Frescoes depicting Hercules and Omphale at the Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

Hercules and Omphale, Pompeii, Casa Marcus Lucretius

Hercules and Omphale Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (203 x 162 cm) 20–79 AD

This fresco is inspired by a painting from the Hellenistic period (3rd century BC).

After killing his friend Iphitos, Hercules wanted to purify himself of this murder by consulting the Oracle of Delphi, who condemned him to three years of slavery.

According to Diodorus of Sicily, it was Queen Omphale of Lydia who bought Hercules to rid her kingdom of monsters and bandits. During his servitude, Hercules became the lover of Omphale, who forced him to spin wool and wear women's clothing.

Hercules and Omphale This fresco depicts Hercules during a festival in honour of Bacchus, the god of wine.

He has the vacant stare of a drunk man, precariously balanced, subjected to the music and noise of the agitated crowd surrounding him.

Hercules is naked under a light garment, his feet encased in small women's shoes, and his head crowned with simple foliage; the hero has lost his strength and dignity under the indifferent gaze of Queen Omphale, who has seized his skin of the Nemean lion and his famous club, placed beside her.

The roles are reversed, the magnificent hero endowed with supernatural strength is defeated and corrupted by erotic pleasures and the excesses of court life.

Hercules and Omphale, Pompeii, Casa del Principe di Montenegro

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (96 x 81 cm) 25–35 AD

Fresco of Hercules and Omphale, Pompeii, Casa Principe di Montenegro, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Hercules and Omphale After committing murder in a fit of rage, Heracles followed the advice of the Oracle of Apollo, who told him that he would purify himself by agreeing to sell himself as a slave to Omphale, the widowed queen of Lydia.

The fresco depicts Omphale seated in majesty surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting; the three women at the top left are looking at Heracles lying on the ground at the bottom right.

Heracles is drunk, his powerful muscles bulging out of the women's clothing imposed on him by the queen, who looks at him with a scowl of disdain, while his attendants show concern and pity for him.

The drink of Bacchus has rendered powerless the hero, who gazes vaguely at the little cupid perched on his vine-leaf crown, while other little cupids have seized his club and his quiver.

Hercules and Omphale The little lovers make a great effort to hoist the heavy club that killed monsters to bring it back to the queen, as their companions have already done with the quiver containing the deadly arrows of Heracles, the champion archer.

After completing his twelve labours and numerous exploits, the hero is forced to patiently endure the queen's whims and allow himself to be corrupted by the excesses of court life.

The Prince of Montenegro visited the excavations at Pompeii in March 1851, a week after the discovery of the house where this fresco was found; the house bears his name in memory of his visit.

Hercules and Omphale with the lion skin on his head, Area Vesuviana

Fresco - Water-based pigments on Coating - 45–79 AD

Fresco of Hercules and Omphale with the lion skin on his head, Vesuvian Area, Archaeological Museum of Naples