The myth: Wishing to expiate the
murder of one of his friends, Hercules consulted the oracle of Apollo, who
advised him to enter the service of Omphale, Queen of Lydia.
Although Hercules was the son of
Zeus and was famed for his invincible strength, he submitted to the tasks the
queen devised for him to expiate his crime.
Omphale fell in love with
Hercules for his strength and physical beauty, and the couple married.
This tale, found in both Greek and Roman
mythology, is told with a number of variations.
It proved a great source of
inspiration for French and Italian Mannerist painters, as well as the Venetian
artists who influenced Lemoyne. François Boucher also painted a version of the
same love scene.
