Radha Krsna Temple

Ancient Stories in Popular Culture George Santayana once said that “those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” While Santayana’s quote usually accompanies a discussion about reckless wars and terrible genocides, it can also demonstrate that despite all of our technological and academic advancements, human nature stays the same. Which is why years, decades, even millennia will not change the effect that a great story has on humans. Epic tales of heroism are repeated and refashioned throughout the ages because their power is in their ability to stay true to basic human nature. One of these epic tales is that of Herakles. The first known mention of Herakles is in Homer’s Odyssey which dates back to the 7th century B.C.E. but today, Herakles is better known for his Latin name, Hercules. Hercules has had a long-standing popular culture influence. In the times of the Romans and Greek Empires, Herakles or Hercules was an easily recognizable marble statue. Lion’s pelt on his head, and more muscular than the classical nude, Hercules stood out in the crowd. Since then, Hercules has transitioned into various types of media but is still relevant in popular culture. In 1906, Puck Magazine published a cartoon that depicted then-president Theodore Roosevelt grabbing the snake-like bodies of politician Nelson Aldrich and John D. Rockefeller with the title “The Infant Hercules and the Standard Oil Serpents” (Nankivell). Though one would not have to be educated in ancient…