'Ηρακλής (Herakles)
(‘Herakles’)

93

Discussion Meineke 18391.371; 1840 III. 168; 1847. 577; Bothe 1855. 421; Kock
1884 11.141; Edmonds 1959 II.50-1 (cf. 1957 1.930-931); Webster 1970. 18 n. 1;
Kassel-Austin 1991 11.245 (cf. 1986 V.77); Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 246
Title Herakles appeared as the title-character also in plays by Epicharmus,
Archippus, Philyllius, Diphilus, Nicochares and Novius (cf. Pherecr. Anthro-
pherakles and Pseuderakles), and had a part in numerous other plays (e. g. Ar.
Ra.·, Cratin. Busiris·, Ephipp. Busiris·, Nicoch. Centaurs·, Stratt. Callippides·, for
further examples of fifth-century comedies in which Herakles figures, see
Woodford 1966. 93-102, 108-9).
Herakles as a comic figure is well-known, to such an extent that Galinsky
1972. 81 can assert that ‘it is in this role that he was best known to the Greeks
of both the mainland and the western colonies.’ His comic persona, however,
was not confined to comedy (e. g. his behavior in E. Ale.), and Galinsky 1972.
81 reasonably claims that he was the most popular character of the satyr play
(for a list of the satyr plays involving him, see Woodford 1966. 107-8). For
the comic treatment of Herakles in general, see Galinsky 1972. 81-100. For
Herakles the glutton in comedy and satyr play, see Wilkins 2000. 90-7. For
the hero in general, LIMCIV. 1.728-31.
Content of the comedy Although mythological parody is an obvious possi-
bility for the plot (Webster 1970.18 n.l expresses caution about seeing a direct
tragic predecessor), the stories involving Herakles are too many and varied for
speculation to be useful. The sole fragment does suggest that at least part of
the play dealt with his musical education under Linus (recognized by Schenkl
1891. 327); cf. Alex. Λίνος with Arnott 1996 ad loc. For Herakles as musician,
see Schauenburg 1979.
Date This may be the comedy that took third place at the Lenaia prior to 375
BC; see test. 5.5 ([-]λεi) and above on Achilleus.