Omphale

Omphale, queen of Lydia

In Greek mythology, Omphale was the daughter of Iardanus, (either the king of Lydia, or a river god) and wife of Tmolus, king of Lydia. When Tmolus was killed by the bull on the mountain that bears his name, Omphale became queen of Lydia.

Hercules, as slave of Omphale 

      When Hercules, in consequence of the murder of Iphitus, was ill of a serious disease, and received the oracle that he could not be relesed unless he served some one for wage for three years. Hermes, accordingly, sold Hercules to Omphale. Omphale owned Hercules, as a slave and forced him to do women's work and even wear women's clothing and hold a basket of wool while Omphale and her maidens did their spinning. Omphale even wore the skin of the Nemean Lion and carried Heracles' olive-wood club.  

Hercules, as a slave, forced to do women's work. 

                  But it was also during his stay in Lydia that Heracles captured the city of the Itones and enslaved them, killed Syleus who forced passersby to hoe his vineyard, and captured the Cercopes. He took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt and the Argonautica.

Hercules and Omphale

                  After some time, Omphale freed Heracles and took him as her husband.

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