Most Comprehensive Book on Heracles

[rocktupac]

I'm wondering if there is a book that exists, ancient or modern, that tells the entire story of Heracles? Almost like a biography, but a collection of all the myths surrounding him, written in a single book.

[marcus]

I'm wondering if there is a book that exists, ancient or modern, that tells the entire story of Heracles? Almost like a biography, but a collection of all the myths surrounding him, written in a single book.

Although I don't have a copy myself, I would always suggest trying Robert Graves' Greek Myths. There's also the excellent book by H. Kerenyi, The Heroes of the Greeks. I believe both books contain all the Heracles myths.

ATB

[amyntoros]

I'm wondering if there is a book that exists, ancient or modern, that tells the entire story of Heracles? Almost like a biography, but a collection of all the myths surrounding him, written in a single book.

Although I don't have a copy myself, I would always suggest trying Robert Graves' Greek Myths. There's also the excellent book by H. Kerenyi, The Heroes of the Greeks. I believe both books contain all the Heracles myths.

Um, some people I know who have a considerable knowledge of the Greek myths from the sources don't think too highly of Graves. I can't add a personal opinion because I've never been inclined to purchase his books after reading various comments about them. I agree though that Kerenyi's book would be a good start. It's sitting on my huge "to be read" pile so I can't give details, but the volume is subdivided into three books and book 2 is all about Heracles, some eighty or so pages.

An additional recommendation - although, again, I haven't read the book - would be Herakles and Hercules: Exploring a Graeco-Roman Divinity It's a compilation - and another fairly expensive tome - but it does look very interesting:

Herakles and Hercules: two names for a figure of pervasive appeal in Antiquity. He was a hero of myth and a god with cult associations. He was ancestor of Macedonian kings, patron of Carthaginian generals and of Roman emperors, and a role model for Stoic philosophers. As a performer of the famous labours, wanderer, liberator, madman and murderer of kin, Herakles-Hercules has retained his fascination down to the present. The eleven new studies in this volume explore why this figure appealed so widely in Antiquity. They examine his role in ancient myth and philosophy, drama and art, as well as in politics and propaganda, warfare and religion.

Also, as it's been published for a couple of years now, this might be a book that could be more easily found in a library.