ProQuest Dissertations - Historia Antigua

modes of life. Bispham notes that Dionysius' version of Hercules' travels is differentfrom the Aeneid, and thus is not the Augustan version of events but derives from one ormore Republican accounts. 75If so, then Dionysius might well offer a Republicanjustification of colonization as well as the movement of great groups of Ligurians toSamnium. 76Nevertheless, the colonization aspect of the worship of Hercules was notnecessarily the first or only one that the colonists adopted.As shown by archaeological evidence, worship of Hercules in the coloniesoccurred in different ways, which suggest diverse origins of the rites depending on thechoices made by the practitioners. One very common votive offering to Hercules was asmall, bronze figurine of the 'Hercules in Attack' type, with raised club in his right handand the lion skin over his bent left arm. Examples of these have been found in cult placesassociated with the colonies of Pisaurum, Bononia, and Aquileia in the north, but they area widely known Umbro-Sabellic phenomenon and so occur frequently in the central77Apennines, e.g. at Beneventum and Luceria.The first occurrences of the Hercules typedate to the fifth century BCE and continued to be used as votives and in domestic cult inone form or another through the imperial period, e.g. at Aquileia. 7870They were found atboth urban and rural sanctuaries.Prati suggests that these figures constitute the lastmaterial expression of the local religious devotion and that the use of metal indicates that75 Bispham (2006), pp. 116. Cf. Sutton (1977), pp. 391-393.75 Livy 40.38, 41. Scott (1992), p. 93 and Bispham (2006), p. 116.77 See Von Wonterghem (1992), p. 321; Fontana (1997), pp. 106-107; and Colonna (1970) with appendiceslisting the figurines at each site and museum.78 Bertacchi (1994), pp. 36-37 and fig. 37 of an imperial bronze figurine of Hercules with lion skin. Thisshows one development of the type, which began to show greater diversity and artistry from the fourthcentury BCE on (cf. Von Wonterghem (1992), p. 324 and figg. 8-9). Other models include the 'Hercules inRepose' and 'Hercules Drinking.'79 Von Wonterghem (1992), p. 324.215