Marble statues depict Hercules as an incredibly tall, muscular man, often seen with a club and holding the skin of the Nemean lion obtained in his first ‘labour’. The labours culminated in capturing Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld. He must carry out tasks such as cleaning out stables (a task set to humiliate him) and obtaining the belt of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Hercules/Herakles is famed for his godlike strength and the 12 labours which he was required to undertake. When Hercules tries to save her, Meg replies “I’m a damsel I’m in distress I can handle this.” Meg does not follow the stereotypes of an Ancient Greek woman whose life was dedicated to maintaining the household and rearing children as she is first seen wrestling Nessus the centaur. This marriage met an unfortunate end when Herakles, driven mad by the goddess Hera, kills both her and their two children. These are based on the Muses of epic tales, history, tragedy, dance and comedy, who governed creative and intellectual pursuits and had the power of possession to inspire actors and poets to perform at their best.Īmber discussed the role of women in the film, pointing out that Hercules’ love interest, Meg, represents the classical hero Herakles’ wife, Megaera, who in Greek myth is the daughter of King Creon of Thebes. The movie opens with ‘goddesses of the Arts and proclaimers of heroes’ who help carry the story of Hercules along, as well as provide ‘gospel choir’ style musical numbers along the way. In Greek myth Hercules is the son of Zeus and Alcmene but in the Disney version, he is born to the king and queen of the gods Zeus and Hera, with Alcmene and her husband Amphitryon becoming Hercules’ foster parents through in interference of Hades and his minions. The voice cast includes many famous voices including Charlton Heston as the narrator, Tate Donovan as Hercules, Danny DeVito as Phil, James Woods as Hades, and Rip Torn as Zeus.Īmber Taylor, CANI Board member, presented a short introduction to the Disney film and the myth. The movie is centred on its title character ‘Hercules’ based on the legendary mythological Greek hero, Herakles. This year, our film offering was Disney’s animated Hercules, released in cinemas in 1997. In previous years, we have watched the epic of Gladiator, the comedy of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and the 1960s classic Jason and the Argonauts, with Ray Harryhausen’s unforgettable special effects. If you’re brave enough to pass through the doors to Hell in Mexico, China, or Turkey, then this demonic-inspired travel guide is for you.Continuing our partnership with the Ulster Museum, the fourth annual CANI film screening took place in the Lecture Theatre on the afternoon of Saturday 4 th May. Some locations, such as the unassuming town of Hellam, Pennsylvania, supposedly contain seven gates of Hell that one must pass through in the correct order to pay the Devil a visit.Īs I discuss in my book The Little Book of Satanism: A Guide to Satanic History, Culture, and Wisdom, many non-Christian cultures have conceived of fierce underworld rulers that share similarities with Satan. Local legends suggest Satan has several hellholes on Earth, including a blazing gas crater in Turkmenistan and a skull-littered cave in Belize. If their art were to be taken at face value, then where are the gates of Hell located, and how many Hell gates are there? During the Middle Ages, European artists popularized this Christian worldview by painting humans tumbling through Hell’s gateways into a realm of eternal torture. The idea of Satan ruling over a fiery inferno has long captured our imaginations. If these devilish tales are to be believed, then here are 17 places around the world where you can visit the gates of Hell. Many cultures believe in a frightening underworld that can be accessed from Earth.
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