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| Intaglio - Heracles and Hydra Greece 6th century BC sardonyx Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Cameo - Heracles and Omphale Egypt 1st century BC sardonyx Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
OMPHALE – daughter of Iardanus, and queen of Lydia. According to Sophocles, Heracles killed Iphitus, son of Eurytus of Oechalia, by treachery, and Zeus decreed that he should expiate this crime by being sold in slavery to Omphale. Having endured this humiliation for a year, Heracles sacked Oechalia in revenge. Other details are given elsewhere – after the killing of Iphitus, Apollo refused to give Heracles an oracle, so Heracles carried off the Delphic tripod. The quarrel was halted by Zeus, and Apollo then decreed that Heracles should be sold to Omphale for three years (not one year in this version) and the price should be paid to Eurytus. Hermes took him to her, and during his servitude he performed various exploits. Others again say that as Omphale's slave Heracles had to dress as a woman and perform women's work (a paradox popular with Hellenistic and Roman authors) and that he was her lover and had one or more children by her.
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| Intaglio - Heracles and Omphale Italy 16th century lapis lazuli Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Cameo - Omphale and Heracles Italy ca. 1575 agate Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Bust of Heracles Roman Empire 2nd century AD marble Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Statue of Heracles Roman Empire 1st-2nd century AD marble Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Infant Heracles strangling Serpents Roman Empire 1st century AD marble Hermitage, Saint Petersburg originally a fountain statue |
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| Heracles in youth Roman Empire AD 150-200 marble Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Cameo - Antinous as Heracles Roman Empire 1st century AD sardonyx Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Cameo - Heracles and Cerberus Roman Empire 1st century BC - 1st century AD chalcedony Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Cameo - Omphale, Hebe, Heracles Italy ca. 1680-1720 agate Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
HEBE – is normally a daughter of Hera and Zeus, and thus a sister of Ares and Eileithyia. Only in a late-attested tradition of uncertain origin is she born of Hera alone, made fertile by a lettuce. She is often mentioned and depicted as cupbearer of the gods and as bride of Heracles. This marriage is always viewed from the perspective of the groom, to whom it brought reconciliation with Hebe's mother Hera, a home on Olympus, and eternal youth. Hebe occasionally appears in cult, normally in association with the circle of Heracles.
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| Intaglio - Heracles and Iolaus Italy ca. 1700-1730 rock-crystal Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Gottfried Benjamin Tettelbach Cameo - Iolaus and Heracles ca. 1780-95 jasper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
IOLAUS – younger companion and helper of Heracles, was identified as the son of Heracles' half-brother Iphicles and often appeared with Heracles in cult. He was worshipped notably at Thebes and in Sicily and Sardinia, where he was said to have led a colonizing expedition. His distinguishing feature in myth and cult is his connection with youth; even as an old man he was rejuvenated for one day in order to defeat Eurystheus, according to Euripides.
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| Stefano Maderno Heracles Battling Centaur ca. 1625-35 plaster Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Stefano Maderno Heracles with Infant Telephus 1620 terracotta Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
TELEPHUS – an Arcadian hero. He was son of Heracles and of Auge, daughter of Aleus, King of Tigea and priestess of Athena Alea. The baby was hidden by his mother in Athena's sanctuary, and in consequence the land became barren. To get rid of his daughter and her son, Aleus decided to set them adrift at sea, but they reached King Teuthras in Mysia. In some versions deriving from Arcadian tradition, Auge alone was exiled to Mysia, while Telephus was exposed on Mt. Parthenion, where he was suckled by a hind and rescued by shepherds. When he grew up Telephus consulted the Delphic oracle and was reunited with his mother; Teuthras made him his heir.
Profiles adapted from The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd edition, edited by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth