Farnese Hercules (4th century B.C.) - National Museum, Naples

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Mythological heroes are a part of civilization. All cultures had them. The Greeks had many; Perseus, Jason, Theseus and Hercules. The jealous Hera, vengeful because of her husband's infidelity, sent two serpents to destroy the infant Hercules in his cradle but even at that age he strangled the serpents, demonstrating the power that was to characterize his life. The twelve labors assigned to Hercules as repentance for having killed his own children began with the slaying of the Nemean lion with his own hands. Ever afterward he wore the lion' skin which is present in The Farnese Hercules. The Farnese Hercules with obvious reference to his tremendous strength is probably the finest of many sculptural representations of the hero. The original statue was by Lysippos or one of his followers. That which survives is a Roman copy. For more information go here: The Twelve Labors of Hercules