The Child Herakles and the Snakes
According to Philostratus the Younger and the poet Ovid, this fresco perhaps depicts the first labour of Herakles, carried out when he was just born, or whilst he was yet an infant: he strangled two snakes sent by Hera to kill him. The other characters depicted inside the painted scene are: Zeus seated on his throne with a scourge in his right hand, as if in act to drive away the serpents, and with a sceptre in his left; Amphitryon holding in his arms his terrified child Iphikles, and Alcmene, who appears in an attitude that liveling expresses all her terror.
According to the myth, Herakles was born in Thebes, son of Zeus and Alcmene, the wife of the Theban hero Amphitryon. The god seduced Alcmene in the guise of her own husband, and laid with her one night only, but he lengthened the night in such a manner, that it was as long as two or three, or even nine nights, according to various traditions. Amphitryon returning soon after, was surprised at the coldness with which his wife received him. Understanding that her behavior was caused by the facy that she supposed this not to be his first arrival, Amphitryon consulted the diviner Tiresias about it, discovering what Zeus had done.
Alcmena at her time brought forth two sons, Herakles begotten by Zeus, and Iphikles by Amphitryon. Hera, out of hatred to her rival, threw two monstrous serpents into the cradle of the infants; so it became clear which of the boys was the god's child: when two snakes crawled into their bed, Iphikles cried out in terror, while Herakles seized the snakes and strangled them.
This is the account of Apollodorus and of the Greek and Latin poets who speak of the generation, descent, and recognition of Hercules. This amorous intrigue of Zeus is the subject of comedy of Plautus. According to Pindar and other subsequent writers, Herakles was only a few months old when Hera, angry at Zeus' infidelity with Alkmene, sent two serpents into the apartment where Herakles and his brother were sleeping.
Some sources said that Amphitryon put the snakes there to find out which boy was his own son.
Roman fresco
ca. 70 AD
From Herculaneum
Museo Archeologico Nazionale, inv. no. 9012
The Child Herakles and the Snakes
According to Philostratus the Younger and the poet Ovid, this fresco perhaps depicts the first labour of Herakles, carried out when he was just born, or whilst he was yet an infant: he strangled two snakes sent by Hera to kill him. The other characters depicted inside the painted scene are: Zeus seated on his throne with a scourge in his right hand, as if in act to drive away the serpents, and with a sceptre in his left; Amphitryon holding in his arms his terrified child Iphikles, and Alcmene, who appears in an attitude that liveling expresses all her terror.
According to the myth, Herakles was born in Thebes, son of Zeus and Alcmene, the wife of the Theban hero Amphitryon. The god seduced Alcmene in the guise of her own husband, and laid with her one night only, but he lengthened the night in such a manner, that it was as long as two or three, or even nine nights, according to various traditions. Amphitryon returning soon after, was surprised at the coldness with which his wife received him. Understanding that her behavior was caused by the facy that she supposed this not to be his first arrival, Amphitryon consulted the diviner Tiresias about it, discovering what Zeus had done.
Alcmena at her time brought forth two sons, Herakles begotten by Zeus, and Iphikles by Amphitryon. Hera, out of hatred to her rival, threw two monstrous serpents into the cradle of the infants; so it became clear which of the boys was the god's child: when two snakes crawled into their bed, Iphikles cried out in terror, while Herakles seized the snakes and strangled them.
This is the account of Apollodorus and of the Greek and Latin poets who speak of the generation, descent, and recognition of Hercules. This amorous intrigue of Zeus is the subject of comedy of Plautus. According to Pindar and other subsequent writers, Herakles was only a few months old when Hera, angry at Zeus' infidelity with Alkmene, sent two serpents into the apartment where Herakles and his brother were sleeping.
Some sources said that Amphitryon put the snakes there to find out which boy was his own son.
Roman fresco
ca. 70 AD
From Herculaneum
Museo Archeologico Nazionale, inv. no. 9012