Editing Commodus (section)

===Commodus and Hercules===
Disdaining the more philosophic inclinations of his father, Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess. The historian Herodian, a contemporary, described Commodus as an extremely handsome man.<ref>Grant, Michael. ''The Roman Emperors'' (1985) p. 99.</ref> As mentioned above, he ordered many statues to be made showing him dressed as Hercules with a lion's hide and a club. He thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules, frequently emulating the legendary hero's feats by appearing in the arena to fight a variety of wild animals. He was left-handed and very proud of the fact.<ref>Dio, Cassius, ''Roman History: Epitome of Book LXXIII'' pp 111.</ref> Cassius Dio and the writers of the ''[[Historia Augusta|Augustan History]]'' say that Commodus was a skilled archer, who could shoot the heads off [[ostrich]]es in full gallop, and kill a panther as it attacked a victim in the arena.