TRACES OF HERCULESin Cluj-Napoca

Banffy Palace- Cluj-Napoca

Built between 1774 and 1785 on the sides of a rectangular courtyard by count György Banffy, it’s considered the most representative baroque building in Transylvania. 

Rococo palace frontispiece has Banffy family coat of arms and six statues of characters from Greek mythology: Hercules, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Artemis, Perseus.

The building, who hosting The Gallery of Art was

closed in 1990 because of degradation, but was reopened in 1996. 

Bánffy Palace Court

Bánffy Palace top view

The six beautiful gods on Bánffy PalaceHercules Appolo Ares

PerseusAthena Artemis

Hercules Hercules is the Roman name

for the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Zeus (Roman equivalent Jupiter) and the mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.

Hercules is known for his many adventures, which took him to the far reaches of the Greco-Roman world. One cycle of these adventures became canonical as the "Twelve Labours," but the list has variations.

Apollo

God of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge

Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste huntress Artemis. Apollo is known in Greek-influenced Etruscan mythology as Apulu.

Ares/Mars Pater of the Roman people,

Guardian of soldiers and farmers, God of War, Destruction and Masculinity.

He was second in importance only to Jupiter and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, which began the season for military campaigning and ended the season for farming.

Athena/Minerva

Goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts and magic.

Artemis/Diana In Roman mythology, Diana

was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and childbirth, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals.

She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy.

Diana was known to be the virgin goddess of childbirth and women.

She was one of the three maiden goddesses, Diana, Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry.

Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus

(Greek: Περσεύς), the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans, was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles.

Perseus beheaded the Gorgon Medusa and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

Perseus was the son of the mortal Danaë and the god Zeus. He was also the great grandfather of Heracles, also a son of Zeus.