Hercules in Ovid and Virgil Flashcards
hercules and caccus, achelous and nessus, death of hercules, hercules as protectos of rome (?)
who wrote the Hercules and Cacus story? Where were they from?
Virgil - Rome
who is intitially speaking in the first line?
Evander, the King of Pallantium and a minor hero, is speaking to Aeneas, the king of Troy
who is Anchises?
a Trojan noble and father of Aeneas
who is Priam?
sone of Laomedon and kink of Troy
who is Hesione
Priam’s sister
where is Arcadia?
central Greece and former home of Evander
what does Evander talk about initially in the story of Hercules and Cacus? what does this show?
He welcomes Aeneas. He talks about the past and how he met Anchises (who was tallest) and led him to Pheneus. He says how he looked up to Priam, but especially Anchises. ON leaving, Anchises gave him the noble quiver of Lycian arrows, a cloak woven with old, and a pair of golden bits, that his Pallas now own. He assures Aeneas that they are allies and offers to celebrate the festival.
By doing this he shows that he is respectful, xenia, he offers military help as Aeneas is under attack even though Evander is Greek, and he shows respect for Anchises (flattering, kind)
how does Evander treat Aeneas when they go and sit to eat? who is present? what does this tell us?c
Aeneas is treated as a royal, equal to that of King Evander, highlighting his importance. Only men are present, showing only men were involved in the Roman worship of Hercules
what did Aeneas and the Trojans eat? why?
chines of beef, and the sacrificial organs.. they did this to sacrifice a cow to Hercules during his worship because of the cattle of Geryon. This relates to how Hercules is worshiped in the future
what does Evander start talking about after they eat?
he explains why they perform this sacrifice. he explains that they were saved from cruel perils and points to an overhanging cliff (AVENTINE HILL), saying that there used to be a cave where cacus lived
how is Cacus and his cave described initially?
cave -‘ untouched by the sun’s rays’, ‘vast depths’, the ‘ground was always warm with fresh blood’, the heads of men were ‘insolently nailed to the doors’ and they ‘hung there pallid with sad decay’ -> use of vivid language and graphic detail
cacus - ‘father was Vulcan, ‘massive bulk’, ‘belched out his dark fires;
why did Hecules seek Cacus out? how did he know to seek him out?
Cacus dragged H’s Heifers (female cows) backward by the tail to his cave (to reverse their steps). He had these cows from the three-fold Geryon, which he had killed. He heard the lowing from a heifer in the cave as he was moving his own cows
what does Hercules do once he hears that his heifers are stolen? what does Cacus do?
his ‘indignation truly blazed, with a venomous dark rage’ and he got all his weapons and headed for Cacus’ cave. Cacus confused, fled, and shut himself in his cave using a large rock. Hercules circles Aventine hill 3 times, trying to open the doorway. Hercules then took a pinnacle of flint and shook it, tearing it away, revelaing cacus’ den
what happens after Cacus’ den is revealed?
Hercules begins to hurl ‘missiles’ from above (branches and rocks), who is caught unexpectedly. Cacus howled and began to belch thick smoke, enveloping the place in darkness. Hercules threw himself into the fire, where the smoke was thickest.
How does Hercules kill Cacus?
after jumping into the cavern, Hercules seizes C and in a knot-like clasm, and clinging, choked him the eyes squeezed, and the throat drained of blood.
what happened after H killed Cacus? How does this relate to present day (more present day)?
his cattle were revealed. Hercules dragged Cacus out. People saw and were very happy. This rite is now celebrated. Potitus, the founder of Pinarian House, set up an altar in the grove for H and is now referred to as ‘the Mightiest’. Evander then tells the young men to hold out their cups, as he had people veiled in his hair. they poured a libation on the table and prayed to the Gods.
what is posterity
fututre generations i.e. the Romans
What is a poplar?
a grey-green leave which is associated with Hercules’ descent and ascent form the Underworld
what doe ‘The Mightiest’ in the story of Hercules and Cacus refer to?
the ‘ara maxima’ or great altar which is the site of the sacrifices to Hercules in the Forum Boarium
how is the worship of Hercules referenced to in the story of Hercules and Cacus?
When Evander and the Trojans are eating - only young men present, they ate chine of beef and sacrificial organs (what they ate during worship and cattle of Geryon related)
they mention it is an ‘annual festival’ indicating it is yearly
Evander says he is spoken of as ‘the Mightiest’, referring tot he ara Maxima which is AKA the great altar and was the site to Hercules for sacrifices in the Forum Boarium
Evander tells them to hold out their wine cups - they were drinking wine
they were wearing grey green poplars - associated with hercules’ descent to and the ascend fromt he underworld
they poured a libation on the table - shows how they worshiped him
who is Pallas?
Evander’s son
what is a chine
a long cut of meat
what is pallid
pale and weak
who is geryon?
three-bodies giant from whom Hercules wins the cattle
indignation meaning?
outrage
what is Aventine hill?
one of the seven hills of (future) Rome; south of the Palatine and the Capitol
who si Potitus
part of the Pinarian house. He and Pinarii were said to have set up the worship of Hercules, instructed by Hercules himself
what is the river called, where the story of Hercules and Cacus takes place?
the Tiber (main river running through Rome)
where is hercules coming from and going to when cacus steals 8 of his cattle?
He is coming from Southern Spain/ France. He was in Pallantium when it took place
how many cattle were stolen by cacus?
8
who was the responsibility of the worship of Hercules passed onto in 312 BC? From whom was it transferred?
it was transferred from Potitii and Pinarii families to slaves
who is speaking in the story of Nessus
Achelous
does Achelous have a horn which is a cornucopia
yes
what is the difference between Nessus and Achelous?
Achelous can hide his loss with a wreath of willow or reeds but Nessus, the centaur was killed by hercules
what was Nessus?
A centuar
where was Hercules heading when he encountered Nessus
his native city. thebes?
who was Hercules with when he encountered Nessus? Who was their father?
his new bride Deinara, daughter of Oeneus
where did they encounter Nessus?
at the River Euenus, a river in west central Greece
what was wrong when H and D got to the river? (nessus)
The flood was higher than normal, increased by winter rains so it was impassble. Hercules had no fear of going himself, but he was worried about Deinara
what does Nessus say to Hercules when they first meet? What does Hercules do?
with my help, I can get Deinara set down on the far bank (basically). So, Hercules hands over D to Nessus
what does Nessus do with Deinara? What does Hercules do in response? What does Nessus then do?
Nessus runs off with Deinara. Hercules shouts out telling him to steal what is his and that he will follow Nessus. Hercules then shoots Nessus in the chest, with the arrow which has poison from the Lernean Hydra on it. Nessus says he will not die without revenge
what does Nessus do as he is dying?
he says he will not die without revenge and gives his blood-soaked tunic to Deinara, whom he had abducted, presenting it to her as if it were a gift for reviving a waning love
why does Nessus take Deinara int he first place?
because he has a passion for her
Where was Hercules the victor of in the story of Nessus? Why is this bad?
hw was the victor at Aechalia in Euobea, where he had avenged an insult (not giving him Iole when Hercules had won the contest of the bows in order to marry her but Eurytus claims that he has cheated) offered to him by King Eyrutus). This is bad because as Hercules is preparing to sacrifice to Jupiter at Cenaeum, Rumour creates a rumour that he was filled with passion for IOle, daughter of Eurytus.
what role does Rumour play in the story of Nessus?
Rumour starts a rumor that Hercules was in love with Iole, daughter of Eurytus and tells Deinara this
What does Deinara do about the rumours of H+I? (nessus)
Deinara believes the rumour and is terrified at first. she weeks but then becomes angry and tries to come up with a plan. She doesn’t know whether to leave, to complain or stay silent, to do nothing or stand in their way, or even to commit a crime and cut Iole’s throat to show what revenge can look like. She ended up deciding to send the shirt, imbued with Nessus’ blood, in order to restore the husband’s waning love, She entrusted Lichas, a servant, to give the present to her husband (using her persuasiveness)
what does Hercules do with the cloak given to him?
He put on the shirt of Nessus, which was soaked int he poison of the Lernean Hydra
Who gave Hercules Nessus’ shirt?
Lichas, Hercules’ messenger
who is Ixion?
the father of Centaus and grandfather of Nessus. Ixion was invited to Olympus and got drunk and slept with Hera/Juno (who was in fact a cloud in her shape) and Zeus tied him on a blazing wheel to roll around the sky forever. The false cloud of Juno gave birth to Centaurs, father of all the centaurs.
where is Calydon? who is it related to?
Calydon is Deinara’s home, Kingdom of her father Oerneus in western Greece
who is Meleager?
Deinara’s brother
who is Diana?
goddess of Hunting, childbirth and the moon
what is a nymph?
a minor goddess, usually dwelling in river or wood
who is Alcides?
descendent of Alceus and grandfather of Hercules - Hercules is referred to as Alcides in the story of Nessus
how does Ovid link the story of Nessus and Achelous
because they were both ‘competing’ with Hercules for a girl (Deinara)
why does Hercules ask Nessus to think of Ixion?
because Zeus is the father of Hercules, so there are parallels to both stories. Also, to discourage him from stealing Deinara.
one of Eurytus’ sons called Iphitus thoguht that Iole should’ve been given to H. He came to stay with Hercules because he had lsot some mares and was killed as H suspected him of stealing. WHere have we seen this before?
In book 23 when Odysseus
what is Oechalia?
King Eurytus’ kindom
how does Ovid vividly shoe Deinara’s confusion and desperation in the story of Nessus
the poor girl ‘vents her misery in weeping’ as well as using rhetorical questions such as ‘why do i weep’. the reader can feel her emotions as the passage goes on making it vivid. The use of rhetorical questions makes her mind seem scattered, confused, and at a loss for what to do. We can also see her desperation as she suggests more violent measures such as slitting ‘that adultress’ throat’. (that being accusatory) - + shows her devotion for Hercules
What does Deinara’s final decision tell us about her feelings for Hercules
It depicts her unwavering love for Hercules
who is Achelous talking to in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
Theseus, the hero and reputed son of Neptune (Poseidon)
why does Theseus ask Achelous about his forehead in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
Hercules had snapped one of Acheulous’s horns off
what is another name for Achlous and why?
- Calydonian River god
- Calydon was the kingdom of Oeneus, Father of Deinara
how does Achelous respond to Theseus’ question about his forehead in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
- he says he will tell him what happened
- because the shame of being beaten is no less than the honour of having fought and it is a great consolation that the victor was so famous
how did Achelous meet hercules? in what circumstance?
- they went to Oeneus’s house, the father of Deinara
- Achelous asked for her hand in marriage
- Hercules said the same
what does scion of Alceus mean?
descendant of Alceus (father of Amphitryon, Grandfather of Hercules)
who is Parthaon?
Oeneus’ father
how did the contest between Achelous and Herucles arise?
they both wanted to marry Deinara
what did Hercules say to try and convince Oeneus? how did Achelous respond?
- he could offer Jove as his father in law (Jupiter)
- Achelous responded by saying that it would be shameful for a God (A) to concede to a mortal (H at that time)
- he also said that he was the lord of the waters through which passes though his kindom so he is a NATIVE and they have the same INTERESTS
- Juno doesn’t hate Achelous + labours
who is Jove?
Jupiter
what else does Achelous say about Hercules’ heritage in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
- he says ‘son of Alcmena: Jupiter, whose child you bost of bein, is either wrongly called your father, or is truly a wrongdoer. You seek your father in a mother’s adultery. Choose whether you prefer this fiction of Jove as a father, or to be born the son of shame’
- this is basically saying that either Jupiter is not your father, making you a liar, or your mother is a cheater, which is equally as bad
- it makes Hercules seem bad, insulting him
what happens after their verbal fight in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
- hercules says he is better at fighting with his hands and that as long as he beats him at wrestling Achelous can beat him with the talking
- Achelous didn’t want to back down after all he said so they decided to fight
why did Hercules put yellow sand on his hands?
grip, to camouflage himself perhaps
where is the loins?
midriff, hips
what is a pile?
a massive concrete or stone structure built into the sea to create a secure harbour
what is a heifer?
a young female cow (hasn’t had a calf yet)
what does overriding mean
dominant
what effect is created by describing Achelous as a pile? and Hercules as a roaring flood assaulting him in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
- pile indicates unnmovability, resilience, size
- hercules - wave after wave keeps attacking, unstoppable, unrelenting and resilient
what is the effect of calling A and H bulls in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
makes them seem dominant
how many times did Herucles try to push Achelous’ chest in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
3 times. the 4th time he managed to move him away
what is the effect of describing Hercules as a mountain in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
makes him seem strong, heavy, supreme, achelous underestimated him
what does it mean if your knee touches the ground in a wrestling match?
signals defeat
what does Achelous do as he is about to lose in the story of Achelous and Hercules? what is Hercules’ reaction?
he turns into a long snake. Hercules laughs in response. He references that he defeated snakes when he was in the cradle. Then he references that although Achelous is a large snake, he is only but a slice of the Lernean Hydra. He asks Achelous what he thinks will happen to a ‘false snake using unfamiliar weapons, whom a shifting form hides’.
he then strangles A
what does sinous mean?
curvy
why is hercules named Tiryns’ hero?
some versions of the myth say that Hercules was advised to stay there during his labours
what does Fecund mean?
fruitful and fertile
what does Achelous turn into after his other transformation in the story of Achelous and Hercules? what did Hercules do in response?
a bull.
Hercules pulled him down and broke off a horn
what did the Naiades do with the horn in the story of Achelous and Hercules?
they filled it with fruit and scented flowers and made it sacred. ‘The Goddess of Abundance is rich now because of my horn of plenty’. the cornucopia is a symbol of abundance and properity
who are the Naiades/Naiads?
nymphs, spirits of springs, streams, and fountains
who is the Goddess of abundance?
Plutus (goddess of wealth) is often shown holding a cornucopia
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH PLUTO WHO IS THE GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD
is Hercules more brawn than brains? relate the to the story of Achelous and Hercules.
yes
- he uses brawns to defeat Achelous
however also brains - e.g., sand for grip
- he said Achelous won with words
where is the story of Achelous and Herucles from?
Ovid, metamorphoses
What is the order of these stories?
Cacus, hercules as protector, Achelous, Nessus, Agony of Hercules
what is Oeta?
Mountain in Thessaly, jut across the water from Euboea
what does Lacerated mean?
cut to shreds
what is virulence?
power, strength
what does incandescent mean?
brightly shining
what are sinews?
fibres of muscle
what is Saturnia
Saturn aka Cronos aka Father of jupiter and Hera
what does sate mean?
satisfy
what is Busiris?
King of Egypt who sacrificed strangers
who is Antaeus?
King of Libya, giant son of mother earth, who got his strength from the ground; Hercules defeated him by strangling him in mid-air
what is Thermodon?
the river in the Black Sea region where the Amazons lived
what was Hercules initially doing in the story of the agony of Hercules?
he was making offerings of incense and reciting prayers of their the first flames, and pouring a libation bowl of wine on to the marble altar
why do the flames play a key role in the story of the agony of Hercules?
the heat from the flames caused the venom to warm and be released by the flames. they dissolved and dispersed into the limbs of Hercules?
how did Hercules react to the poison in the story of the agony of Hercules?
he suppressed his groans but eventually, he overturned the altar, and filled woody Oeta with his shouts
Then he tried to tear off the clothing
what happens when Hercules tries to tear off the clothing in the story of the agony of Hercules?
it pulls the skin away and it either stuck to the limbs from which he tried to remove it or it revealed his lacerated limbs and his massive bones.
- his blood hissed and boiled
What is Hercules’ blood compared to?
incandescent (due to heat) metal, dipped in a cool pool
what does he ask and how in the story of the agony of Hercules?
he raises his hands, crying, and begging to Juno and Saturnia to feed on his ruin.
he calls her cruel, telling her to satisfy her savage heart and watch from above.
he begs for the torment to be taken away
what else does Hercules say in the story of the agony of Hercules? (section c.)
