A cast bronze statuette of Hercules seated on a rock covered with a lion pelt with well defined muscular physique, seated with his right arm stretching across his body over the left thigh and holding his club downwards. His left hand rests on the lion's head. He wears a wreath upon his head. The statuette is interesting in that most representations of the seated Herakles in the Hellenistic period are derived from a famous prototype which shows him holding the club on his knee. Here the sculptor has assumingly found a prototype which is less commonly encountered. Furthermore the young diademed portrait seen with individualistic features suggests that this is probably a Hellenistic ruler in the guise of Heracles. The association with Herakles is found among the Seleucid monarchs of Syria and we probably are dealing with a ruler from this dynasty here. Mounted on a custom-made display stand. 12 cm. height. 488 grams.CONDITION Slightly restored on a neck and right bottom spout otherwise in very good condition and nice patina. PROVENANCE Previously in a private Belgium family collection, kept in the Netherlands since 1960 up to now.