Head of Hercules

In the statue, the Greek hero, Hercules ( Herakles )was shown close to exhaustion on completion of the twelve labors set him by Eurystheus, ruler of the Argolid.

The contrast between his powerful physique and his weary stance is echoed in this particularly fine rendition of his noble head, which is bowed with fatigue. The statue was copied in many different sizes during the Roman period.

Metropolitan Museum, New York

H. 22 cm

Material: Casting stone, keramin

Aged marble patina by hand