Maionia (AD 193-211) AE 19

Time of Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. AE19 (4.35g, 6h). Damas, magistrate. Bearded head of Hercules left / Omphale advancing right, wearing Hercules’ lion skin and carrying his club. VF, earthen green patina. Group CEM.

In expiation for his murder of Iphitos at Tiryns, Hercules was compelled by the Delphic oracle to serve Omphale, Queen of Lydia, for one year. During this time, he performed a number of labors, similar to those which he undertook while serving Eurystheus, including the capture of the Kerkopes, the killing of the Syleus, and the conquest of the city of the Itones. At the same time, he was forced to wear women’s clothing and spin wool and, according to the poet Ovid (Fasti 2.305), Omphale even wore Hercules’ lion skin and carried his club while ordering him about. However, these actions seemed to have little ill-effect on the hero; after his year’s service was completed, Hercules married Omphale.