The Oxford Handbook of Heracles (OXFORD HANDBOOKS SERIES)

Description

Heracles is the quintessential ancient Greek hero. The rich and massive tradition associated with him encompasses myths of all kinds: quest myths, monster-fights, world-foundational myths, aetiological myths, philosophical myths, allegorical myths, and more. It informs and is informed by every genre and variety of Classical literature. The figure of Heracles opens windows onto numerous aspects of ancient religion, including those of cult, syncretism, Christian reception, the relationship between gods and heroes, and the intersection of religion with politics. The Oxford Handbook of Heracles is the first large-scale guide to Heracles, his myth-cycle the Twelve Labors, and, to the pervasive impact of the hero upon Greek and Roman culture. The first half of the volume is devoted to the lucid exposition and analysis of the ancient evidence, literary and iconographic, for Heracles' life and deeds. In the second half, the Heracles tradition is analyzed from a range of thematic perspectives, including the contrasting projections of the figure across the major literary genres and in art; the ways in which Greek communities and even Roman emperors exploited the figure in the fashioning of their own identities and for political advantage; his cult in Greece and Rome and its syncretism with that of the Phoenician Melqart; and Heracles' reception in later Western tradition. Presenting, in 39 chapters, the authoritative work of international experts in a clear and well-structured format, this volume provides a convenient reference tool for scholars and offers an accessible starting-point for students. cover The Oxford Handbook of Heracles Copyright Dedication Contents List of Figures Contributors Introduction Part I: Before the Labors 1. Birth and Childhood 2. The Madness and the Labors Part II: The Labors (Athloi) 3. Labor I: The Nemean Lion 4. Labor II: The Lernean Hydra 5. Labor III: The Cerynean Hind 6. Labor IV: The Erymanthian Boar (and Pholus) 7. Labor V: The Augean Stables 8. Labor VI: The Stymphalian Birds 9. Labor VII: The Cretan Bull 10. Labor VIII: The Mares of Diomede (and Alcestis) 11. Labor IX: The Girdle of the Amazon Hippolyte 12. Labor X: The Cattle of Geryon and the Return from Tartessus 13. Labor XI: The Apples of the Hesperides 14. Labor XII: Cerberus Part III: The Side-​Deeds (Parerga) 15. Brigands and Cruel Kings 16. The Argonauts 17. Laomedon, Hesione, and the Sea-​Monster 18. Auge and Telephus 19. The Gigantomachy 20. Oechalia, Delphi, and Omphale 21. Deianeira, Death, and Apotheosis Part IV: Genres and Media 22. Epic 23. Tragedy 24. Comedy 25. The Philosophical Tradition 26. Classical Art Part V: Themes 27. Heracles as a Quest Hero 28. Heracles between Hera and Athena 29. Heracles Rationalized and Allegorized 30. Heracles and the Mastery of Geographical Space 31. Heracles as Ancestor 32. Heracles, Macedon, and Alexander the Great 33. The Greek Cult of Heracles 34. Heracles and Melqart 35. The Roman Cult of Hercules 36. Hercules, Caesar, and the Roman Emperors 37. The Early Christian Heracles 38. The Reception of Heracles Index