Seleucus and the typology of Heracles

Abstract

This paper reviews the typological role of the figure of Heracles in the Seleucus tradition. We will look at: (1) the myth of Heracles’ siring as a typological anticipation of the myth of Seleucus’ siring; (2) the Labours of Heracles with the Cretan Bull and the Mares of Diomede as typological anticipations of Seleucus’ taming of Alexander’s sacrificial bull; (3) the myth of the settlement of Ione-Ionopolis by Heraclids as a typological anticipation of Seleucus’ foundation of Antioch; (4) the myth of Heracles’ holding of games at Daphne, and of his planting of the place with trees, as a typological anticipation of Seleucus’ foundation of his Olympic games there; (5) Heracles’ Hesperid Labour as a typological anticipation of Seleucus’ foundation of Apollo’s shrine at Daphne; and finally (6) the myth of Heracles’ battle against the Orontes as a typological anticipation of Seleucus’ foundation of Apamea. It will be apparent that a third term sometimes lurks in the background to these typologies, namely the precedent of a similarly Heraclean Alexander.