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All Site ContentHamletAct 3Scene 4
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Hyperion, Jove, Mars, and Mercury
Allusion
Act 3,
Scene 4
Lines 54-64

An explanation of the mythological allusions in Act 3, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet
[Hamlet picks up two paintings]
Look here upon this picture, and on this, 
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
[Pointing to the picture of King Hamlet]
See what a grace was seated on his brow:
Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,
An eye like Mars to threaten or command,
A station like the herald Mercury 
New lighted on a heaven-kissing hill;
A combination and a form indeed
Where every god did seem to set his seal
To give the world assurance of a man.
This was your husband. Look you now what follows.

Hamlet makes several allusions comparing his father to some figures from classical mythology. Hyperion was one of the Titans, the first generation of Greek gods who preceded the more well-known gods of Mount Olympus. Jove was the king of the Roman gods, Mars the god of war, and Mercury the messenger god.