The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Cacus ( - )

A fire-breathing monster who stole Hercules' cattle and was killed by the hero. Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198606413.001.0001/acref-9780198606413-e-1208?rskey=EA1fP1&result=1&q=cacus Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacus Relationships: Cacus was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Hercules / Heracles (-)
Cacus was a son of Vulcan / Hephaestus (--)

 References in Documents:
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Vice-Chancellor (MacGregor, ed.) Cacus dragging back into his cave the oxen which were being returned, with Hercules sleeping nearby.
Bargrave's catalogue: Rara, Antiqua, et Numismata Bargraviana (Canterbury Cathedral Lit MS E 16a)

(4). Item, a brass flat piece, with the figure of a man drawing an ox by the horns; very ancient, being dugg out of another temple of Hercules that stood upon the Aventine Hill, on the place where he killed the thief Cacus, where now standeth a church dedicated to St. Stephen, which by its title beareth the memory of the old story of Cacus, it being still called Sto Stefano nel Caco.

Bargrave's catalogue: Rara, Antiqua, et Numismata Bargraviana (Canterbury Cathedral Lit MS E 16a) (4). Item, a brass flat piece, with the figure of a man drawing an ox by the horns; very ancient, being dugg out of another temple of Hercules that stood upon the Aventine Hill, on the place where he killed the thief Cacus, where now standeth a church dedicated to St. Stephen, which by its title beareth the memory of the old story of Cacus, it being still called Sto Stefano nel Caco.
Gentle Traveller (Curatorial catalogue) (a) Bronze plaque of woman crowning ox with wreath. W: 5.3 cms. Original paper label "Frō Hercules temple under / the Aventin hill at Rome / where he killed Cacus / where now stands St Stevens Church / caled Sto Stefano del Cacco. / Hercules with the bull". B4.
A memo dated 28 April 1658 (Canterbury Cathedral loose papers) a paper of smale false rubies Cacus his preiste in brass. an old Esculapius in brass.
Bargrave's labels (Canterbury Cathedral loose papers) Tru ancient. Frō From Hercules temple under the Aventine hill at Rome where he killed Cacus where now stands St St. Stevens church caled . . . S. Stefano del Cacco. Hercules wth with the bull.
A list of some objects (Canterbury Cathedral loose papers) 4. Cacus, brass