omphale

Omphale was a queen of Lydia in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of the king Iardanus. Following the death of her husband, King Tmolus, Omphale inherited the throne and ruled the Lydian kingdom. Her most famous association is with the hero Heracles, who was sent to her as a slave as penance for murdering Iphitus. While serving Omphale, Heracles was forced to perform tasks typically considered feminine, such as spinning wool and wearing women's clothing. According to some accounts, Omphale and Heracles even exchanged clothing, with Omphale sometimes wearing Heracles's lion skin and wielding his club, and Heracles donning her robes. Their time together resulted in the birth of several children, including Lamos, Lydus, and Manis, who became ancestors of later Lydian kings. Omphale's reign and her peculiar relationship with Heracles became a popular theme in ancient art and literature, often used to illustrate themes of the reversal of power and the emasculation of heroes.