Le nozze d'Ercole e d'Ebe

A story of gods and heroes, centred on Ercole’s arrival on Olympus and the conflict between Giove and Giunone. The work begins with a dispute between the two gods concerning the elevation of Ercole, Giove’s illegitimate son, during which Giunone’s intrigues that led to his death are recalled. When Ercole is finally received among the gods, Amore presents him with Ebe, Giunone’s daughter. She initially opposes the idea of a union between the two, but ends up accepting the romance, convinced by the arguments of Giove and Amore and by Ercole’s respectful attitude. The young couple declare their love and their marriage becomes imminent.

In the second part, the action transforms into an allegorical celebration of the royal marriages between the houses of Bourbon and Braganza: Ercole, Giunone, Ebe and Amore promise to intercede for the Iberian sovereigns, guaranteeing peace, prosperity, youth, glory and union between their peoples. Giove closes the work by exalting celestial harmony and the golden age associated with the reign of these monarchs, in a final chorus of common exaltation.²