Omphale, Mythical Queen of Lydia & Wife of Hercules

332, Lot: 192. Estimate $100. Sold for $340. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Maeonia. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Time of Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180. Æ (17mm, 4.33 g, 12h). Bare head of Hercules left / Omphale advancing right, wearing lion’s skin, holding club over shoulder. SNG München 302; SNG Copenhagen 222; SNG von Aulock 3011. VF, dark green and brown patina.

In expiation for his murder of Iphitus at Tiryns, Hercules was compelled by the Delphic oracle to serve Omphale, 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 Cercopes, 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 while, according to the poet Ovid (Fasti 2.305), Omphale wore Hercules’ lion’s skin and carried his club. However, these actions seemed to have little ill-effect on the hero; after his year’s service was completed, Hercules married Omphale.