Lichas

Also known as: LICHAS · Family: Heracles' household · Role: herald of Heracles · First appears: Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

Lichas served as herald in Heracles’ household, sent ahead with Iole, the king’s daughter, and other captive women after Oechalia fell. They had been taken for the service of the gods and Heracles’ house: “he sent before him, by his herald Lichas, Iole, the king's daughter,”

At home, Lichas recognized Deianira as his mistress and was questioned about Iole, whom he had taken into his charge. At Oechalia, he revealed that Heracles had conquered the city because of Iole’s love. Deianira then entrusted him with a finely woven robe to deliver to Heracles as a gift.

At Cenaeum, Lichas arrived bearing the robe, which Heracles put on while sacrificing the spoils. When its poison caused Heracles’s suffering, Lichas declared that the gift came from Deianira; Heracles seized him by the foot and hurled him onto a reef.

Relationship record

Life events

• Heracles sent Iole and other captive women to his halls after Oechalia fell.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2)
  • With: Heracles Iole
  • “He took them for the service of the Gods And his own house, when high Oechalia fell.”
• Lichas reveals that Heracles conquered Oechalia because of a maiden’s love.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 3 · 📍 Oechalia)
  • With: Deianira Heracles
  • “It is as he avers. This maiden's love, Piercing through Heracles, was the sole cause, Why her Oechalia, land of plenteous woe, Was made the conquest of his spear.”
• Deianeira entrusts Lichas with the enchanted robe to deliver to Heracles.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 3)
  • With: Deianira Heracles
  • “That thou shouldst take for me this finewoven web, A present from these fingers to my lord.”
• Lichas delivers Deianira’s fatal robe, and Heracles puts it on during sacrifice.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 4 · 📍 Cenaeum)
  • With: Deianira Heracles
  • “The herald Lichas Arrived from home, bearing thy fatal gift, The deadly robe: wherewith invested straight, As thou hadst given charge, he sacrificed The firstlings of the spoil, twelve bulls entire,”
• Heracles, poisoned by the robe, seizes Lichas and hurls him onto a reef.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 4 · 📍 Cenaeum)
  • With: Heracles
  • “He, all-unknowing, in an evil hour Declared his message, that the gift was thine. Whereat the hero, while the shooting spasm Had fastened on the lungs, seized him by the foot Where the ankle turns i' the socket, and, with a thought, Hurl'd on a surf-vex'd reef that showed i' the sea:”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

• employer: Heracles “he sent before him, by his herald Lichas, Iole, the king's daughter,”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2

• employer: Heracles “This task thy wedded lord / Ordained, and I, his faithful minister, / Seek to perform.”
• employer: Deianira “To Dêanira, Oeneus' queenly child, / Heracles' wife,--if these mine eyes be true,-- / My mistress.”
• with Iole (Lichas was charged with conveying and guarding Iole.) “Did you not say That she, on whom you look with ignorant eye, Was Iolè, the daughter of the King, Committed to your charge?”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 3

• with Deianira (Deianeira directs Lichas, her herald and messenger, to deliver the robe and her message to Heracles.) “Even that hath been my care, Lichas, while thou Wert talking to the stranger-maids within, That thou shouldst take for me this finewoven web, A present from these fingers to my lord.”
• employer: Deianira “That thou shouldst take for me this finewoven web, A present from these fingers to my lord.”
• employer: Heracles (Lichas serves as Heracles's herald and bearer.) “That thou shouldst take for me this finewoven web, A present from these fingers to my lord.”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 4

• enemies with Heracles “He, all-unknowing, in an evil hour Declared his message, that the gift was thine. Whereat the hero, while the shooting spasm Had fastened on the lungs, seized him by the foot Where the ankle turns i' the socket, and, with a thought, Hurl'd on a surf-vex'd reef that showed i' the sea: And rained the grey pulp from the hair, the brain Being scattered with the blood.”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.