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.
Table of Contents
ContributorsList of FiguresIntroduction Daniel OgdenPart I: Before the Labors1. Birth and Childhood - Corinne Pache2. The Madness and the Labors - Katherine Lu HsuPart II: The Labors (Athloi)3. Labor I: The Nemean Lion - Jenny March4. Labor II: The Lernaean Hydra - Christina Salowey5. Labor III: The Cerynean Hind - Emma Aston6. Labor IV: The Erymanthian Boar (and Pholus) - Daniel Ogden7. Labor V: The Augean Stables - Fiona Mitchell8. Labor VI: The Stymphalian Birds - Emma Aston9. Labor VII: The Cretan Bull - Daniel Ogden10. Labor VIII: The Mares of Diomede (and Alcestis) - Daniel Ogden11. Labor IX: The Girdle of the Amazon Hippolyte - Adrienne Mayor12. Labor X: The Cattle of Geryon and the Return from Tartessus - P. J. Finglass13. Labor XI: The Apples of the Hesperides - Gina Salapata14. Labor XII: Cerberus - Pauline HanesworthPart III: The Side-Deeds (Parerga)15. Brigands and Cruel Kings - D. Felton16. The Argonauts - Richard Hunter17. Laomedon, Hesione and the Sea-Monster - Bronwen Wickkiser18. Auge and Telephus - Emma Griffiths19. The Gigantomachy - Christina Salowey20. Oechalia, Delphi and Omphale - Kristin Heineman21. Deianeira, Death and Apotheosis - Dámaris Romero-GonzálezPart IV: Genres and Media22. Epic - Elton Barker and Joel Christensen23. Tragedy - Michael Lloyd24. Comedy - John Wilkins25. The Philosophical Tradition - Philip Bosman26. Classical Art - Amy SmithPart V: Themes27. Heracles as a Quest Hero - Graham Anderson28. Heracles between Hera and Athena - Susan Deacy29. Heracles Rationalized and Allegorized - Greta Hawes30. Heracles and the Mastery of Geographical Space - Antonio Ignacio Molina Marín31. Heracles as Ancestor - Lee E. Patterson32. Heracles, Macedon and Alexander the Great - Christian Thrue Djurslev33. The Greek Cult of Heracles - Jennifer Larson34. Heracles and Melqart - Megan Daniels35. The Roman Cult of Hercules - Christopher Siwicki36. Hercules, Caesar and the Roman Emperors - Matthew Loar37. The Early Christian Heracles - Alexandra Eppinger38. The Reception of Heracles - Emma StaffordIndex
