June 13: Pride Month

The ancient Greek society was male-oriented, but this didn’t prevent the poets from exploring gender roles, love orientation and power dynamics. Especially the character of Herakles, alpha male “par excellence”, lends itself to some experimenting. The myth about Herakles’ stay with the Lydian queen Omphale even presents him as one of the first dragqueens in history. Herakles was sentenced to one year unpaid labour for Omphale, as a penitence for the unintended unaliving of young Iphitos. Free spirited Omphale introduced Herakles to some pretty enticing role playing, where she would put on his lion’s skin, and he would wear her drapes and veils. And while she swung his club, he held the spindle. They had lots of fun together, not in the least when forest god Pan came around to take his chance with Omphale, and discovered it was Herakles he had grabbed. After a year together, they both went their separate ways, and no myth mentions that Herakles regretted the experience.

Hercules at Omphale's Feet, Bartholomeus Spranger,

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Austria

Hercules and Omphale, Fresco Pompeï, National Archaeological Museum, Napels, Italy

Did you know...

• Herakles had killed young Iphitos in a daze of madness, caused by Hera’s jealousy, cfr. “Musical Chairs”.