Iole

Also known as: IOLE / Iolè · Family: Oechalia · Role: daughter of Eurytus · First appears: Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

At Oechalia, Iole was the daughter of Eurytus. After Heracles sacked the city, he sent her ahead by Lichas to his halls as the daughter of the king whom he had espoused, along with other captive women. Heracles brought her home because he desired her, presenting her “no slave, / Nor unregarded” but as a woman for whom his heart was kindled.

Deianira learned that the captive woman was Iole, Eurytus’ daughter and Heracles’ new love. Though Deianira had endured Heracles’ earlier loves, she regarded Iole as a rival and asked what hidden woe she had taken beneath her roof; Lichas had been charged with Iole’s care. Later, when Heracles was dying, he ordered Hyllus to marry Iole, saying, “Make her thy wife”; Hyllus first called her his worst enemy because his mother’s death and Heracles’ condition had sprung from her, but ultimately accepted the command.

Relationship record

Life events

• Heracles sacked Oechalia and sent Iole ahead as his espoused bride.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1 · 📍 Oechalia)
  • With: Heracles
  • “when Heracles was returning from his last exploit of sacking Oechalia, in Euboea, he sent before him, by his herald Lichas, Iole, the king's daughter, whom he had espoused.”
• Heracles sent Iole and other captive women to his halls after Oechalia fell.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2)
  • With: Heracles Lichas
  • “He took them for the service of the Gods And his own house, when high Oechalia fell.”
• Heracles brought Iole home because he desired her, presenting her as a captive rather than a slave.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2)
  • With: Heracles
  • “Now returning, as you see, He sends her hither to his halls, no slave, Nor unregarded, lady,--dream not so! Since all his heart is kindled with desire.”
• Deianira learned that the captive woman was Iole, daughter of Eurytus, and Heracles’ new love.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2)
  • With: Deianira Heracles Eurytus
  • “Called in her day of freedom Iolè, Eurytus' daughter,--of whose parentage, Forsooth as ignorant, he ne'er would speak.”
• Heracles proposes that Hyllus marry Iole after his death.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 6)
  • With: Heracles Hyllus
  • “When I am dead, if thou wouldst show thy duty, Think of thine oath to me, and, on my word, Make her thy wife”
• Hyllus accepts Heracles's command to marry Iole.(Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 6)
  • With: Heracles Hyllus
  • “Then I will do it, for the act is thine. I will not cast it off.”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 1

• parent: Eurytus “when Heracles was returning from his last exploit of sacking Oechalia, in Euboea, he sent before him, by his herald Lichas, Iole, the king's daughter, whom he had espoused.”
• married with Heracles “Iole, the king's daughter, whom he had espoused.”

Sophocles, The Trachinian Maidens — Scene 2

• admirer: Heracles “Now returning, as you see, / He sends her hither to his halls, no slave, / Nor unregarded, lady,--dream not so! / Since all his heart is kindled with desire.”
• patron: Deianira “What hidden woe have I unwarily / Taken beneath my roof?”
• parent: Eurytus “Called in her day of freedom Iolè, / Eurytus' daughter,--of whose parentage, / Forsooth as ignorant, he ne'er would speak.”
• rivals with Deianira “His loves ere now Were they not manifold? And none hath borne Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not, Though his new passion were as strong as death;”
• with Lichas (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 6

• with Eurytus (Iole is identified as Eurytus's maid.) “The maid of Eurytus thou knowest, I ween.”
• engaged with Hyllus (Heracles proposes that Hyllus marry Iole.) “When I am dead, if thou wouldst show thy duty, Think of thine oath to me, and, on my word, Make her thy wife: nor let another man Take her, but only thou; since she hath lain So near this heart. Obey me, O my boy! And be thyself the maker of this bond.”
• parent: Eurytus “The maid of Eurytus thou knowest, I ween.”
• enemies with Hyllus “How can I do it, when my mother's death And thy sad state sprang solely from this girl? Who, not possessed with furies, could choose this? Far better, father, for me too to die, Than to live still with my worst enemy.”
• with Heracles (Heracles expresses a close personal attachment to Iole.) “Make her thy wife: nor let another man Take her, but only thou; since she hath lain So near this heart.”

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