The Oxford Handbook of Heracles

Daniel Ogden

Oxford Handbooks

The first general treatment of Heracles on such a large scale in any language
Presents the authoritative work of international experts
Includes a thorough examination of the ancient evidence
Explores different thematic perspectives across literature, art, and culture

The Oxford Handbook of Heracles

Daniel Ogden

Description

Heracles is the quintessential ancient Greek hero. The rich and massive tradition associated with him encompasses myths of all kinds: quest myths, monster-fights, world-foundational myths, aetiological myths, philosophical myths, allegorical myths, and more. It informs and is informed by every genre and variety of Classical literature. The figure of Heracles opens windows onto numerous aspects of ancient religion, including those of cult, syncretism, Christian reception, the relationship between gods and heroes, and the intersection of religion with politics.

The Oxford Handbook of Heracles is the first large-scale guide to Heracles, his myth-cycle the Twelve Labors, and, to the pervasive impact of the hero upon Greek and Roman culture. The first half of the volume is devoted to the lucid exposition and analysis of the ancient evidence, literary and iconographic, for Heracles' life and deeds. In the second half, the Heracles tradition is analyzed from a range of thematic perspectives, including the contrasting projections of the figure across the major literary genres and in art; the ways in which Greek communities and even Roman emperors exploited the figure in the fashioning of their own identities and for political advantage; his cult in Greece and Rome and its syncretism with that of the Phoenician Melqart; and Heracles' reception in later Western tradition.

Presenting, in 39 chapters, the authoritative work of international experts in a clear and well-structured format, this volume provides a convenient reference tool for scholars and offers an accessible starting-point for students.

The Oxford Handbook of Heracles

Daniel Ogden

Oxford Handbooks

Contributors
List of Figures
Introduction Daniel Ogden

Part I: Before the Labors
1. Birth and Childhood - Corinne Pache
2. The Madness and the Labors - Katherine Lu Hsu

Part II: The Labors (Athloi)
3. Labor I: The Nemean Lion - Jenny March
4. Labor II: The Lernaean Hydra - Christina Salowey
5. Labor III: The Cerynean Hind - Emma Aston
6. Labor IV: The Erymanthian Boar (and Pholus) - Daniel Ogden
7. Labor V: The Augean Stables - Fiona Mitchell
8. Labor VI: The Stymphalian Birds - Emma Aston
9. Labor VII: The Cretan Bull - Daniel Ogden
10. Labor VIII: The Mares of Diomede (and Alcestis) - Daniel Ogden
11. Labor IX: The Girdle of the Amazon Hippolyte - Adrienne Mayor
12. Labor X: The Cattle of Geryon and the Return from Tartessus - P. J. Finglass
13. Labor XI: The Apples of the Hesperides - Gina Salapata
14. Labor XII: Cerberus - Pauline Hanesworth

Part III: The Side-Deeds (Parerga)
15. Brigands and Cruel Kings - D. Felton
16. The Argonauts - Richard Hunter
17. Laomedon, Hesione and the Sea-Monster - Bronwen Wickkiser
18. Auge and Telephus - Emma Griffiths
19. The Gigantomachy - Christina Salowey
20. Oechalia, Delphi and Omphale - Kristin Heineman
21. Deianeira, Death and Apotheosis - Dámaris Romero-González

Part IV: Genres and Media
22. Epic - Elton Barker and Joel Christensen
23. Tragedy - Michael Lloyd
24. Comedy - John Wilkins
25. The Philosophical Tradition - Philip Bosman
26. Classical Art - Amy Smith

Part V: Themes
27. Heracles as a Quest Hero - Graham Anderson
28. Heracles between Hera and Athena - Susan Deacy
29. Heracles Rationalized and Allegorized - Greta Hawes
30. Heracles and the Mastery of Geographical Space - Antonio Ignacio Molina Marín
31. Heracles as Ancestor - Lee E. Patterson
32. Heracles, Macedon and Alexander the Great - Christian Thrue Djurslev
33. The Greek Cult of Heracles - Jennifer Larson
34. Heracles and Melqart - Megan Daniels
35. The Roman Cult of Hercules - Christopher Siwicki
36. Hercules, Caesar and the Roman Emperors - Matthew Loar
37. The Early Christian Heracles - Alexandra Eppinger
38. The Reception of Heracles - Emma Stafford

Index

The Oxford Handbook of Heracles

Daniel Ogden

Oxford Handbooks

Author Information

Daniel Ogden is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Exeter. His previous books include The Werewolf in the Ancient World; Drakon: Dragon Myth and Serpent Cult in the Greek and Roman Worlds; Dragons, Serpents, and Slayers in the Classical and Early Christian Worlds: A Sourcebook ; and Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook.

Contributors:

Graham Anderson, Emma Aston, Elton Barker, Philip Bosman, Joel Christensen, Megan Daniels, Susan Deacy, Christian Thrue Djurslev, Alexandra Eppinger, Debbie Felton, P. J. Finglass, Emma Griffiths, Pauline Hanesworth, Greta Hawes, Kristin Heineman, Katherine Lu Hsu, Richard Hunter, Jennifer Larson, Michael Lloyd, Matthew Loar, Jenny March, Adrienne Mayor, Fiona Mitchell, Antonio Ignacio Molina Marín, Daniel Ogden, Corinne Pache, Lee E. Patterson, Dámaris Romero-González, Gina Salapata, Christina Salowey, Christopher Siwicki, Amy Smith, Emma Stafford, Bronwen Wickkiser, John Wilkins

The Oxford Handbook of Heracles

Daniel Ogden

Oxford Handbooks

Reviews and Awards

"The editor and contributors to this volume successfully provide a far-reaching synthesis that does not oversimplify Heracles' mythical accounts and their influence in various areas of knowledge.... This handbook will be of great use for those interested in a comprehensive guide to navigating the immensity of accounts and appearances of the hero, as well as the topics and observations derived from his figure during Greek and Roman times. Readers will find an accessible text that provides further references and bibliography in almost every important particularity of the Heraclean myth. Each contribution works by itself and can be read separately." -- Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"heracles will serve, going forward, not only as a basic starting point for any study of the ancient hero but also, prehaps, as an inspiration and model for potential Oxford handbooks on other mythological figures, such as Oedipus, Jason and Theseus." -- Thomas J. Sienkewicz, Monouth College, CJ-Online

"The Oxford Handbook of Heracles (henceforth Heracles) is a significant addition to Oxford's invaluable series of handbooks.... A handbook which promises to become a standard resource for anyone interested in Heracles, from the novice undergraduate to the advanced scholar." -- Classical Journal-Online