0512NOTHera_Tintoretto

National Gallery image
M. Hinkley podcast
Ps. Eratosthenes Catasterism 44

Jacopo Tintoretto, "The Origin of the Milky Way," 1570, National Gallery London, NG 1313.

Baby Heracles is plunged upon a sleeping Hera by Hermes, whom Zeus so tasked because he wanted his son to benefit from the goddess's divine suckling (but he would assume she would never consent...)

A thorough introduction tothis painting is offered by Karly Allen in the National Gallery podcast (see link).

Since Hera knew of Zeus' numerous affairs, she was normally inclined to dog Zeus' mistresses (Io, Callisto, Semele, etc.) or their offspring (Dionysus or Heracles). Here, through Zeus' remarkable intervention, Hera endows Heracles with an immortal gift.

Often the suckling of Heracles occurs at the end of his mortal labors. The moment here seems to be the beginning of his mortal existence.

OGCMA slides are designed by Roger T. Macfarlane for use in Classical Civilization 241 courses at Brigham Young University and other contexts.
This resource contains information assembled for The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, and it is used with express permission from Oxford University Press.
Address concerns or inquiries to macfarlane@byu.edu.