Abstract:

This article aims to demonstrate that, due to its great pedagogical value, the myth of the crossroads between Virtue and Vice was well accepted for centuries, and became a topic in the classical tradition. Although there are several studies on this matter, the originality of this research consists of focusing on the textual transmission of this story and suggests that Tragedia Ocio, staged in Puebla de los Ángeles 435 years ago, comprises several allusions to such myth. Aiming to achieve the objective, the narration of Prodicus of Ceos preserved by Xenophon is reproduced; then, the main authors who contributed transmitting the myth are mentioned, among them are Cicero, Silius Italicus, Basil, Petrarch, and some Spanish Jesuits, to finally focus on the analysis of the Tragedia Ocio, written by the Novo-Hispanic Jesuit Juan Cigorondo. The main sources are the literati named throughout these pages. It is concluded that the story of Heracles' crossroads between Virtue and Vice was used by authors interested in the education of adolescents and the promotion of virtuous living. This explains why there are several allusions throughout Cigorondo's work since he uses the myth to instill in his students and in society the values that were already being lost. This research was carried out with the support of Project PAPIIT IN402819 ''Los procesos de lectura y de escritura en la Grecia antigua: aportes para la educación en México''.

Keywords: Xenophon; Prodicus of Ceos; Hercules; mythology; classical tradition; New Spain