CC 303/352: Lecture Outline, October 16, 2001

Heracles=Hercules

I. The myths

• Early years

1. conception and birth, with Iphicles
2. Zeus's prophecy: Eurystheus
3. snakes
4. education: Autolycus, Eurytus, Linus
5. Daughters of Thespius
6. Madness: Kills wife Megara and Children

• The Twelve Labors

1. The Nemean Lion
2. The Lernaean Hydra
3. The Ceryneian Deer
4. The Erymanthian Boar
5. The Augean Stables
6. The Stymphalian Birds
7. The Cretan Bull
8. The Mares of Diomedes
9. The Girdle of Hippolyta
10. The Cattle of Geryon
11. The Apples of the Hesperides
12. Cerberus

• Parerga

1. death of Pholus and Chiron (on way to Erymanthian Boar)
2. Alcestis (on way to Mares of Diomedes)
3. Cacus (on way back from Geryon)
4. Antaeus (on way to Hesperides)
5. Busiris (on way to Hesperides)
6. Prometheus (on way to Hesperides)

• After the Labors

1. Wrestles Achelous for Deianira
2. Oechalia: Eurytus, Iole, Iphitus
3. Delphi
4. Omphale
5. Cercopes
6. Troy: Laomedon

• Death and progeny

1. Nessus, Deianira, Lichas, Philoctetes
2. Hyllus
3. Heracleidae

II. Perspectives

• history

1. Thebes, Mycenae, Tiryns, Troy
2. Heracleidae and Dorians?

• religion: Heracles is important god
• functions / recurring elements / folktale motifs
• initiation: separation, liminality, trials, reintegration
• Heracles as a liminal figure

1. divine/human
2. sanity/insanity
3. male/female
4. human/animal
5. life/death
6. excess: food, drink, sex, anger

• Walter Burkert: Heracles as shaman

1. hunting societies: shaman gets animal from master of animals and guarantees successful hunt
2. Heracles repeatedly goes beyond borders of world, has contest with someone controlling animals, and gets animals

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