Herakles and Athena
|
Athena
standing behind Herakles as he and Iolas battle the Hydra Athena
with Herakles as he wrestles Kerberos Athena
with Herakles as he wrestles the Nemean lion Athena
is present when Herakles strangles the snakes Hera sent while he and
Iphikles were infants |
||
| Does
Herakles know she’s there? In many
illustrations it seems as though Athena is helping Herakles.
But does he realize she’s helping him, or does he think he’s
doing it all himself? Literary
sources . . . Even though Athena helps Herakles more than the other gods
do, he is not usually shown communicating with her.
(Other gods) |
Athena
shown helping Herakles hold up the world as Atlas gets the Apples of
Hesperides |
||
| Athena
as friend of Herakles On
the other hand, sometimes a more personal relationship is shown.
According to the
Perseus vase catalog, “The Olympia metope is strikingly different in
its representation of the aftermath of the struggle and unique in its
inclusion of Athena, who is otherwise unknown in connection with this
story. She is here as the patroness of Herakles, in her guise of Athena
Polias, the protector of cities, indicated here by the rock on which
Athena sits.” In this
scene, Herakles is depicted giving Athena one of the Stymphalian Birds he
has killed as a trophy. In at least one
instance, Athena is depicted fighting with Herakles.
Such is the case in the Battle of the Giants. It seems ironic
that Herakles would play an ancient Greek stringed instrument for Athena
and Hermes because Herakles killed his music teacher for criticizing his
lyre playing. “Some
iconographic scenes show Herakles and Athena standing beside one another
and shaking each other’s hand (dexiosis); others depict Herakles
pouring a libation or Athena pouring into Herakles’ cup” (Padilla,
11). (MB) |
Metope
representing the Stymphalian Birds labor from the temple of Zeus at
Olympia Athena
and Herakles fighting against the giants Herakles
playing a kithara with Athena and Hermes present |
