Heracles

Also known as: Alcides / Alcmena's child / Alcmena’s son / HER / HERACLES / HERCULES / Hercules · Family: Greeks · Role: hero · First appears: Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

At Pleuron, Heracles defeated Achelous and won Deianira as his bride; he was named the son of Zeus and Alcmena, and Hyllus was his son by Deianira. After he quelled Iphitus, Heracles and Deianira lived in exile at Trachis under Ceyx, while “For since he quelled the might of Iphitus,” he endured further hardship. He was sold into bondage to Omphale among the Lydians for a year, then became free before attacking Oechalia, killing Eurytus, sacking the city, and sending Iole, Eurytus’ daughter and his espoused bride, to his halls through his herald Lichas.

At Evenus, Heracles killed Nessus after the Centaur assaulted Deianira. Deianira later used Nessus’s blood on a robe meant for Heracles and entrusted it to Lichas; when Heracles wore it at Cenaeum, it consumed his flesh and caused him terrible pain. In agony, he seized and killed Lichas, then commanded Hyllus to carry him away. After learning that Deianira had killed herself, Heracles ordered Hyllus to burn his body on a pyre and, when he was dead, to marry Iole; Hyllus accepted both commands.

From the heavenly seat, Heracles later directed Philoctetes and Neoptolemus to sail to Troy, promising that Philoctetes would be healed and that his bow would help conquer the city, with Asclepius sent to relieve his pain. In another labor for Eurystheus, Heracles went after the horses of Diomedes of Thrace, having already battled Lycaon and Cycnus, subdued the Hydra, slain Geryon, fought Hippolyta and obtained her belt, and supported Atlas’s burden. He was welcomed by Admetus, rescued Alcestis from Thanatos, and restored her to Admetus.

Heracles’ children were driven from Greece by Eurystheus, while Iolaus, his former companion and nephew, brought them to Athens; Macaria was one of his daughters. After his body was consumed in fire, Heracles ascended to heaven and joined Hebe as her husband. In the account of his madness, after completing the labors imposed by Eurystheus and defeating Lycus, he was driven by Hera and Iris to kill Megara and his children until Athena stopped him. Heracles accepted exile from Thebes, and Theseus, his kinsman and friend, offered him purification, refuge, a palace, and a share of his wealth in Athens; Heracles also conquered Ilion with Telamon and killed Laomedon.