Hercules / Herakles. Hercules, known as Heracles in Greek mythology, is one of the most famous and revered heroes in both Greek and Roman mythology. He is the son of Zeus/Jupiter and the mortal woman Alcmene. He is often depicted in art as a symbol of strength, courage, and heroism. Two of the most distinctive attributes of Hercules are the lion skin he wears as a cloak and the club he carries. The lion skin is usually shown as the pelt of the Nemean Lion, which Hercules killed as his first labor. The club symbolizes his strength and his ability to overcome any obstacle. Hercules is often depicted performing one or more of his famous Twelve Labors, a series of seemingly impossible tasks assigned to him by King Eurystheus as punishment for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness. These labors include slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Ceryneian Hind, and cleaning the Augean stables, among others. Hercules' apotheosis, or his elevation to godhood, is a popular theme in art. After completing his Twelve Labors and enduring many other trials, Hercules was granted immortality and welcomed into the company of the gods on Mount Olympus. In art, this scene may be depicted as Hercules being carried up to Olympus by a chariot driven by Athena or as him being welcomed by the gods. One of the most famous and iconic scenes from the myth of Hercules is his battle against the multi-headed serpent-like monster, the Hydra. This scene is often depicted in art, showcasing Hercules' strength, courage, and determination in the face of a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Hercules was a multifaceted figure with contradictory characteristics, which enabled later artists and writers to pick and choose how to represent him. This article provides an introduction to representations of Hercules in the later tradition. Hercules is known for his many adventures, which took him to the far reaches of the Greco-Roman world. One cycle of these adventures became canonical as the Twelve Labours, but the list has variations. One traditional order of the labours is found in the Bibliotheca as follows: Slay the Nemean Lion. Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis. Capture the Erymanthian Boar. Clean the Augean stables in a single day. Slay the Stymphalian Birds. Capture the Cretan Bull. Steal the Mares of Diomedes. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon. Steal the apples of the Hesperides. Capture and bring back Cerberus. Hercules had a greater number of deeds on the side that have been popular subjects for art, including: Side adventures. The Latin name Hercules was borrowed through Etruscan, where it is represented variously as Heracle, Hercle, and other forms. Hercules was a favorite subject for Etruscan art, and appears often on bronze mirrors. The Etruscan form Herceler derives from the Greek Heracles via syncope. A mild oath invoking Hercules was a common interjection in Classical Latin. Hercules had a number of myths that were distinctly Roman. One of these is Hercules' defeat of Cacus, who was terrorizing the countryside of Rome. The hero was associated with the Aventine Hill through his son Aventinus. Mark Antony considered him a personal patron god, as did the emperor Commodus. Hercules received various forms of religious veneration, including as a deity concerned with children and childbirth, in part because of myths about his precocious infancy, and in part because he fathered countless children. Roman brides wore a special belt tied with the knot of Hercules, which was supposed to be hard to untie.