Detail from the Statue of Hercules at Chirk Castle:
This lead statue of Hercules was commissioned in the 1720’s by Robert Myddelton, and stood outside the main entrance to the Castle with a companion figure of Mars. In June 1770 it was removed to an outlying wood in the park, whence it was rescued in 1983 by means of an R.A.F. helicopter. The severely damaged statue, has been restored by the National Trust. Inscribed in Latin on the plinth is a heroic couplet recording the statue’s flight and eventual repose.
You can see him in his full glory in a previous post of mine.
Ahem.
I do feel reminded of a teenager joke in the past millennium.
– I bet together we have five ball.
– Oh, so you do have just one?
Ha Ha
I would have missed it totally without Sean’s comment.
There are several of jokes that could be applied to this photo
Hercules? You sure? Could be any one of several angry women I have met…
Well… First we have evaluate whether the ‘but cheeks’ belong to a male or female…
After establishing that, we need to work out exaclty what is going on with those balls…
I don’t believe gender can be unambiguously assigned by examining butt cheeks, especially not butt cheeks sculpted in lead, but I do admit my research on this matter has not been thorough. I have on occasion mistaken a man for a woman however (although not naked… not either of us naked, that is). Since Hercules did not really exist (I suspect) I approach sculptures of him with a degree of scepticism. Am I being difficult again? Those balls do trouble me, however.
With regards to Hercules he is the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles who had to complete some labours. Maybe the balls have something to do with that, they could even be the golden apples although they look a bit small for apples…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules#Labours
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/apples.html
Golf balls. So obvious now I have realised. I give him my respect.
It could well be… If you look at the later photo the stretch in front of him looks like a fairway!! I am not sure where h had hidden his clubs though, they were not on obvious display.
He is clearly leaning on a big golf bag. So much of ancient history has been misinterpreted. Thank goodness some us us can analyze the evidence and see what everyone else missed.
Silly me… I now see he has used his robe (that usually covers his glory) to conceal his golf bag!!
I wonder how he faired…
that’s one funny joke by Sean. i wonder, too, why there are three balls in Hercules’ hand… maybe Andrew’s right.
I am not sure why he has them in his hand either but I have come up with a couple of speculations in response to Andrew.
I can’t add to these clever comments, but am really pleased to see this picture, Cherie – it is delightful!
Thanks Lisl, there is another photo of him in the next post, later today.
Great one!
Glad you like it
Truly beautiful!
Thank you