GubernatorFan wrote:
But didn't Bousiris get slain by Herakles? So he can't be Rameses II or Merneptah, or any other pharaoh we know.
Yes, I think it is safe to say he was a made-up Pharoah!
Some Greek writers called the story a "phoney myth" and it was played for comedy at least!
GubernatorFan wrote:"Besides, Bousiris was the name of a city (or two or three)."
Indeed. I belief the famous ''Busiris'' was actually called something like "Ddw" to the Egyptians themselves, with "Busiris" being, obviously as you are aware, Greek. Those Greeks were sure proud of the word!
"I suppose the exomis could have been worn either way, as needed. Usually it was unfastened over the right shoulder, because most people are right-handed. But if a person is left-handed, it would make sense to unfasten it over the left shoulder -- unless succumbing to peer pressure (I imagine Ancient Greeks were totally capable of equating left-handedness with effeminacy if they so chose to do)."
Good observation. Unfortunately the idea of machismo was a strong force and would have meant that in things like this lefties would have had a rougher time fastening their outfits! So kudos for Steve Reeves' Hercules for not giving in to overwhelming peer pressure! Although, obviously, no one tells Hercules what to do!
GubernatorFan wrote:And of course one could unfasten both shoulders of the exomis for more demanding toil. But your observation as to this possibly being appropriate for the Omphale scenario is very interesting. Yet, if they got that right, it was surely mere accident.
Definitely a happy accident!
GubernatorFan wrote:I'd be curious to see your take on the Lou Ferrigno, Paul Telfer, Kevin Sorbo, Dwayne Johnson, and Kellan Lutz renditions of Herakles/Hercules, which run the gamut from total quasi scifi fantasy or reinterpretations of proper mythology.
I have a fondness for at least the first Ferrigno movie which did incorporate a lot of actual myths into its telling - shame that, as per usual Eurystheus and Kopreus are replaced, this time by Minos and Daidalos - and I thought the sci-fi takes on the monsters in an otherwise Classical world was actually very interesting! I remember liking Dwayne Johnson and I liked his movie well enough and the comic it is based on but I find them to be missed opportunities - shame with the comic as I love Steve Moore... especially his 'Father Shandor' strip. I have sadly not seen Kellan Lutz's movie and it might be the only Herakles movie I have not yet seen.
I love the Kevin Sorbo series, especially the TV movies and the first season which actually weaved a lot of mythology into the stories... even featuring the town of Calydon (known for the boar hunt) and Tiresias, one of my favourite mythical characters ("You bear your burdens, I'll bear mine!").
GubernatorFan wrote:Herakles fighting Apollon for the tripod would be awesome to see. But if you're basing this on vases, you might need anatomically correct seamless bodies and then digital censorship stickers or fig leaves to show that here
Actually in all seriousness, I want a seamless body for my Herakles and the Apollo but their heads are like the old style Dragon heads and thus have a neck. I have been too afraid to convert them into ball-joint heads.
GubernatorFan wrote:
Ephiane, I think they are still called "Sword and Sandal" films or even "epics." Of course, we have some in our own time, like Gladiator, Troy, Clash of the Titans and its sequel Wrath of the Titans, Immortals (which is so poorly named it is almost ironic), and two Hercules ones in 2014. I don't know that TBLeague would do any more of these, and I do wish they had gotten Steve Reeves' features a little more accurately.
"Peplum" is another name for them though I always found it silly as "Khiton" or "Exomis" would be more appropriate due to the focus!
The Perseus figure from the original 'Clash' makes the Phicen Hercules look dead on.