Hercules und Achelous

Title

Hercules und Achelous

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving illustrates the wrestling match between Hercules and the river god, Achelous. Hercules and Achelous were both interested in marrying a woman named Deianira, and this caused a rivalry between the two. Hercules believed he should marry her because he is the son of Zeus. Achelous believed he should marry her because he was a native to that land and not a foreigner, like Hercules. Hercules and Achelous began to physically fight for the right to marry Deianira. There are three fighting scenes in the engraving, one where Achelous is in his human form, one where he transforms into a serpent, and one where is in the form of a bull. When Achelous transforms into a bull, Hercules rips off one of his horns and wins the battle. There are three women illustrated in the background of the engraving, one of them is assumed to be Deianira.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:22876

Language

ger

Source Name

P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]

Parent Collection

1564 Frankfurt Spreng

Image

mta_22876_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Hercules

Achelous

Deianira

Gods

Goddesses

Roman Mythology

Greek Mythology