The City of God · Character

Hercules

Legendary hero known for his twelve labors, often cited in pagan mythology.

minor

Also known as This Hercules, whose great deeds are reckoned as twelve (not including the slaughter of Antaeus the African, because that affair pertains to another Hercules), Antaeus the African, Antaeus

First appearance: part i book i

Hercules's tie to Jesus Christ is one of the pressures that moves The City of God—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Mentioned as a demigod alongside Romulus, with whom Plato is compared by Labeo.

In the storyXIVOpen this moment free

See Hercules in XIV Book page

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With Jesus Christ (rivalry): Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits are set against Christ's perfect sacrifice. With Jupiter (family): Hercules is the son of Jupiter in Roman mythology, though this relationship is critiqued as immoral and false in the text. With Jesus Christ (rivalry): Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits are set against Christ's perfect sacrifice.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Hercules sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Hercules in part i book i

Character Web

69 connections

A slice of how Hercules sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Patriarchs and Pagan Figures
Diverse Historical and Biblical Figures
Roman Statesmen and Emperors
Roman Founders and Tyrants

+64 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

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Relationships

Jesus Christ
rivalry · negative
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits… How this plays out →
Jupiter
family · negative
Jesus Christ
rivalry · negative
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits… How this plays out →
Jupiter
family · negative
Jupiter
family · negative
Jesus Christ
rivalry · negative
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits… How this plays out →

Jesus Christ
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits are set against Christ's perfect sacrifice.
Jupiter
Hercules is the son of Jupiter in Roman mythology, though this relationship is critiqued as immoral and false in the text.
Jesus Christ
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits are set against Christ's perfect sacrifice.
Jupiter
Hercules is the son of Jupiter in Roman mythology, though this relationship is critiqued as immoral and false in the text.
Jupiter
Hercules is the son of Jupiter in Roman mythology, though this relationship is critiqued as immoral and false in the text.
Jesus Christ
Hercules is contrasted with Jesus Christ as a pagan hero of myth, whose flawed exploits are set against Christ's perfect sacrifice.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Hercules in part i book i

In the story

Hercules appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XIV
Mentioned as a demigod alongside Romulus, with whom Plato is compared by Labeo.
Concerning the three kinds of gods about which the pontiff Scaevola has discoursed
Cited as one of the beings that learned men declare were merely men, not gods.
V
Referenced as an example of a god with fables contrary to divine dignity.
VII
Subject of the story about the sacristan's dice game and the harlot Larentina, used to show the baseness of civil theology.
Chapter VIII: Who Were Kings When Moses Was Born, and What Gods Began to Be Worshipped Then
Believed to have lived around the same time as Mercury; later deified for benefits to mortals.
Of the rituals of false gods instituted by the kings of Greece in the period from Israel’s exodus from Egypt down to the death of Joshua the son of Nun
One of several figures called Hercules; this one burned himself on Mount Oeta and is known for his twelve labors.
XIII
Hercules is noted as slaying Antaeus and feeding the flocks of king Admetus alongside Apollo.
XII
Mentioned as the hero exalted by poets at the expense of Cacus.
Book XXII: The Eternal Blessedness of the City of God and the Resurrection of the Body
Cited by Cicero as an example of apotheosis, whose body was not taken into heaven according to pagan belief.
Against the Wise Men Who Deny the Resurrection of the Body
Mentioned as an example of apotheosis whose body was not taken up into heaven according to Cicero.
Chapter X: The Greater Honor of Martyrs Compared to Demons
Mentioned as an example of a pagan figure considered a god from among dead men.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Hercules unlock in the free preview.

See Hercules in part i book i

See Hercules in XIV