Omphale - Mythical Queen of Lydia & Wife of Herakles

263, Lot: 107. Estimate $500. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 387-326 BC. EL Hekte (10mm, 2.51 g). Head of Omphale left, wearing lion skin, club over shoulder; [seal below] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 107; SNG Copenhagen 1029. Near VF.

Ex Stack’s (24 April 2008), lot 2140.

In expiation for his murder of Iphitos at Tiryns, Herakles was compelled by the Delphic oracle to serve Omphale, the queen of Lydia, for one year. During this time, he performed a number of labors, similar to those which he undertook while serving Eurystheus, including the capture of the Kerkopes, the killing of the Syleus, and the conquest of the city of the Itones. At the same time, he was forced to wear women’s clothing and spin wool and, according to the poet Ovid (Fasti 2.305), at one point during this time, Omphale even wore Herakles’ lion skin and carried his club while ordering him about. However, these actions seemed to have little ill-effect on the hero; after his year’s service was completed, Herakles married Omphale.