In Greek mythology, Lichas was Heracles' servant. He brought the poisoned shirt from Deianira to Heracles, killing him. Greek mythology comprises the collected legends of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ... For the son of Alexander the Great, see Heracles (Macedon). ... Like many mortal women in Greek mythology, Deianira (also Deianeira) occupied a perilous threshold position between the daylit world of Olympian gods and heroes and the dark chthonic primordial world of primitive earth magic. ...
Ovid IX, 211. Engraved frontispiece of George Sandyss 1632 London edition of Publius Ovidius Naso, (Sulmona, March 20, 43 BC – Tomis, now Constanta AD 17) Roman poet known to the English-speaking world as Ovid, wrote on topics of love, abandoned women, and mythological transformations. ...
Lichas had cleverly arranged it in such a way that he sat beside me during the journey, while Tryphaena was next to Giton.
Lichas moreover made a point of drawing my attention to the circumstance, and assured me there was no doubt about it.
Lichas instantly began to complain bitterly of our running away to Lycurgus; but was met with such an angry brow and haughty air by the latter, that plucking up a spirit, I loudly cried shame on his lecherous attempts on my person both under Lycurgus's roof and his own.
When he lay dying, Nessus told Deianira, Heracles' wife, to preserve some of his blood, since it would ensure Heracles' love for her forever.
When years later, Heracles brought home Iole from Oechalia and was rumored to marry her, Deianira soaked a garment in the blood and had Lichas deliver it to Heracles.
When Heracles put on the shirt its poison burned his flesh and he was unable to remove it.
Feeds |
Contact