A French bronze of Hercules. This wonderful piece depicts the great battle of the Lernaean Hydra monster, the multi-headed beast. As one head was severed by Hercules, two more took its place. Hercules burned each head to keep them from regenerating, until he reached the final head which he discovered is immortal. This one he buried under a rock. Hercules is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene, the granddaughter of Perseus and Andromeda. Hera, Zeus' wife, was jealous of Alcmene and attempted to kill Hercules many times but always failed. Hercules performed many great feats which made him famous. He liberating Thebes from the Minyans, for which he was given the hand of Megara, Princess of Thebes. They had three sons. Then Hera had her revenge. She made Hercules temporarily insane and he killed his wife and the children. In punishment for the crime Hercules was given twelve impossible tasks. Only if he completed these tasks would he be a free man. Killing the Hydra was one of these tasks.
 
H 36 in. x W 16 in. x D 16 in.
H 91.44 cm x W 40.64 cm x D 40.64 cm