Hercules as a Symbol of Labour: A Nineteenth-century Class-conflicted Hero

James, Paula (2015). Hercules as a Symbol of Labour: A Nineteenth-century Class-conflicted Hero. In: Stead, Henry and Hall, Edith eds. Greek and Roman classics in the British struggle for social reform. Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception. London, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 138–154.

URL: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/greek-and-roman-class...

Abstract

This chapter shows how Hercules, the half divine hero of superhuman strength, was irresistible to organized labour, having 'changed sides' from symbolically representing European imperialism and aristocratic supremacy. It is argued that Hercules did not necessarily lose his associations with colonial expansion even when he seemed to be portrayed in the most liberationist and revolutionary postures.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 44204
• Item Type
• Book Section
• ISBN
• 1-4725-8426-0, 978-1-4725-8426-7
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Research into Trade Union Emblems	Not Set	Open University

• Extra Information
• This chapter arises from extensive work done by Annie Ravenhill Johnson and Paula James on the ideology of the Trade Union Emblem and the featuring of classical motifs, mottoes, structures and figures on the banners and certificates of the Labour movement, 1850-1925.
• Keywords
• Hercules; Trade Union banners; Trade Union certificates; serpents; struggle; Labour Movement; myth; heroes
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Arts and Humanities > Classical Studies
  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Arts and Humanities
  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2015 Henry Stead, Edith Hall and Contributors
• Depositing User
• Paula James