Classical Art

As Panhellenic and local hero, semidivinity or god, Heracles received reverence across Greece and served as patron divinity in many locales. The frequency and survival of his images from across the Greek and Roman worlds unsurprisingly surpasses that of all other mythic figures. After all, he appealed to all genders and strata of society, ranging from slaves to rulers, for example, Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens; the kings of Pontus; and Caracalla. While Heracles’ role in Classical art (archaic Greece through the Roman Empire) is therefore immense, this chapter surveys his appearances in three diverse spheres of activity, namely sport, politics, and the private realm, including music and sexuality.