Statue of Herakles (Front)

This Cypriot statuette depicts a mature, though beardless, Herakles. The hero is identified by a lion skin over his head and left shoulder and arm. The paws are tied at the front of his chest in a square knot. Herakles stands in a pronounced contrapposto pose with his weight on the right leg. He has developed pectoral and torso muscles, and prominent buttocks. The navel is shown as a triangular indentation, and the ears are well-modeled with drilled ear canals. There are traces of dark brown-red pigment remaining on the lion skin.

Herakles, preeminent among Greek heroes, with cults throughout the Mediterranean world, was worshipped on Cyprus as both a Panhellenic hero and as a syncretic divinity with the Phoenician god Melqart. Cypriot statues of Herakles-Melqart are often depicted holding a miniature lion in one hand and a club in the other. As the attributes that the Getty’s Herakles originally held are missing, however, this identification cannot be confirmed.