Dickinson College Commentaries

Hercules and the Golden Apples, detail of a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) plucks an apple from a tree (center) with his left hand. He wears his lion skin and carries his club in his right. Three of the Hesperides look on from the background (right).

Herakles fighting Geryon, detail of a black figure amphora attributed to the E Group

Herakles (left), wearing his lion skin and raising his club with his right hand, fights Geryon (right) depicted with three bodies each in full armor and bearing shields and spears. Eurytion sits on the ground (center) holding his right side with his left hand as if wounded.

Hercules and the Cretan Bull, detail from a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) grasps the Cretan Bull (right) by its right horn and muzzle turning its head to face the viewer. Hercules wears his lion skin; his club lies discarded on the ground below the bull.

Herakles presents Eurystheus with the Erymanthian Boar, black-figure amphora attributed to the Antimenes Painter

Herakles (center left) holds the Erymanthian Boar snout down over a large amphora in which Eurystheus (center right) is hiding. Iolaos (left) stands behind Herakles resting his club on his right shoulder. Hermes (right) stands on the opposite side of the amphora gesturing down toward Eurystheus with his right hand

Hercules defeats the Mares of Diomedes, detail of the Twelve Labors from a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules wearing his lion skin (left) holds one of the Mares of Diomedes by the neck with his left hand. In his right he holds his club preparing to swing. Behind them two mares can be seen already lying on the ground. A young man can also be seen on the ground about to be trampled.

Hercules fighting the Nemean lion, detail of a sarcophagus

Hercules (center) grapples with the Nemean Lion. The lion stands on his hind legs head turned into Hercules' left shoulder with its left front paw clawing Heracles' right arm. The pair are flanked by a spiral carved column (left) and a tree (right).

Herakles captures the Hind of Keryneia, detail of a black-figure amphora

Herakles (center left) grasps the Hind of Keryneia (center right) by its right antler having broken off its left with his left hand. Athena (left) and Artemis (right) look on. Athena holds a sheathed sword raised in her left hand. Artemis holds her bow in her right hand. Both women gesture toward the center scene with their free hands.

Herakles strangling the snakes, detail of a red-figure stamnos attributed to the Berlin Painter

The infants Herakles (center) and Iphikles (right) lie on a bed. The snakes sent by Hera wrap around Herakles' waist while he grasps their throats strangling them. A woman at the head of the bed lifts Iphikles to safety.

Gnōthi Sauton mosaic, convent of San Gregorio excavations

A skeletal form lies on its side in the grass facing the viewer. Its ribs and pelvis are visible. Its arms and legs are intact though they appear wasted. Underneath it is the inscription Gnōthi Sauton.

Agache: Les parques (The Fates)

The Fates (left) are seated next to a yarn winding frame (right). Nona (Greek Clotho, background left) holds a distaff with wool in her right hand and appears to be spinning thread with her right. Seated in front of her (foreground center) Decima (Greek Lachesis) winds the spun thread on a yarn winding frame. Morta (Greek Atropos, foreground left) watches cupping her chin in her left hand. In her right hand she holds her scissors in her lap.