Hercules (/ˈhɜːrkjʊˌliːz/, US: /-kjə-/)[2] is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena.

Hercules is a multifaceted figure with contradictory characteristics, which enabled later artists and writers to pick and choose how to represent him.

In Roman mythology, although Hercules was seen as the champion of the weak and a great protector, his personal problems started at birth.

Juno suckled Hercules at her own breast until the infant bit her nipple, at which point she pushed him away, spilling her milk across the night sky and so forming the Milky Way.

Roman brides wore a special belt tied with the "knot of Hercules", which was supposed to be hard to untie.

For, as their line shouts, they inspire or feel alarm.Some have taken this as Tacitus equating the Germanic Þunraz with Hercules by way of interpretatio romana.

These Germanic "Donar's Clubs" were made from deer antler, bone or wood, more rarely also from bronze or precious metals.

After the Roman Empire became Christianized, mythological narratives were often reinterpreted as allegory, influenced by the philosophy of late antiquity.

[8] In medieval mythography, Hercules was one of the heroes seen as a strong role model who demonstrated both valor and wisdom, while the monsters he battles were regarded as moral obstacles.

In a chapter of his book Mythologiae (1567), the influential mythographer Natale Conti collected and summarized an extensive range of myths concerning the birth, adventures, and death of the hero under his Roman name Hercules.

But it was his wisdom and great soul that earned those honors; noble blood, physical strength, and political power just aren't good enough.

[14] Macrobius in his first book of Saturnalia paraphrases from Varro: "For when Hercules was bringing the cattle of Geryon through Italy, a woman replied to the thirsty hero that she could not give him water because it was the day of the Goddess Women and it was unlawful for a man to taste what had been prepared for her.

In the 8th book of the poem Aeneas finally reaches the future site of Rome, where he meets Evander and the Arcadians making sacrifices to Hercules on the banks of the Tiber river.

[15] They share a feast, and Evander tells the story of how Hercules defeated the monster Cascus, and describes him as a triumphant hero.

For there came that mightiest avenger, the victor Hercules, proud with the slaughter and the spoils of threefold Geryon, and he drove the mighty bulls here, and the cattle filled both valley and riverside.

[19] The choice of deliberately white materials by Koons and Darbyshire has been interpreted as perpetuation of colourism in how the classical world is viewed.

[19] Mapplethorpe's work with black model Derrick Cross can be seen as a reaction to Neo-classical colourism, resisting the portrayal of Hercules as white.

[19] Hercules was among the earliest figures on ancient Roman coinage, and has been the main motif of many collector coins and medals since.

The obverse side of the coin shows the Grand Staircase in the town palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy in Vienna, currently the Austrian Ministry of Finance.

The actors who played Hercules in these films were Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, Kirk Morris, Mickey Hargitay, Mark Forest, Alan Steel, Dan Vadis, Brad Harris, Reg Park, Peter Lupus (billed as Rock Stevens) and Michael Lane.