Curious looking Image from Roman Pompeii?
Heracles stands beside the enthroned Lydian Queen Omphale. Above him is the winged goddess Nike, and a Satyr-boy or the god Pan holding a set of pipes. By his feet are an eagle, a lion, and the hero’s infant son Telephos suckling a doe.
Museum Collection: Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Type: Fresco, Imperial Roman
Context: Pompeii, Basilica
Period: Imperial Roman
–Ancient Roman Fresco Pompeii: Hercules & Omphale
–Foreign Cults by Megan Purisima on Prezi
–Religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum – Hitpages
The myth
Wishing to expiate the murder of one of his friends, Hercules consulted the oracle of Apollo, who advised him to enter the service of Omphale, Queen of Lydia. Although Hercules was the son of Zeus and was famed for his invincible strength, he submitted to the tasks the queen devised for him to expiate his crime. Omphale fell in love with Hercules for his strength and physical beauty, and the couple married. This tale, found in both Greek and Roman mythology, is told with a number of variations. It proved a great source of inspiration for French and Italian Mannerist painters, as well as the Venetian artists who influenced Lemoyne. François Boucher also painted a version of the same love scene.
This is image is shockingly described as an African-Roman Hero, Hercules? Fresco, Imperial Roman Pompeii. Hercules stands beside the enthroned Lydian Queen Omphale.
Other curious looking Images
Teseo y el Minotauro
mosaico Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Napoles, Italia.
–Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy