LP0068 - The Shield of Eurypylus - Herculean armor, from Quintus Smyrnaeus' The Fall of Troy

Legendary Passages #0068 - The Shield of Eurypylus - Herculean armor, from Quintus Smyrnaeus' The Fall of Troy. Last time we heard about the imprint Hercules and his family had on Theban lands. This time we revisit his mighty deeds and labors, etched upon the armor of his son Eurypylus. During the long years of the Trojan War, many allies came to the defense of Troy, after Paris made off with Helen, and the Achaeans launched a war to get her back. One of these allies was Eurypulus, son of Hercules, who bore a shield depicting his father's legendary labors. First were the serpents he slew in the crib, then the Nemean Lion, Learnean Hydra, the Erymanthian Boar, the Golden Hind, the Stymphalian Birds, the Augean Stables, the Cretan Bull, the Amazonian Girdle, the Mares of Diomedes, the Cattle of Geryon, the Apples of the Hesperides, and the three-headed Cerberus, Guardian of Hades. Also engraved was the Liberation of Prometheus, the Centauromachy, the centaur Nessus, the giant Antaeus, and rescuing Princess Hesione from the Trojan sea-monster. Eurypulus matched his father's godly prowess as he made war upon the Achaeans, and vowed to to the Trojans that he would keep on fighting until they achieved victory, or death. http://www.theoi.com/Text/QuintusSmyrnaeus6.html The Shield of Eurypylus, a Legendary Passage, from Quintus Smyrnaeus' The Fall of Troy, translated by A. S. Way. [201] - [352] Up sprang with dawn the son of Telephus, and passed to the host with all those other kings in Troy abiding. Straightway did the folk all battle-eager don their warrior-gear, burning to strike in forefront of the fight. And now Eurypylus clad his mighty limbs in armour that like levin-flashes gleamed; upon his shield by cunning hands were wrought all the great labours of strong Hercules. - Thereon were seen two serpents flickering black tongues from grimly jaws: they seemed in act to dart; but Hercules' hands to right and left -- albeit a babe's hands -- now were throttling them; for aweless was his spirit. As Zeus' strength from the beginning was his strength. The seed of Heaven-abiders never deedless is nor helpless, but hath boundless prowess, yea, even when in the womb unborn it lies. Nemea's mighty lion there was seen strangled in the strong arms of Hercules, his grim jaws dashed about with bloody foam: he seemed in verity gasping out his life. Thereby was wrought the Hydra many-necked flickering its dread tongues. Of its fearful heads some severed lay on earth, but many more were budding from its necks, while Hercules and Iolaus, dauntless-hearted twain, toiled hard; the one with lightning sickle-sweeps lopped the fierce heads, his fellow seared each neck with glowing iron; the monster so was slain. Thereby was wrought the mighty tameless Boar with foaming jaws; real seemed the pictured thing, as by Aleides' giant strength the brute was to Eurystheus living borne on high. There fashioned was the fleetfoot stag which laid the vineyards waste of hapless husbandmen. The Hero's hands held fast its golden horns, the while it snorted breath of ravening fire. Thereon were seen the fierce Stymphalian Birds, some arrow-smitten dying in the dust, some through the grey air darting in swift flight. At this, at that one -- hot in haste he seemed -- Hercules sped the arrows of his wrath. Augeias' monstrous stable there was wrought with cunning craft on that invincible targe; and Hercules was turning through the same the deep flow of Alpheius' stream divine, while wondering Nymphs looked down on every hand upon that mighty work. Elsewhere portrayed was the Fire-breathing Bull: the Hero's grip on his strong horns wrenched round the massive neck: the straining muscles on his arm stood out: the huge beast seemed to bellow. Next thereto wrought on the shield was one in beauty arrayed as of a Goddess, even Hippolyta. The hero by the hair was dragging her from her swift steed, with fierce resolve to wrest with his strong hands the Girdle Marvellous from the Am