HeraclesOmphale1.0009.2

HeraclesOmphale1.0009.2_Cranach

A man surrounded by four women engaged in spinning and sewing, with hanging birds in the background.

Omphale and her attendants hold a position of superior authority over the once-great hero. She's holds the most prominent phallic element in the picture, and the diminished distaff in his hand is really in her control, too. He is left holding a little shuttle, an implement that allows him to engage in an entirely domestic task of weaving. The partridges on the wall may symbolize lust; but, whose?

The caption uses language familiar from Latin love elegy and reads: "Herculeis manibus dant Lydae pensa puellae / imperium dominae fert deus ille suae. / Sic capit ingentis animos damnosa voluptas / fortiaque enervat pectora mollis amor. 1537

The girls of Lydia place their spun wool into the hands of Hercules; the great god relinquishes control to his mistress. Thus stagnating pleasure captures gigantic courage and tender love emasculates brave hearts."