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| Hercules and Cacus, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved (Click on image for larger view. Velvia slide film.) This prominent statue of Hercules and Cacus is in the Piazza della Signoria, the main square in Florence. According to Roman mythology, the Greek hero Hercules killed the fire-breathing giant Cacus for terrorizing the people of the Palatine Hill in Rome. This politically charged sculpture was commissioned by the Medici family after their return from exile. Hercules was used as the perfect symbol of their power and subjugation of the Republic of Florence. |