hercole,
the new myth
Hercules symbolises the continuous challenge to overcome human and divine limits. In the Greek mythology, the hero is forced to overcome terrible trials from the first moment of his birth throughout his life. These trials are imposed on him by Hera, who wishes to punish him as the son of her husband Zeus’s betrayal with a mortal woman. Deception, revenge and power struggle are at the origin of his labors. Despite not choosing these challenges, Hercules is obsessed with proving his strength by overcoming them. By prevaricating without ever failing, he thinks he will thus achieve eternal fame and become a god.
Hercules is also the symbol of brute force, power unregulated by any other faculty. Refractory to the exercise of the arts and intellect, he kills his music master so as not to be forced to play the lyre with his stubby fingers. Devoted to the pleasures of wine, he easily loses control. He disrespects women, humiliates and rapes several of them, and finally kills his entire family just when a peaceful happy ending was hoped for.
We believe that this myth reveals many significant aspects of the current world and the human being who inhabits it.