CMLT316 Lecture 18: 4/19 Class Notes - Heracles, Jason
3 Jun 2018
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Class 18: The Age of Heroes; Heracles (Hercules); Jason and Medea
Heracles’ Early Exploits
● Mount Cithaeron - defeats lion
● King of Thespiae, Thespus rewards his service by offering his 50 daughters
● Later leads Theban army against the Mynyans of Orchomenus - Creon gives Heracles
his daughter Megara as a reward
Heracles Comes into his Own
● Has made a name for himself
● Is married and has children
Heracles’ Early Exploits
● Heracles tried to have a normal life
● Hera drove him “mad” and convinced him that his family were enemies, he murdered
them
● Had to “purify” himself through “labors”
● A heroic pattern:
○ Divine origin
■ Cf. Theseus and Aegeus
○ Early test of strength
■ Cf. Theseus lifting rock
○ Compelled from home
■ Cf. Theseus to find father/tribune to Crete
○ Reintegrated back into society
■ Cf. Theseus returns to Athens
Heracles: Labors of Purification for Eurystheus (King of Mycenae)
● 12 labors: 6 Peloponnesian; 6 “International”
● Peloponnesian
○ Nemean Lion
■ Hide cannot be pierced with weapons
■ Would provide Heracles with his cape
○ Lernaean Hydra
■ Many headed serpent: cut one, two more grow in its place
■ Iolaus (Heracles’ nephew) helped by cauterizing stumps with torch
○ Cerynean Hind
○ Erymanthian Boar
○ Augean Stables
■ Augeas (the King of Elis) had stables that had never been cleaned
■ Heracles charged with the task and diverted two rivers to wash out the
stables
■ Augeas offered him money in return
○ Stymphalian Birds
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Class 18: the age of heroes; heracles (hercules); jason and medea. King of thespiae, thespus rewards his service by offering his 50 daughters. Later leads theban army against the mynyans of orchomenus - creon gives heracles his daughter megara as a reward. Heracles tried to have a normal life. Hera drove him mad and convinced him that his family were enemies, he murdered them. Heracles: labors of purification for eurystheus (king of mycenae) Many headed serpent: cut one, two more grow in its place. Iolaus (heracles" nephew) helped by cauterizing stumps with torch. Augeas (the king of elis) had stables that had never been cleaned. Heracles charged with the task and diverted two rivers to wash out the stables. Girdle of hippolyta (north of black sea) Cerberus (underworld; entrance at tainaron, the southern peninsula of. Heracles associated with creation of some panhellenic games. Core message: athloi brings fame and respect.
