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-lik