HERCULES IN ANDALUSIA

Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain, it is located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula; bordered to the west by Portugal, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean sea.

The mythical Greek hero Heracles (Latin: Hercules), appears between the columns. He is seen seizing and taming two lions, each representing the power of animal instinct, above the legend: "ANDALUCÍA POR SÍ, PARA ESPAÑA Y LA HUMANIDAD". An arc joins the two columns with the Latin inscription: "DOMINATOR HERCULES FUNDATOR". Many of these elements were adopted from the arms of the city of Cádiz.

HERCULES IN EACH PROVINCE

● This marble Hercules (I a.d.) was found in Alcalá la Real. It can be visited in the Archeological Museum of Madrid.

JAÉN

This modern Hercules by the local sculptor Manuel López is located at the top of a charming palace in Andújar.

Two labours of Hercules,Sacred Chapel of the Saviour in Úbeda

This head of Hercules is in the archeological museum

CORDOBA

The Alameda de Hércules , a garden square, built in 1574, named after the eight rows of white poplars trees (álamos in Spanish) that fill its central part, it was the oldest public garden in Spain and Europe. Two sculptures were placed atop the two southern columns: Hercules (mythological founder of Seville) and Julius Caesar (referred to as the restorer of the city during Roman rule).

SEVILLA

Statue of Hercules in front of Andalusia Parliament Building

HUELVAIn addition to its ecological value as

An area of marshes and nesting birds, the island is known for its archaeological value.It is often thought of as the location ofthe semi-mythical city of Tartessos.

The Roman poet Avienus in his Maritime Ora,referred to the "island between two rivers". Previously, Strabo (III, 5.5) spoke of the trips of the Phoenician sailors to the area from the eighth century whose oracle tells them to build a temple to Hercules.

The truth is that between the legend and the Biblical reference -the Tarschish of "The Bookof Kings" – Tartessos contacts with the Greekworld in the mid-seventh century.

3th C BC coin from Gadir showing the head of Melqart (Hercules) wearing a lion’s skin headdress.

For the Greeks and Romans Gadeira was the western-most point of the known world, beyond, the seas were not navigable. The island on which Gadeira stood was traditionally identified as Erytheia, where Geryon fed the oxen that were carried off by Hercules. Hercules founded Gadeira after performing his tenth labour, slaying Geryon, the monster with three heads.

CÁDIZ

Melkart-Hercules,phoenician sculpture, Archeological Museum of Cádiz.

Charles V PillarAdjacent to the Gate of Justice in a circular artillery bastion from where a cut stone wall descends, this Renaissance sculptural masterpiece of stone stands. It shows a tripartite composition of three different figureheads, representing the rivers of Granada: the Darro, the Beiro, and the Genil.In the centre of the second figure is a modillion, with an inscription alluding to Emperor Charles V, flanked by two pilasters showing the Borgoña and Lorena coat of arms and Hercules’ columns. The wall stretch supporting the pillar has four medallions sculpted with three mythological figures: Hercules killing the Lerna Hydra; the sisters of Frixo and Hele crossing the Hellespont astride a ram; Daphne pursued by Apollo; and Alexander Magno.

GRANADA

Palace of Charles V. Circular reliefs of the main facade. Hercules the Nemean lion and Creta's Bull.

Cathedral: Detail of the columns of Hercules

ALMERIA

Bronce Hercules (I B.C.) found in the street Granada of Malaga.

MÁLAGA

In 1890, when he was 9, Picasso drew with a pencil on paper this Hercules , inspired by a statue standing at a corridor of his family´s apartment.

Reconstruction of Metopes by students and Art teacher in IES JANDULA

Mercedes Casuso Quesada Department of Greek