Lecture 8: Heracles

I. Introduction to Heroic Myth

A. Definition of hero

• Ancient vs. modern perspectives

B. Nature vs. culture

C. Folktale motifs (see Propp's thirty-one functions)

• The hero's birth is miraculous or unusual
• The hero has great strength and is a menace to his compatriots as well as to other
• The hero's truest companion is another male
• The hero breaks a taboo, and a terrible price is demanded
• The hero resists the temptations of an irresistible but dangerous woman, whom he curses and derides
• The hero is responsible for his best friend's death
• The hero goes on a journey to discover the secret of eternal life
• The hero returns home and accepts his limitations
• The hero is rewarded with something of great value

D. Religion: The Cult of Heroes

• Heroes once chthonic deities?
• Mycenaean tombs become tombs of heroes during Dark Age
• Hero provides protection to place where he is buried: therefore heroes become protectors of cities
• Families create heroes to have illustrious ancestors
• Extraordinary mortals can become heroes after death
• Heroes worshiped at their tombs: gifts, ceremonies, and games

II. Heracles = Hercules

A. Origins and Family: Descendent of Perseus

1. Zeus + Alcmena ==> Heracles, "the glory of Hera" : Amphitryon + Alcmena ==> Iphicles = twins

2. Principal partner: many; 50 daughters of Thespius ==> the Heraclids; Megara; Deianira ==> Hyllus

B. Attributes

1. Skin of Nemean Lion

2. Club

3. Bow

C. Places of worship: Deified hero

1. Panhellenic

D. Major myths

1. Early years

• Zeus's prophecy: Eurystheus
• Wrestles snakes
• Education: Autolycus, Eurytus, Linus
• Daughters of Thespius
• Madness: Kills wife Megara and Children

2. The Twelve Labors and Parerga (Side-deeds)

1. The Nemean Lion: Near Eastern

2. The Lernaean Hydra: Near Eastern

3. The Ceryneian Deer

4. The Erymanthian Boar

• Death of Pholus and Chiron (on way to Erymanthian Boar)

5. The Augean Stables

6. The Stymphalian Birds

7. The Cretan Bull

8. The Mares of Diomedes

• Alcestis (on way to Mares of Diomedes)

9. The Girdle of Hippolyta

• Goes to Troy: Laomedon

10. The Cattle of Geryon

• Cacus (on way back from Geryon)

11. The Apples of the Hesperides: Near Eastern

• Antaeus (on way to Hesperides)
• Busiris (on way to Hesperides)
• Prometheus (on way to Hesperides)

12. Cerberus

3. Other Deeds

• Eurytus, Iole, and Iphitus
• Fight for Delphic tripod
• Omphale
• Cercopes
• Back to Troy
• Wrestles Achelous for Deianira

4. Death

• Deianira and Nessus
• Kills Eurytus and takes Iole as concubine
• Robe, Funeral Pyre, Philoctetes and translation

II. Perspectives

A. Folktake motifs

1. Unusual birth; great strength; breaking of taboo; reward of the hero

2. The quest (Propp): Twelve Labors = twelve quests:

• Example: Geryon: the hero, by order, sets out on the quest (functions 9-11); meets a helper, reacts to him, succeeds in getting the object he needs (12-14); reaches the place of destination (15), begins a fight with the possessor (16); defeats him (18); gets the object (19); returns (20).
• Indo-European cattle-raiding myth? Heracles as Shaman (Burkert)?
  • In hunting societies shamans get animals from powerful figures, usually monsters, who hide the animals from them in far away places or caves.
  • Heracles goes to the borders of world and to a cave, has contest with Geryon and Cacus who control the cattle, and gets the cattle from them

B. Heracles as hero or master of animals?

1. In 10 of 12 of the Labors he overcomes animals

2. Heracles the great "beef-eater": provides the animals, sets up altars, institutes sacrifices, cooks the meat, and eats two oxen at one meal

C. Heracles as civilizing force

1. Civilizes the world by killing wild animals and beasts, but also a threat to civilization (cf. nature vs. culture above)

D. Heracles as a liminal figure

1. Divine / human

2. Sanity / insanity

3. Male / female

4. Human / animal

5. Excess: food, drink, sex, anger / moderation

6. Life / death

• Heracles penetrates above and below (Cerberus, Alcestis) as well as near and far (Hesperides)
• The cult of Heracles associations with afterlife: Heracles conquers death; parallel to Jesus: "It is accomplished" (John 19:30)