Lucas Cranach the Elder: Hercules and Omphale (1537)

(Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Brunswick, Germany)

A painting by the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). This painting shows a scene from Greek mythology. According to the story the hero Hercules was commanded by the Delphic oracle to serve as a slave to Omphale, queen of the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor, for a year as a penalty for his murder of Iphitus of Oechalia. Some texts mention that the hero was forced by Omphale to do women's work and even wear women's clothing and hold a basket of wool while Omphale and her maidens did their spinning - that scene is shown here. Painting from 1537.