TheShield of Heraclesand the legend of Cycnus

Abstract

Much has been written on the genesis of the pseudo-hesiodicShield of Heracles— so much, that true progress is difficult to discern among the welter of theories. But some has been made, although the conclusions that have been reached must be regarded as likely hypotheses rather than proven facts. In this article I propose to proceed from some of these conclusions, ensuring that they are as firmly grounded as possible, to an assessment of how this poem's version of the combat of Heracles and Cycnus relates to the likely circumstances and occasion of its original performance. This will involve considering the legend's variants (including one from the Cycle that has not been discussed in relation to theAspis), and a new look at the first half of theHomeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo.

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