Sunday, March 13, 2011

Type 40: Eros with Auge and Heracles

The next few types show Eros with Heracles. Contrasting Love and Strength was a particularly pleasing conceit, and there is a beautiful cornelian intaglio (c. first century B.C.) in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, showing Eros binding Heracless hands behind his back. We have already seen references to the Love conquers all theme in Types 06 (where Eros adopts the Weary Heracles pose), 16 (Eros sleeping on the captured lionskin of Heracles), 19 (Erotes playing with the club of Heracles), and 22 and 23 (Eros with Heracless lion).

The following coin from Pergamum brings together Heracles, Auge (the mother of Heracless son Telephus), and Eros.

* Pergamum in Mysia, a coin of Lucius Verus (not illustrated), showing Eros and a half-naked Auge attempting to draw a seated Heracles down from his rock. 


CATALOGUE

Pergamum / Lucius Verus
Reference: RPC IV, 2, 3217*
Rarity: RRR

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