Lecture 13 Flashcards
What makes a Greek hero?
▪ Not inherently “good” or virtuous
▪ Aristocratic mortal males from the distant past
▪ Generally stronger than contemporary Greeks
▪ Connected to important city-states and worshipped at heroa (heroön)
What is a heroa (heroön)?
Was a shrine dedicated to an ancient Greek hero and used for the commemoration or cult worship of the hero
How do we interpret Herakles? (5)
▪ Greatest of Greek Heroes ▪ Humorous oaf ▪ Pan-Hellenic explorer ▪ Bringer of civilization (but also a brute!) ▪ Conqueror of Deat
Was Herakles pan-Hellenic
Yes
Who was Herakle’s twin?
Iphikles
What are the 12 Labours? (12)
- Nemean Lion
- Lernaean Hydra
- Ceryneian Deer
- Erymanthian Boar
- Augean Stables
- Stymphalian Birds
- Cretan Bull
- Horses of Diomedes
- Girdle of Hippolyta
- Cattle of Geryon
- Apples of the Hesperides
- Cerberus
Which of the 12 labours took place near Mycenae, Peloponnesus? (6)
- Nemean Lion
- Lernaean Hydra
- Ceryneian Deer
- Erymanthian Boar
- Augean Stables
- Stymphalian Birds
Which of the 12 labors took place at Broader Greek world (Crete, Thrace, Black Sea, Italy, Spain/N. Africa)? (4)
- Cretan Bull
- Horses of Diomedes
- Girdle of Hippolyta
- Cattle of Geryon
Which of the 12 labors took place at “Heaven and Hell”? (2)
- Apples of the Hesperides
2. Cerberus
What was special about THE NEMEAN LION’s fur?
It could not be cut by a mortal weapon
What did Herakles take from the Nemean lion after victory?
Its skin and club
Who helped Herakles defeat the Hydra?
Iolaos
What did Herakles dip his arrows in after killing the Hydra?
The Hydra’s poison blood
What was Herakle’s reward if he could clean THE AUGEAN STABLES in 1 day?
1/10 of the Augean entire cattle
What were the two rivers that Herakles used to clean the stables?
Alpheus and Peneus
Where does this take place
Olympia
Who was Hippolyta’s father?
Ares
Who was Hippolyta?
Amazon queen
Who were the amazons?
“man-killing” warrior women living just beyond the boundaries of civilization
What did Hippolyta have?
A magical girdle
How did Hera trick the Amazon?
She posed as one of them and said Herakles was going to kidnap their queen
Who killed Hippolyta?
Herakles
Who provides transportation to Herakles in CATTLE OF GERYON?
Helios (the sun)
Who was Busiris?
Posiden’s son.
What did Busiris try to do?
Kill Herakles
Who was Nereus?
A sea god known as “the old man of the sea”
What was Nereus able to do?
Transform into different shapes
Who was Cacus?
A fire-breathing giant
Who was Cerberus
A multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving
What is apotheosis?
process of becoming divine
Who was Nessus?
A famous centaur who was killed by Heracles, and whose tainted blood, in turn, killed Heracles
Who was Iolaos?
nephew/companion/lover
Who was Eurystheus
The king of Tiryns
Why did Herakles have to serve Eurystheus?
Punishment for killing Megara and his children
Who was Megara?
Herakles first wife
Who was Omphale?
Queen of Lydia
What did Herakles have to do for Omphale?
Serve as her slave for 3 years
