Hercules and Cacus

• In which city did Cacus live?

  Pallanteum
• Who was the king of Pallanteum?

  Evander
• What was significant about Pallanteum if you were a Roman?


  It was situated on the place where Rome would be built
• Who did Evander tell the story of Hercules and Cacus to?

  Aeneas
• Give a scary/unpleasant detail about Cacus.

  He was half-human; he nailed heads to his door;
• Who was Cacus' father?

  Vulcan
• How did Cacus try to deflect suspicion when he stole the cows?

  He dragged them backwards into his cave so their foorprints appeared to lead out of it
• What labour had Hercules just finished when he arrived in Pallanteum?

  Cattle of Geryon
• How did Hercules kill Cacus?

  Pulled the rock away from the top of his cave and strangled him
• How did Cacus try to hide from Hercules after stealing the cattle?

  Fled into his cave, closed it with a huge rock and belched smoke so Hercules couldn't see him
• Which families were put in charge of Hercules worship in Rome?

  Potitii and Pinarii
• Who took over running the cult of Hercules?

  Slaves
• Who took part in Hercules worship?

  Men only
• What did Hercules worship involve?

  Animal sacrifice and burning of incense
• How did gladiators honour Hercules?


  When freed, they hung a wooden sword in his temple
• How did Hercules realise that some of his cattle had been stolen?

  One mooed from the cave
• Where was the temple of Hercules situated in Rome?

  Between the river Tiber and the Aventine Hill where Cacus had his cave
• Give a scary/unpleasant fact about Cacus' cave

  the ground outside his cave was warm with fresh blood;
• What did Cacus look like?

  he belched fire; he had a bristling shaggy chest and hideous eyes.