Irlandos: /* References */

2008-01-28T13:56:47Z

References

Irlandos at 16:01, January 2, 2007

2007-01-02T16:01:17Z

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'''Deianeira''' or '''Deianira''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] Δηϊάνειρα or Δηάνειρα, lit. 'husband-destroyer') was the third wife of [[Heracles]], best-known for her role in the story of the [[Tunic of Nessus]].

Deianeira was the daughter of [[Althaea (Greek mythology)|Althaea]] and [[Oeneus]] ('wine-man' and thus civilized), the king of [[Calydon]], and the sister of [[Meleager]]. Her father betrothed her to the fearsome river god [[Achelous]], horned and bull-like. Now, Deianeira was no passive blushing princess. "This Deianira drove a chariot and practiced the art of war", noted [[Apollodorus]] (''Library and Epitome'', book i, 8:1) But she wanted nothing to do with her suitor, who was able to take the form of a serpent or a bull. Heracles, the greatest hero of the dawning Olympian world of gods and men, had to defeat the river god to win her as his bride.

The central story of Deianeira concerns the [[Tunic of Nessus]]. A wild [[centaur]] named [[Nessus]] attempted to kidnap Deianira as he was ferrying her across the river [[Euenos]], but she was rescued by Heracles, who shot the centaur with a poisoned arrow. As he lay dying, Nessus lied to Deianira, telling her that a mixture of the semen that he had dropped on the ground and his heart's blood would ensure that Heracles would love her forever. Deianira believed his words and kept a little of the potion by her. Heracles fathered illegitimate children all across Greece. When she became uncertain if Heracles would remain true to her in his fashion, Deianira smeared some of the blood on Heracles' famous hide shirt. Heracles' servant, [[Lichas]], brought him the shirt and he put it on. The centaur's toxic blood burned Heracles terribly, and he threw himself into a funeral pyre. In despair, Deianira committed suicide by hanging herself.

Deianera is the main character in the play ''[[Women of Trachis]]'' by [[Sophocles]].

==References==

* Harry Thurston Peck, ''Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities,'' 1898
* [[Robert Graves]], ''The Greek Myths'', 1955

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Greek mythological people]]

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * Harry Thurston Peck, ''Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities,'' 1898
-* [[Robert Graves]], ''The Greek Myths'', 1955
+* Robert Graves, ''The Greek Myths'', 1955
 {{Credit wikipedia}}
 [[Category:Greek mythological people]]

Deianira - Revision history

Irlandos: /* References */

Irlandos at 16:01, January 2, 2007