HERAKLES AT THE CROSSROADS (greeting card)

Hercules at the Crossroads

This card illustrates that special moment, where a big decision has to be made. Where another chapter in one’s life is starting. Your beloved ones finish school, change job, move to another place…
This pic would be a clever greeting card with a deeper thought.
In classical mythology, Heracles (Roman equivalent “Hercules”) is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. As he was entering manhood, he had to choose one of the two paths of life, that of virtue or that of vice.

In this painting “Heracles at the Crossroads”, two women appear to the young Heracles and try to persuade him to follow opposite ‘crossroads’ in life. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty (Roman equivalent “Venus”), tries to tempt him into a life of pleasure and equity. She promises to lead him by the shortest road, without any toil, to the enjoyment of every pleasure.
While Athena, goddess of wisdom (Roman equivalent “Minerva”) calls attention to the unnatural character of enjoyment which anticipates the need of it, its want of the highest joy, that arising from noble deeds, and the consequences of a life of voluptuousness, and how she herself, honoured by gods and men, leads to all noble works, and to true well-being in all circumstances of life. Athena suggests the hard-working, laborious path of virtue.
The painter captures the moment when Heracles stops to think and weighs up the arguments for and against these paths, while young boys play next to him.

Card size: DIN A6 (10 x 15 cm)

Greeting card with fold and white space inside to write down any compliments, description on the backside.
Premium quality envelope inclusive.