[1110]. Berlin 2658 = Reinach, i. 375.

[1111]. B.M. F 111.

CHAPTER XIV
HEROIC LEGENDS

Kastor and Polydeukes—Herakles and his twelve labours—Other contests—Relations with deities—Apotheosis—Theseus and his labours—Later scenes of his life—Perseus—Pelops and Bellerophon—Jason and the Argonauts—Theban legends—The Trojan cycle—Peleus and Thetis—The Judgment of Paris—Stories of Telephos and Troilos—Scenes from the Iliad—The death of Achilles and the Fall of Troy—The Odyssey—The Oresteia—Attic and other legends—Orpheus and the Amazons—Monsters—Historical and literary subjects.

In treating of the subject of heroic legends, we propose to deal first with the more prominent heroes, such as Kastor and Polydeukes, Herakles, Theseus, and Perseus, and with the tales of Thebes and Troy; next with the series of myths connected specially with Attica or other localities; then with semi-mythical personages, such as Orpheus and Thamyris, which lead us on to the next division of the subject—scenes connected with Greek history.

Kastor and Polydeukes do not play a very extensive part on vases; and as they are not further characterised than by the petasos and two spears, which are the ordinary equipment of young horsemen, they are not always to be identified with certainty, except in mythological scenes. Among these they appear in the Gigantomachia,[[1112]] or in company with Herakles are initiated into the lesser mysteries at Agra[[1113]]; they are also seen at the apotheosis of Herakles.[[1114]] They are present when Leda discovers the egg laid by Nemesis,[[1115]] and on two B.F. vases appear with Leda and Tyndareus in a family group[[1116]]; they are also seen in company with Hermes,[[1117]] with Paris and Helen,[[1118]] with Danaos taking refuge in Attica,[[1119]] in a scene from the Merope of Euripides,[[1120]] and at the slaying of the Sphinx by Oedipus.[[1121]] They take part in the hunt of the Calydonian boar,[[1122]] and in many scenes from the Argonautika, such as the death of Talos,[[1123]] the punishment of Amykos,[[1124]] and others of doubtful meaning.[[1125]] There is more than one representation of their carrying off the Leukippidae,[[1126]] the best being the beautiful Meidias vase in the British Museum (Plate [XLI].), where all the figures are named.[[1127]] They appear as hunters,[[1128]] as deified beings present at a Theoxenia (lectisternium), or feast of the gods,[[1129]] and are crowned by Nike (with stars over their heads).[[1130]]

Herakles

Of all the heroic legends the most numerous and the most important are those of the Herakleid. They appear on vases of all periods, though in the largest proportion on the black-figured varieties, and include every event in his life, from his birth to his deified life in Olympos. Of the visit of Zeus to his mother Alkmena we have already spoken, as also of her apotheosis.[[1131]] As an infant we see Herakles engaged in strangling

the serpents sent by Hera, while his brother Iphikles recoils in terror[[1132]]; later on Hera appears to be reconciled to his existence, for she is actually seen suckling him at her breast.[[1133]] Next he is carried off by Hermes to Cheiron the Centaur for his education,[[1134]] and we see him undergoing instruction on the lyre from Linos,[[1135]] or on his way, accompanied by an old woman carrying his lyre.[[1136]] By the time when his series of labours begins he is usually represented as a full-grown bearded man, especially on the archaic vases; but he appears in a few instances as a quite youthful beardless figure.