Sunday, May 15, 2011

Hercules Labro

Hercules Labro, bas-relief, piazza Cavour, LivornoDid you know that Livorno was founded by Hercules himself? It is obviously only a legend, but we have a bas-relief of the demigod on a building in “Piazza Cavour”.

“Thence pursuing his Journey towards Italy, after having first founded Monaco, called Portus Herculis Modoeciae, he flew Ligur (from whom Liguria took its Name) who rashly ventured to oppose him; he then pass'd into Tuscany, in order to chastise Dercilius and Alerion, Sons of Neptune, who had stolen his Oxen and driven them thithier. This Voyage of Hercules remains in Remembrance by giving Name to two Ports, that of Hercules Labro, now Leghorn, and that of Porto Ercole, now belonging to the King of two Sicilies.”

The above quote is from page 24 of “A description of the first discoveries of the ancient city of Herculaneum...” by Niccolò Marcello Venuti (1700-1755), published in Venice in 1749 and reprinted in London in 1750 by Guglielmo Meyer.

External links: “A description of the first discoveries of the ancient city of Herculaneum”

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13 comments:

  1. Luis GomezMay 15, 2011 at 5:38 AM

    How wonderful VP. Thanks.

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  2. DinaMay 15, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    I'm glad it's only a legend; Hercules Labro is harder to say than Livorno. Did they ever find his stolen oxen? :)

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  3. Cezar and LéiaMay 15, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    So Hercules too was particularly fond of Tuscany, I can well understand that...
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  4. Traveling HawkMay 15, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    What a great place to live in! I didn't know. At aprox. 200 km of my town we have Baile Herculane (Herculane Baths), dedicated to Hercules:)

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  5. jooMay 15, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Such an interesting post!
    Happy Sunday to you:)

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  6. Small City ScenesMay 15, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    I learn something everytime I read one of your posts.
    Leghorn, hmmmmm.

    MB

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  7. HildaMay 15, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    That is absolutely fascinating – and fun!

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  8. KaoriMay 15, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Well, I know it now! How awesome to have a legend like that! :D

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  9. Doug HickokMay 15, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Wow, how cool is that living in an area founded by the world famous Hercules! You are surrounded by so much history and beauty!

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  10. cieldequimperMay 15, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Now it isn't a legend anymore.

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  11. UnknownMay 16, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    I had no idea. :-) Do you know how old is the bas-relief?

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  12. JimMay 18, 2011 at 6:14 AM

    Go Hercules! :)
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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  13. Rob SiemannMay 19, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    Does this mean you all look like some greek bodybuilders, in Livorno?

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