Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon 1964
Directed by
Domenico Paolella
Made by
Romana Film
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Asparia, Queen of the Hellenes, is captured by the Babylonians but manages to hide her identity and live as a slave in Babylon. A rumor of a legendary man who can defeat any army spreads through the slave quarters, giving hope that a rescue might come. A message from Asparia reaches Hercules, and he heads toward Babylon determined to free her.
In Babylon, the city’s three rulers—beautiful Taneal, the warlike Salman Osar, and the more conservative Azzur—receive a visitor, King Phaleg of Assyria, who arrives laden with gifts and promises of untold riches in exchange for all of Babylon’s slaves. The siblings grow wary, fearing Phaleg’s real aim is to raise a mighty army from the enslaved population to threaten their rule.
Taneal uses seduction and cunning to discover Phaleg’s true motive: to seize Asparia and marry her, forging a vast empire that would bind Assyria and Hellas. The siblings unite to stop him, and Hercules—knowing Babylon to be a foe of his own people—begins to align with the Assyrians, even saving Phaleg’s life in the process. Phaleg then compels Hercules to swear loyalty and dispatches him, along with a small force, to Babylon to retrieve Asparia.
Back in Babylon, the political chessboard grows more dangerous. Salman Osar and Azzur scheme to win Asparia’s hand and a greater share of power, while Taneal aims to loot the city and topple its foundations with a colossal subterranean wheel that supports Babylon itself. The tension tightens as Hercules locates Asparia and begins to turn the wheel, a move that could bring the city crashing down.
Tragedy strikes when Salman Osar kills his brother and is himself crushed by falling debris as he tries to kill his sister, a stark reminder of how far ambition can go. As Hercules’ Assyrian escorts attempt to spirit Asparia away to Phaleg, Taneal seizes the Queen for herself, hostage in a city that is already teetering on the edge.
Phaleg and his cavalry ride in to claim his new bride, but they meet fierce resistance from Hercules and the newly freed Babylonian slaves. Phaleg is slain and his soldiers routed; Taneal, facing judgment, seems to choose poison over capture. In the end, Hercules leads Asparia and the Hellenes back to their homeland, closing a saga of alliances, betrayals, and a perilous bid for empire.
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Asparia is captured and hidden as a slave in Babylon
The Queen Asparia is captured by Babylonian slavers but hides her identity by living as a common slave in Babylon. Her capture triggers a rescue mission led by Hercules. The political stakes begin to rise as her fate becomes known.
Hercules is sent to free Asparia; rumors of a lone warrior spread
Hercules is dispatched to free the captive queen. Rumors spread of a single man who could overcome any army, heightening the stakes of the mission. He heads toward Babylon with resolve.
Asparia sends a message to Hercules via a fellow slave
To guide him, Asparia teams with another slave to send a message signaling her location. Hercules begins the perilous journey toward her hidden whereabouts.
Phaleg visits Babylon with gifts; slaves offer riches; rulers grow suspicious
King Phaleg of Assyria visits Babylon, showering the rulers with gifts and offering untold riches in exchange for all the slaves. The siblings grow wary, suspecting that Phaleg intends to raise an army from the slave population. Tension mounts as the plan unfolds.
Taneal seduces and drugs Phaleg; learns his plan to find Asparia
Taneal seduces Phaleg and drugs him, revealing his goal to find Asparia and marry her to forge a new empire of Assyria and Hellas. The siblings decide to block him and protect their power.
Siblings unite to stop Phaleg; Hercules switches sides
The three siblings resolve to ambush Phaleg. Hercules learns of the plan and sides with the Assyrians, saving Phaleg's life.
Phaleg makes Hercules oath and sends him to retrieve Asparia
Phaleg forces Hercules to swear a loyalty oath and dispatches him with several of his men to retrieve Asparia back to Babylon. The dangerous trek toward Babylon begins.
In Babylon, Salman Osar and Azzur plot to win Asparia
Back in Babylon, Salman Osar and Azzur plot to marry Asparia themselves, while Taneal plans to steal Babylon's wealth and destroy the city via a giant subterranean wheel. The siblings' schemes threaten to tear Babylon apart from within.
Hercules locates Asparia and starts turning the wheel
Hercules locates Asparia and begins turning the giant wheel, threatening to destroy Babylon. The rescue mission becomes a race against time to save the city.
Salman Osar kills his brother Azzur
In a bid for power, Salman Osar murders his brother Azzur. The palace feud intensifies as the siblings' schemes collide. The city watches the internal collapse unfold.
Salman Osar is crushed by debris while attacking Taneal
Salman Osar lunges at his sister Taneal, but the collapsing debris from the upheaval traps and crushes him. The power struggle within the family comes to a violent head. The city reels as the internal conflict widens the crisis.
Assyrian escorts seize Asparia; Taneal takes her hostage
Assyrian escorts attempt to take Asparia to Phaleg; Taneal steps forward and seizes the Queen as hostage to cement her own position. The final confrontation looms with Hercules and the freed slaves ready to intervene.
Phaleg arrives; climactic battle; Phaleg slain
Phaleg and his cavalry arrive to claim Asparia; Hercules and the freed slaves clash with them in a climactic confrontation. Phaleg is slain by Hercules, and his troops are routed. Taneal poisons herself to avoid judgment.
Hercules leads Asparia home
With Babylon’s danger resolved, Hercules escorts Asparia and the freed Hellenes back to their homeland. The conflict ends as they return to their people.
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Characters
Explore all characters from Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Hercules (Peter Lupus)
A legendary strongman hired to free Asparia. He battles to restore balance amid Babylonian intrigue and Assyrian ambitions, and his loyalty is tested as empires clash. His courage and strength drive key confrontations, shaping the outcome of the conflict.
Asparia (Esperia), Queen of the Hellenes
Queen of the Hellenes captured by Babylonians, she hides her identity as a slave and schemes to reach Hercules. Her strategic mind and resilience drive the political stakes between Babylon, Hellas, and Assyria. She remains a central figure whose fate influences the alliance structures.
Salman Osar (Livio Lorenzon)
Warlike ruler of Babylon who covets Asparia to forge a broader empire. His ambition leads him to murder his brother and clash with his sister, precipitating a cascade of betrayals that destabilizes Babylon. His downfall comes as his schemes collide with Hercules and the city’s forces.
Taneal (Tanit), Sister of Babylon
The beautiful but calculating ruler who conspires to grab wealth and undermine Babylon. She seduces Phaleg to learn his plans and uses the city’s wealth as a leverage point, while her underground wheel plot threatens the city’s foundations.
Phaleg, King of Assyria
Ambitious king who seeks to claim Asparia and unite his realm with Hellas through marriage. He manipulates Hercules with loyalty demands and drives the larger plan to reshape the balance of power in the region.
Assur, King of Babylon
One of the rulers in Babylon, a figure around whom the dynastic politics swirl. His presence underlines the internal dynamics of Babylon’s leadership and the competing ambitions of the siblings who govern the city.
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Settings
Learn where and when Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Ancient mythic era
The narrative takes place in a legendary ancient world where Babylonia and Assyria vie for dominance while Hellas exerts its influence through its queen. The era blends mythic heroism with royal dynastic schemes, placing Hercules in a time of kings, slaves, and empires. The events echo ancient legends of empire-building, war, and fate.
Location
Babylon, Assyria, Hellas
Babylon is depicted as a sprawling ancient city and slave market, rich with architecture and political tension. The story unfolds amid Babylonian rulers, Assyrian interlopers, and the Greek-leaning Hellenic court, highlighting a melting pot of cultures and ambitions. The city is threatened by a colossal underground wheel intended to undermine its foundations, reflecting the high-stakes manipulation that drives the plot.
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Themes
Discover the main themes in Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🏛️
Power & Empire
Rival dynasties in Babylon and the surrounding realms pursue power through conquest, strategic marriages, and control of the enslaved population. Phaleg's maneuvering to claim Asparia and fuse empires is met with internal Babylonian scheming by Taneal and Salman. The plot shows how wealth, status, and political paranoia can destabilize a city and threaten entire civilizations. Hercules's involvement reveals how force can both build and shatter an empire.
🔗
Freedom & Slavery
Asparia's disguise as a slave and her hidden identity drive the moral core of the story, highlighting the brutality of slavery and the longing for liberation. The resistance of enslaved Babylonians and Hercules's mission to free them frames the conflict as a struggle for autonomy. The climactic clashes expose the fragility of freedom when rulers fear losing control. The wheel plot also symbolically represents how oppression can be maintained by systems that crush dissent.
⚔️
Heroism & Loyalty
Hercules embodies mythic strength used to confront tyrants and protect the oppressed, even as he navigates shifting loyalties between Babylon, Assyria, and Hellas. The loyalty oath and manipulation by Phaleg test his ethics and resolve. The story emphasizes personal courage in the face of overwhelming political machinations, culminating in a battle that determines the fate of multiple civilizations.
Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a world where myth and empire collide, the ancient city of Babylon looms as a glittering yet shadowed crossroads of power. Its towering walls shelter a bustling slave market, whispered legends, and a fragile balance that could tip with a single promise. The air hums with the distant echo of distant Hellenic seas and the clang of Assyrian war drums, setting a stage where personal destiny is measured against the weight of kingdoms.
Hercules arrives bearing the reputation of a man who can bend the tide of battle, drawn by a desperate plea from Asparia, the hidden queen of the Hellenes who endures a life of concealment among the enslaved. Her quiet strength and the hope she inspires in the oppressed form the emotional core of the tale, positioning the legendary hero as both rescuer and reluctant challenger to the forces that keep Babylon’s people bound.
Within Babylon’s marble palace, three siblings—Taneal, whose allure masks a calculating mind; Salman Osar, a fierce and war‑torn ruler; and Azzur, the more measured steward—govern with contrasting visions. Their uneasy alliance is tested when Phaleg, the Assyrian king, arrives under the banner of gifts and wealth, his presence hinting at deeper designs that could reshape the region’s delicate equilibrium. The convergence of these potent personalities creates a web of intrigue that feels both grand and intimate.
The film’s tone blends sweeping epic spectacle with the tense undercurrents of political maneuvering, inviting viewers to wonder how legends will clash with ambition, how hidden identities will surface, and whether the promise of freedom can survive the relentless push of empire. All the while, the looming question remains: can a single hero alter the fate of a city teetering on the brink of transformation?
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.