Roman Hercules Flashcards
not covered- cult of Hercules, add notes on Hercules and cactus from Aeneid and Achelous and Hercules simile analysis
what is the context of the story between Hercules and Cacus
It took place during Hercules’ 10th labour (the cattle of Geryon)
After Hecrules captured the cattle and killed Geryon he had to get it back trhough Eurystheus. To do this he travelled through southern Spain, France and into Italy.
WHere did the cult of Hercules stem from?
Hercules and Cacus
who was Cacus’ father?
Vulcan
What is the story between Cacus and Hercules?
When Hercules arrives in Pallantium he is welcomed. While Hercules slept, Cacus stole 8 of his cattle and took them back to his cave. in order to fool Hercules he led them backwards so that the hoof marks led away from where they were being held. However, one trapped cow moos and Hercules finds where they are.
Hercules takes his club and goes to the mountain. Cacus fled to his cave and block the entrance. (H unable to move it)
Hercules doesn’t give up and he takes the flint peak on the top of the mountain and lifted the mountain off exposing cacus in his lair
Hercules bombards Cacus with whatever he can find and Cacus in defene breathes plumes of black smoke to conceal his whereabouts
Hercules throws himself into the smoke (where it was most dense) and Hercules seized him and chokes hiim to death.
He then brings to body to show Evander and his people
explain what happens when Hercules arrives in Pallantium (Cacus)
When Hercules arrives in Pallantium he is welcomed. While Hercules slept, Cacus stole 8 of his cattle and took them back to his cave. in order to fool Hercules he led them backwards so that the hoof marks led away from where they were being held. However, one trapped cow moos and Hercules finds where they are.
what happens after Cacus steals the sheep? (what does Hercules do?)
Hercules takes his club and goes to the mountain. Cacus fled to his cave and block the entrance. (H unable to move it)
Hercules doesn’t give up and he takes the flint peak on the top of the mountain and lifted the mountain off exposing cacus in his lair
Hercules bombards Cacus with whatever he can find and Cacus in defene breathes plumes of black smoke to conceal his whereabouts
Hercules throws himself into the smoke (where it was most dense) and Hercules seized him and chokes hiim to death.
He then brings to body to show Evander and his people
What is the background of the story between Achelous and Hercules? Who is it told to/by
it is told to Theseus by the river God while he waited for waters to recede after a flood
This was because theseus asked why the river god (Achelous) had a horn broken off his head
What is the story of Hercules and Achelous?
both hercules and Achelous wanted to marry princess Deinara of Aitolia
both refused to back down so they decided to fight. All other suittors backed out and they put forward an argument as to why they should each marry D
Hercules made reference to his divine passage, Achelous to his God status and blaming Hercules for his labours because his birth was either a lie or a scandal.
Enraged, Hercules decided to fight Achelous which H won. So, Achelous turns into a snake, H makes fun of him, and H won (after making fun of him)
Then A turned into a single horned bull which H won by breaking off the horn and turning it into a cornucopia
what was Deinara princess of?
Aitolia
why were Hercules and Achelous fighting
to mary Deinara
What is the name of the river God?
Achelous
Why was it still conselation that Achelous was beaten?
he still fought Hercules, someone that was so famous
Why did both Hercules and Achelous argue that they should marry Deinara?
Hercules made reference to his divine passage, Achelous to his God status and blaming Hercules for his labours because his birth was either a lie or a scandal.
What animal did Achelous turn into after he lost the first round fo the fight with Hercules?
a snake
How did Hercules react to Achelous turning into a snake
he made fun of him and pointed out that he had defeated the Hydra, so a single snake wasn’t a threat
what did Achelous turn into afte rebing beaten a second time?
a single horned bull
what animals did Achelous turn into?
Snake then single horned bull
how did Hercules beat Achelous?
he broke off the horn of the bull and turned it into a cornucopia, filling it up with fruit
What happens with Nessus and Hercules? (to the point Nessus dies)
Hercules, having wed Deinara are heading back to tiryns. The couple arrive at the river Evenus, which was too deep to walk across. Hercules could swim but D couldn’t so the centuar Nessus offered to help. Whilst hercules is crossing river nessus runs of with D but hercules acts quickly and shoots an arrow into the centuars chest
What river did Hercules and deinara have to stop at after being wed and why
Evenus-to deep to walk across
What was Nessus
a centuar
What does Nessus do with Deinara
runs off with her
how does H kill nessus
arrow dipped in venom of Learnean Hydra is shot through Nessus’ chest
What is Nessus’ final act (IMPORTANT)
Nessus gives deinara his cloak, soaked in his blood (learnean hydra poison) to D presenting it to her as a gift for reviving waning love and says ‘i will not die without revenge’
How does hercules die, how is Deinara and Juno involved?
Several years after the episode with Nessus - Juno’s jealousy causes her to get the goddess Rumour to spead lies about Hercules to his wife, making her think that Hercules was in love with iole. D decides to give Hercules the cloak of Nessus so he falls back in love with her. her slave gives it to H and whilst giving a sacrifice to the Gods, the cloak catches light and sticks to his speech. Whilst dying Hercules builds himself a funeral Pyre and dies. Jupiter, having seen this, decides to give a speech to the Gods so Hercules can be allowed onto Olympus and they allow is
What does rumour do? who does it involve
makes Deinara belive H is inlove with Iole, a princess from Oechalia in thessaly.
Who is Iole
a princess from Oechalia in Thessaly which Rumour uses to make Deinara believe hercules is inlove with Iole
How does H become a demigod
H sheds his human form after Jupiter appeals to the other Gods so that H can go to mount Olympus after his heroic deeds on earth.
how does Achelous feel after having fought H?
although he lost the battle he feels that there is no more shame in being beaten than having fought someone like Hercules
how does Acheolous initially make Hercules angry?
by saying that he is either a liar in saying his father is Jupiter or he is a bastard (son of adultery) and both are just as shameful as each other
how does Achelous argue he is a superior suitor?
he is a God, he is local and has their best interests at heart
why does Hercules cover himself and Achelous in sand
for grip
what happens when Achelous’ horn is snapped off
it is turned into a cornucopia by the Naiades (nymphs, spirits of the spring) and given to the Goddess of abundance (Plautus-goddess of wealth)
what are the naiades
nymphs and spirits of spring, streams and fountains which made a cornucopia from achelous’ horn
who is the goddess of abundance?
Plutus - goddess of wealth reviewed Achelous’ horn turned into a cornucopia by naiads from Hercules
