538 THE GREEK SAGAS: GREEK LOCAL LEGENDS
The Apotheosis of Hercules, by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Oil on panel, 1636; 11 X 123 A
in. In this oil sketch for Philip IV's hunting lodge near Madrid, Rubens represents Ovid's
narrative at the moment when Hercules ascends from the pyre to Olympus. The flames
can be seen at the bottom left and the bulky hero (Ovid says that "he began to seem
greater in size") climbs on the chariot provided by Jupiter. A flying putto puts the vic-
tor's wreath on his head, and a second guides the chariot. Rubens does not show Jupiter,
so as not to detract from the focus on the triumphant hero. (Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts
de Belgique, Brussels.)(which means "glory of Hera"), since Greek gods do not form their names from
compounds of other gods' names.
Since his legend is particularly associated with Argos, Mycenae, and Tiryns,
his saga may have had its origin in a prince of Tiryns who was vassal to the lord
of Mycenae. This fits with the theme of subservience to Eurystheus. But other
areas with which he is especially associated are Boeotia (the traditional setting
of his birth and of a group of his exploits) and Trachis, scene of his final exploits
and death.
This leads to one of two possibilities: either legends of the hero of Tiryns
spread to Boeotia and other parts of Greece, where his fame attracted local leg-