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| Keywords: Greek - Aged Herakles - Walters 54764.jpg This bronze statuette depicts a heavy-set Herakles in a rare moment of quiet His shoulders are covered with a lion skin that gathers in a generous fold behind his neck The drooping lion skin is visual contrast to Herakles' fully muscled body The rich curls of the lion's mane drape over the hero's left arm but the head of the animal is now missing Herakles' right arm is hidden beneath the skin Similar examples of this statue-type indicate that his left hand held a club against the left shoulder Herakles is heavily bearded his facial hair rendered in thick curls reminiscent of the lion's mane A gilded band encircles his head The eyes are silver and it appears that another material would have been used for the pupils This representation of Herakles is known from several examples including a marble version in the Walters Art Museum 23 74 Both of the Walters' pieces are likely modeled on a famous Hellenistic statue of the hero as a wayfarer Euripides' play Alkestis depicts just such a Herakles who appears as a traveler and unannounced guest at the home of Admetos whose wife Alkestis has just died In the drama the hero is initially unaware of the tragedy unfolding around him Oblivious to his host's suffering he advocates drinking wine to ease life's difficulties revealing a less noble side of the hero Once he finally recognizes the plight of the family he reverts to his heroic self and succeeds in bringing Alkestis back to life Unlike so many depictions of Herakles this statuette captures the hero in a moment of rest rather than at the height of a challenge The bulk of his body his mature appearance and his relaxed pose suggest that this is the hero later in life well after the period of his famed labors Roman copy 1st century BC-AD 1st century; Greek original 3rd century BC Hellenistic cast bronze with silver and gilding cm 43 23 8 14 accession number 54 764 37884 Dirkan Kelekian New York and Paris date and mode of acquisition unknown Henry Walters Baltimore date of acquisition unknown by purchase Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters Heroes Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece The Walters Art Museum Baltimore; Frist Center for the Visual Arts Nashville; San Diego Museum Of Art San Diego; Alexander S Onassis Public Benefit Foundation USA New York 2009-2011 place of origin Greece Walters Art Museum license Ancient Greek sculptures in the Walters Art Museum Ancient Roman sculptures in the Walters Art Museum Art from Greece Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs artist review Statues of Heracles Heracles as an old man Heracles wearing Nemean lion fur skin Old age in Ancient Egypt | ||||
