Final answer:
Herakles is integrated into earlier storylines in Bacchylides 5 and Ovid's Metamorphoses through connections with Eleusinian mysteries and his interactions with figures like Meleager and Theseus in the underworld, highlighting Athenian influences.
Step-by-step explanation:
In both Bacchylides 5 and Ovid's Metamorphoses, Herakles is tied into an earlier storyline through his connection to various characters and places from Greek mythology. The connection involves his initiation into the Eleusinian mysteries, as well as his descent into the underworld, where he encounters figures such as Meleager and Theseus. This linkage also points to Athenian influence on the epic tradition, as both Eleusis and Theseus are significant to Athenian lore. Specifically, the heroic figure of Theseus, who is Athens' national hero, is freed by Herakles from the underworld, which alludes to a significant Athenian element in the storytelling.