HERCULES IN ANDALUCIA

Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain,

it is located south of the Iberian Peninsula;

bordered to the west by Portugal, Gibraltar

and the Mediterranean sea.

The figure of 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

JAEN

●

THIS MARBLE HERCULES

(I A.D.) WAS FOUND IN

ALCALA LA REAL.

IT CAN BE VISITED

IN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL

MUSEUM OF MADRID.

THIS MODERN HERCULES BY THE LOCAL SCULPTOR MANUEL LÓPEZ IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF A CHARMING PALACE IN ANDÚJAR.

CORDOBATHIS HEAD OF HERCULES IS AT THE ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

SEVILLA

SEVILLA

The Alameda de Hércules ,a garden square, built in 1574, was

originally a promenaded public garden, 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

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 of

the 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 Book of Kings" – Tartessos contacts

with the Greek world 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 knownworld, beyond, the seas were not navigable. The island on which Gadeira stood wastraditionally identified as Erytheia, where Geryon fed the oxen that were carriedoff by Hercules. Hercules founded Gadeira after performing his tenth labour,slaying Geryon, the monster with three heads.

CADIZ

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

Adjacent to the Gate of Justice is a circular artillery bastion from where a cut stone wall descends, in front of which 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:Charles V Pillar

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

ALMERIA: cathedral

Detail of the columns of Hercules

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

MALAGA

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