Hercle
Etruscan · demigod · archaic · Recorded classification
Hercle is the Etruscans' Heracles, and no borrowed figure was taken up more enthusiastically: engravers returned again and again to the moment he is received into the company of the gods, and Mean sets the victor's wreath on his head. He is the son of Tinia by a mortal woman, Alchumena, which is the Etruscan form of the Greek formula. The Latin Hercules is generally held to have reached Rome through this Etruscan form rather than directly from Greek. He is recorded here as his own figure because that is this registry's practice for Etruscan counterparts — Tinia is not merged into Zeus, and an Oscan Hercle already stands separately as well.
Parentage
- parent: Tinia
Variant accounts
- Hercle is kept as a record distinct from Greek Heracles.This registry already keeps `oscan_hercle` separate from `greek_apollod_heracles`, and keeps Tinia, Zeus and Jupiter apart, so the Etruscan Hercle is recorded in his own right rather than folded into the Greek figure. The Greek record carries 'Hercle' among its alternate names as the Italic form of the name; that is noted here so the relation between the entries is legible rather than hidden. The Etruscan figure has his own parentage formula (Tinia and Alchumena), his own apotheosis iconography and his own sanctuaries.Reference discussion of the Etruscan reception of Heracles as Hercle, with native parentage and cult. (secondary)
Domains
- strength
- protection
Relations
- ally: MeanCrowned by Mean, the goddess of victory, in the mirror scenes of his triumph and reception among the gods.Etruscan mirrors in which Mean crowns Hercle. (iconographic)
Sources
- Hercle is the Etruscan form of Heracles, son of Tinia by the mortal Alchumena, a favourite of Etruscan engravers who repeatedly show his reception into the company of the gods.: Etruscan engraved bronze mirrors depicting Hercle, including his reception among the gods and his crowning by Mean. (iconographic); Reference discussion of Hercle as son of Tinia and Alchumena and as an adopted Etruscan favourite. (secondary)