole I d'Este. | |
| Florence | His labours are depicted by a series of statues by de' Rossi at the Salone del Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio | |
| Lower German Limes | Elst-Grote Kerk: "The monumentality of the temple at Elst-Grote Kerk suggests that the Roman army was involved in its construction. The main deity assumed to have been venerated here, Hercules Magusanus, appears to have been especially popular among soldiers and veterans." (Nomination file, p. 65) | |
| Mantua and Sabbioneta | Two statues of Hercules in front of the Bishop's Palace (Palazzo Bianchi) in Mantua | |
| Mycenae and Tiryns | Tiryns: Linked to several Herculean myths | |
| Paris, Banks of the Seine | A statue of Hercules, representing "La Force", adorns the pediment of the central pavilion of the Ecole militaire. (wiki) | |
| Piazza del Duomo (Pisa) | A naked Hercules features in the scenes on the pulpit in the Baptistry. | |
| Pompei | Herculaneum was named after Hercules | |
| Rammelsberg and Goslar | One of the sculptures on the historic guild house Kaiserworth depicts Hercules. | |
| Rome | Defeated the monster Cacus. He then (Wiki)"founded an altar, the Ara Maxima, where later the Forum Boarium, the cattle market of Rome, was held. Rome erected temples to Hercules in the area, including the still extant Temple of Hercules Victor. It is believed that a large stone in the nearby church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin is what is left of the Ara Maxima." | |
| Tower of Hercules | Wiki: "According to a myth that blends Celtic and Greco-Roman elements, the hero Hercules slew the giant tyrant Geryon after three days and three nights of continuous battle. Hercules then - in a Celtic gesture - buried the head of Geryon with his weapons and ordered that a city be built on the site. The lighthouse atop a skull and crossbones representing the buried head of Hercules' slain enemy appears in the coat-of-arms of the city of Corunna." | |
| Troy | Hercules and his followers attacked Troy and sacked it | |
| Vienna | his labours are depicted at the Hofburg | |
| Villa Romana del Casale | "The spacious triclinium (dining room) has apses on three sides and is decorated with mythological scenes, notably the Labours of Hercules." (AB Ev) – "The Triclinium has magnificent mosaics with mythological motives related to the Labours of Hercules, showing the arrow stricken giants, the carnage after the Twelve Labours of Hercules, and Hercules' coronation and introduction in Olympus." | |
| Villa d'Este | Hercules was the legendary ancestor of the Este family - statue of Hercules stands in the garden (AB ev) | |
| Volubilis | There's a mosaic displaying the Labours of Hercules, some of which reputedly have taken place in Morocco | |
| Wachau Cultural Landscape | Herkules Brunnen in Krems (Der Brunnen am hohen Markt hat ein gebauchtes, quadratisches Becken mit Eckpostamenten, eine steinerne Brunnensäule mit reliefierten Delphinen und eine Herkulesstatue mit Doppeladlerwappen.) wiki | |
| Water Management System of Augsburg | Hercules Fountain |
Suggestions?
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