Illustration
Bronze figurine of infant Hercules killing serpents, from Herakleia Lynkestis, near modern Bitola, Macedonia.
Archaeological Museum of Heraclea, Bitola.
The city was founded by Philip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 BC) following his defeat of the Illyrians, to secure Macedon's western border. Due to its location in fertile land and on a highway road that became the trans-Balkans Via Egnatia, Herakleia Lynkestis developed as a center of trade and administration. Under the Romans, the city gained many architectural monuments such as the forum, Roman baths, a theatre, and a magistrate hall, which are part of today’s archaeological site near Bitola.
The Archaeological Museum of Heraclea, located on this site, houses various artifacts from across the history of Herakleia Lynkestis, starting from its Macedonian foundation up to the periods of the Roman Empire and Early Christianity. A notable object in the museum is the bronze figurine of infant Herakles (Hercules) killing two serpents. Herakleia Lynkestis is named after this Dorian mythical hero, who was considered the founding father of the Argead Dynasty, rulers of Macedonia including Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Choubineh, N. (2025, February 24). Bronze Figurine of Infant Hercules Killing Serpents. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20075/bronze-figurine-of-infant-hercules-killing-serpent/
Chicago Style
Choubineh, Nathalie. "Bronze Figurine of Infant Hercules Killing Serpents." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 24, 2025. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20075/bronze-figurine-of-infant-hercules-killing-serpent/.
MLA Style
Choubineh, Nathalie. "Bronze Figurine of Infant Hercules Killing Serpents." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 24 Feb 2025. Web. 24 Feb 2025.
