Banffy Palace in Cluj-Napoca, Romania was built between 1774-1785 and features statues of six characters from Greek mythology on its frontispiece: Hercules, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Artemis, and Perseus. The palace housed an art gallery until it closed in 1990 for renovation and reopened in 1996. Each of the mythological figures represented have significance in Greek and Roman mythology relating to attributes like strength, music, war, wisdom, hunting and slaying monsters.

1. TRACES OF HERCULES
in Cluj-Napoca

2. Banffy Palace- Cluj-Napoca
 Built between 1774 and 1785 on the sides of a
rectangular courtyard by count György Banffy, it’s
considered the most representative baroque
building in Transylvania.
 Rococo palace frontispiece has Banffy family coat
of arms and six statues of characters from Greek
mythology: Hercules, Apollo, Ares, Athena,
Artemis, Perseus.
 The building, who hosting The Gallery of Art was
closed in 1990 because of degradation, but was
reopened in 1996.

3. Bánffy Palace Court
Bánffy Palace top view

4. The six beautiful gods on Bánffy Palace
Hercules Appolo Ares
PerseusAthena Artemis

5. Hercules
 Hercules is the Roman name for the
Greek divine hero Heracles, who was
the son of Zeus (Roman equivalent
Jupiter) and the mortal Alcmene. In
classical mythology, Hercules is famous
for his strength and for his numerous
far-ranging adventures.
 Hercules is known for his many
adventures, which took him to the far
reaches of the Greco-Roman world.
One cycle of these adventures became
canonical as the "Twelve Labours," but
the list has variations.

6. Apollo
 God of music, poetry, art, oracles,
archery, plague, medicine, sun, light
and knowledge
 Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto,
and has a twin sister, the chaste
huntress Artemis. Apollo is known in
Greek-influenced Etruscan mythology
as Apulu.

7. Ares/Mars
 Pater of the Roman people, Guardian
of soldiers and farmers, God of War,
Destruction and Masculinity.
 He was second in importance only to
Jupiter and he was the most
prominent of the military gods in the
religion of the Roman army. Most of
his festivals were held in March, the
month named for him (Latin Martius),
and in October, which began the
season for military campaigning and
ended the season for farming.

8. Athena/Minerva
 Goddess of poetry, medicine,
wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts
and magic.

9. Artemis/Diana
 In Roman mythology, Diana was
the goddess of the hunt, the moon
and childbirth, being associated
with wild animals and woodland,
and having the power to talk to and
control animals.
 She was equated with the Greek
goddess Artemis, though she had
an independent origin in Italy.
 Diana was known to be the virgin
goddess of childbirth and women.
 She was one of the three maiden
goddesses, Diana, Minerva and
Vesta, who swore never to marry.

10. Perseus
 In Greek mythology, Perseus (Greek:
), the legendary founder ofΠερσεύς
Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of
Danaans, was, alongside Cadmus and
Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero
and slayer of monsters before the days of
Heracles.
 Perseus beheaded the Gorgon Medusa
and saved Andromeda from the sea
monster Cetus.
 Perseus was the son of the mortal Danaë
and the god Zeus. He was also the great
grandfather of Heracles, also a son of
Zeus.