The Story of the Hercules Knot – The Ancient Greek Love Knot
The Hercules Knot – A symbol of eternal love
We’ve all heard the saying, “Tying the knot”, meaning to get married.
However, did you know the origins of this phrase go back thousands of years, to the time of Hercules, the ancient Greek superhero, who is associated with the Hercules knot, also known as the love or marriage knot?
Gold armband with Herakles knot – Hellenistic – 3rd–2nd century BCE – The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York.
The Hercules knot, the love or marriage knot of ancient Greece, a symbol of eternal love and commitment, is one of the strongest known knots, and is therefore associated with the superhuman strength of the hero and demigod, Hercules.
Today the Hercules Knot is known as the square knot, also called a reef knot or fisherman’s knot.
Hercules
The Greatest Ancient Greek Hero
Detail of a marble statue of a bearded Hercules wearing the skin of the Nemean lion he slew for his first labour, 68–98 ce; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Heracles, better known today by his Roman name, Hercules, a divine hero in Greek mythology, was the result of an illicit affair between Zeus, King of the Gods of Mount Olympus, and Alcmene, a mere mortal.
Hercules is most famous for his twelve labours assigned to him by King Eurystheus of Tyrins, located near Mycenae.
Marriage
Heracles and Omphale, Roman fresco, Pompeian Fourth Style (45–79 CE), Naples National Archaeological Museum, Italy.
During his life Hercules married four times.
His first wife was Megara daughter of Creon, the king of Thebes.
His second wife was Omphale, the Lydian queen.
His third wife was Deianira, the daughter of King Oeneus and Queen Althaea of Calydon.
His fourth and last wife was Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth and the cupbearer to the gods and daughter of Zeus and Hera.
Hebe, being the daughter of Zeus, meant she was also his sister.
Infidelity
Hercules was quite the man about town and it seems he took after his father, Zeus, in that he was well-known for his extra marital affairs.
One of the stories concerning his encounters with women, which stand out, is that of his stay at the palace of Thespius, king of Thespiae (an ancient Greek city of Boeotia).
The king asked Hercules to kill the Lion of Cithaeron, which had been bothering his people, Hercules complied and as a reward the king allowed him to sleep with all fifty of his daughters.
However, there was a catch; he was only allowed one night with them.
This didn’t seem to be a problem for the virile Hercules as all fifty of the king’s daughters ended up producing fifty sons for him!
This is sometimes referred to as his Thirteenth Labour, probably the one he enjoyed the most!
Why Hercules Was Assigned the Twelve Labours
Mosaic with the Labors of Heracles, 3rd century AD, found in Liria (Valencia), National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid
The story of how the twelve labours of Hercules came about begins with Hera, wife of Zeus, Queen of the heavens, Goddess of marriage, women and childbirth, who was out for revenge and Heracles was the one about to pay.
It was bad enough for Hera to know she was married to philanderer but to see the proof of his infidelity, right under her nose every day, in the form of Heracles, was driving her insane.
Using her magical powers, Hera managed to get inside Hercules’ head and sent him completely crazy, where upon, in a fit of frenzy, Heracles murdered his wife, Megara, and their children.
After coming to his senses, Hercules, realizing what he had done, paid a visit to the Oracle of Delphi, in order to be advised on how he could atone for his sins.
Little did he know though, Pythia, the priestess of Delphi, was guided by Hera!
Pythia instructed Heracles to go to Tiryns, near Mycenae, where his cousin, Eurystheus, was King.
She told Hercules that if he managed to do whatever the king told him to do, for the following ten years; he would be free of his remorse, purified of his sins and granted immortality.
Upon his arrival in Tyrins, Hercules was received by King Eurystheus, who set Hercules ten tasks to fulfill (The ten eventually came to be twelve), one for each of the ten years he was to remain in the king’s service.
Legend has it, that after fulfilling these twelve “Herculean” tasks, Hercules was atoned for his sins and was granted immortality.
After his death, Hercules’ immortal spirit ascended to Mount Olympus.
Origins of the Hercules Knot
Heracles wearing the Nemean lion skin tied with a Hercules Knot – Museo Chiaramonti – Vatican Museums
It is said the Hercules Knot originated from two of the twelve labours of Hercules; his first labour, slaying the Nemean lion and his ninth labour, stealing the girdle, or belt, of Hippolyta.
After slaying the Nemean Lion, Hercules ripped the pelt from its body which he then wore as a cloak, tying it around his neck using a distinctive strong knot which came to be known as the Hercules Knot.
The girdle of Hippolyta, fastened with the Hercules Knot – The girdle Hercules was ordered to steal as the 9th of his 12 labours.
As Luck would have it, tying the cloak with this specific knot, is what helped Hercules complete his ninth task.
The girdle worn by Hippolyta was tied around her waist with the exact same knot Hercules had created to tie the lion’s pelt around his neck, which meant he knew how to untie it in the blink of an eye!
Talk about coincidence!
Symbolism of the Hercules Knot – The “Heraklion Amma”
Heracles Knot – Gold pin from Greece, Hellenistic Period – 300 BC.
The “Heraklion Amma” refers to the Heraklion Knot, symbolic of binding and represents strength, love, and commitment and is found in Jewellery and historical artifacts of ancient Greece.
Initially used in ancient Egypt as a healing charm, or as a protective amulet, it was mostly known in ancient Greece and to the ancient Romans, as a love token and a protective amulet.
It was believed that wounds healed much faster when bound up with a Hercules Knot.
According to ancient Greek myths, this knot represented the legendary fertility of the Hercules.
As Hercules was regarded as the guardian of marriage the knot became part of ancient Greek wedding rituals.
Hellenistic Greek gold girdle with Hercules Knot – Late 4th – early 3rd century BC.
The Hercules knot was tied around the wedding dress of a bride and only her groom could untie it, in this sense, the Hercules knot represents the purity of the bride.
How to tie the Knot
The square knot, also called a reef knot or fisherman’s knot.
Today, the Hercules knot is known as the square knot, also called a reef knot or fisherman’s knot, which is made of two alternating overhand knots, representing the legendary fertility Hercules
It is done first by tying a left-handed overhand knot and then a right-handed one, or vice versa.
It has been used since ancient times to fasten belts and sashes.
To tie a square knot, remember the phrase “right over left, left over right.” The first rope goes over the second, and then the second rope goes over the first.
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