Cercopes
Mischievous forest creatures who stole Heracles' weapons and were turned to monkeys.
The Cercopes were mischievous forest creatures in Greek mythology, known as liars, cheats, and accomplished knaves. They lived in Thermopylae or on Euboea but roamed the world, appearing wherever mischief was afoot. They were two brothers, though their names vary across sources.
- Names
- Passalus and Acmon (or Aclemon), Basalas and Achemon, Olus and Eurybatus, Candolus and Atlantus, Sillus and Triballus
- Parents
- Theia and Oceanus
- Habitat
- Thermopylae or Euboea
- Notable encounter
- Heracles
- Associated location
- Ephesus, Lydia
Lore & Background
The Cercopes were proverbial as liars, cheats, and accomplished knaves. They once stole Heracles' weapons while he was the penitent servant of Omphale in Lydia. Heracles seized and bound them at Ephesus, punishing them by tying them to a shoulder pole slung over his shoulder with their faces pointing downwards—the only way they appear on Greek vases. Their mother, Theia, begged Heracles to let her sons go. This myth is depicted on a metope at Temple C at Selinus. According to Pherecydes, the Cercopes were turned to stone.
In another myth, designed to explain their name ("tail-men" in Greek), Zeus changed the Cercopes into monkeys. This story inspired modern zoologists to name the genus of monkeys depicted in Minoan frescoes as Cercopithecus. When Greek mythographers attempted to account for the name Pithecusae ("Ape Islands") given to Ischia and Procida, where no monkeys had been seen, they alleged that the islands must have been inhabited by deceitful men whom Zeus punished by turning into apes.
Reader's Guide
The Cercopes are notable for their dual role in Greek mythology: as trickster figures who challenged even Heracles, and as an etiological explanation for the origin of monkeys. Their encounter with Heracles, depicted on a metope at Temple C at Selinus, highlights their role as knaves who ultimately faced punishment. The myth that Zeus turned them into monkeys provided a folk etymology for their name ("tail-men") and later influenced zoological nomenclature, with the genus Cercopithecus named after them. This connection extends to Minoan art, where monkeys appear in frescoes at Akrotiri and Knossos, interpreted by scholars as exotic pets or ritual intermediaries. The story of the Cercopes has also been interpreted as a reminiscence of Phoenician traders bringing apes to Greek markets, supported by an Assyrian bas-relief showing a Herculean figure carrying an ape. Their legacy thus bridges myth, art, and natural history, illustrating how ancient stories shaped the understanding of the natural world.
Did You Know?
- The Cercopes were two brothers whose names vary across sources, including Passalus and Acmon, Basalas and Achemon, and Olus and Eurybatus.
- They once stole Heracles' weapons while he served Omphale in Lydia, and Heracles punished them by tying them to a shoulder pole with their faces downward.
- According to one myth, Zeus changed the Cercopes into monkeys, explaining their name 'tail-men' and inspiring the genus name Cercopithecus.
- The myth of Heracles and the Cercopes is depicted on a metope at Temple C at Selinus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Cercopes in Greek mythology?
The Cercopes were a pair of trickster brothers in Greek myth, children of the Titaness Theia and the river god Oceanus. They were notorious for their lying, thievery, and general knack for causing trouble wherever they went.
What are the names of the two Cercopes?
Their names shift depending on which author you read—common pairings include Passalus and Acmon, Basalas and Achemon, or Olus and Eurybatus. No single name-set is treated as canonical across all sources.
What did the Cercopes do to Heracles?
The brothers stole Heracles' weapons and then taunted him, mocking his inability to retrieve them. This act of theft and provocation is their most famous encounter in the mythic tradition.
What happened to the Cercopes after the Heracles episode?
As punishment for their trickery, the Cercopes were transformed into monkeys. This is the origin of the folk association between mischievous creatures and primates in Greek storytelling.
Where did the Cercopes live?
They are most often placed in the forests around Thermopylae or on the island of Euboea, though the myths describe them as wandering far beyond those regions whenever an opportunity for mischief presented itself.
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