Omphale
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In Greek mythology, Omphale (; ) was princess of the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor. Diodorus Siculus provides the first appearance of the Omphale theme in literature, though Aeschylus was aware of the episode. The Greeks did not recognize her as a goddess: the undisputed etymological connection with omphalos, the world-navel, has never been made clear. In her best-known myth, she is the mistress of the hero Heracles during a year of required servitude, a scenario that, according to some, offered writers and artists opportunities to explore sexual roles and erotic themes.
Key facts
- Deity.type
- Greek
- Deity.name
- Omphale
- Deity.image
- Fresco depicting drunk Hercules, his weapons stolen by Cupids, observed by a cool Queen Omphale.jpg
- Deity.caption
- In an ancient fresco from the home of the Prince of Montenegro at Pompeii, a drunken, cross-dressing Heracles is on the ground as Omphale and maidservants look on from above.
- Deity.member_of
- the Royal House of Lydia
- Deity.deity_of
- Queen of Lydia
- Deity.abode
- Lydia
- Deity.children
- Sons by Heracles
- Deity.parents
- Iardanus (or Iardanes)
- Deity.consort
- Tmolus, Heracles
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- N09Omphale.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- Commons category
- Omphale
- name in native language
- Ὀμφάλη
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~10 min read
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Family
- Mythology
- Heracles and Omphale
- Sons of Heracles in Lydia
- In art
- In cinema
- Notes
- References
In Greek mythology, Omphale (; ) was princess of the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor. Diodorus Siculus provides the first appearance of the Omphale theme in literature, though Aeschylus was aware of the episode. The Greeks did not recognize her as a goddess: the undisputed etymological connection with omphalos, the world-navel, has never been made clear. In her best-known myth, she is the mistress of the hero Heracles during a year of required servitude, a scenario that, according to some, offered writers and artists opportunities to explore sexual roles and erotic themes.
== Family == According to Diodorus Siculus, Omphale was the daughter of Iardanus while according to the mythographer Apollodorus, the name of her father was Iardanes, and she was the wife of Tmolus, a king of Lydia from whom she inherited his throne.