Cleveland Museum of Art

Hercules

Date

c. 30 BCE–20 CE

Medium

bronze with silver and copper inlays

Culture

Italy, Rome, Early Imperial period

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This bronze statuette is a nude figure of the hero Hercules. He stands in a contrapposto pose, with the majority of his weight on one leg. Over his left arm, Hercules holds the skin of the Nemean Lion, having slayed the beast as part of his Twelve Labors and now carrying the pelt as a trophy. Although now mostly lost, Hercules once held his signature wooden club in his right hand. Roman artists often portrayed Hercules as middle-aged, as though greater maturity would increase his power and virility. Hercules is the Roman name for the classical hero known in Greek as Herakles.

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