File:Mosaic of Hercules, Possibly made in North Africa, Roman period, about AD 200, Winning at the ancient Games, British Museum (7675934406).jpg

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This mosaic depicts a large, heavily-built man wearing a beard. He is shown bruised and battered. His size and pose have led to suggestions that he is intended to be seen as a heroic figure, caught perhaps after one of his battles against man or monster.

The reddish tones of the face seem intended to show fresh injuries, and the mosaicist has cleverly rendered the human form and the texture of the skin stretched over muscles and tendons.

The lion’s skin tied around the figure’s hips and what is possibly a club by his left leg suggest this mosaic depicts Hercules (Herakles). According to legend, Hercules founded the Olympic Games to celebrate the last of his 12 labours – the cleansing of the cattle stables of King Augeas, whose palace was situated near Olympia.

Hercules is said to have set the length of the stadium at just over 192 metres, the distance he could run in one breath. During the Roman period guilds of professional athletes were formed, adopting Hercules as their patron. In this mosaic, he clutches what look like palm branches, formed from green and slate-grey tesserae (mosaic pieces). Palm branches were tokens of victory at athletic contests.

Source: www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_object...
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Mosaic of Hercules, Possibly made in North Africa, Roman period, about AD 200, Winning at the ancient Games, British Museum

Author Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany
Camera location51° 30′ 33.01″ N, 0° 07′ 13.82″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

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This image, originally posted to Flickr, was reviewed on 28 December 2013 by the administrator or reviewer File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske), who confirmed that it was available on Flickr under the stated license on that date.

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Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current17:30, 28 December 2013Thumbnail for version as of 17:30, 28 December 20132,452 × 4,174 (9.87 MB)File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) (talk | contribs)Transferred from Flickr by User:Marcus Cyron

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