Deianira- Greek FigureMortal"Wife of Heracles"
Also known as: Deianeira, Dēianeira, Dejanira, and Δηιάνειρα
Titles & Epithets
Symbols
Description
The dying centaur Nessus whispered to Deianira that his blood would serve as a love charm. Years later, when Heracles took another woman, she soaked a robe in it and sent it to him. The Hydra's venom in the blood burned the garment into his flesh and killed him.
Mythology & Lore
Daughter of Calydon
Deianira was a daughter of King Oeneus and Queen Althaea of Calydon, and sister of the hero Meleager. Her name means "man-destroyer." In some traditions she was skilled in the arts of war, having been trained to drive a chariot and fight. After Meleager's death, his shade encountered Heracles in the underworld and persuaded the hero to seek out Deianira as a bride.
The Contest for Her Hand
Two suitors competed for Deianira: the river god Achelous and Heracles. Achelous terrified Deianira by shifting between forms — now a serpent, now a bull. Heracles challenged the river god to a wrestling match and defeated him, breaking off one of his horns (which became the Cornucopia, the horn of plenty). Deianira was relieved to be won by the mortal hero rather than the shape-shifting god.
The Deception of Nessus
As Heracles and Deianira traveled from Calydon, they reached the river Evenus, where the centaur Nessus served as ferryman. Heracles swam across while Nessus carried Deianira, but midstream the centaur attempted to assault her. Heracles shot Nessus with an arrow poisoned with the Lernaean Hydra's venom. As Nessus lay dying, he whispered to Deianira that his blood, if preserved, would serve as an infallible love charm — should Heracles ever stray, she need only anoint a garment with it to win back his affection. Deianira, trusting the dying centaur, secretly collected the blood.
The Poisoned Robe
Years later, Heracles sacked the city of Oechalia and took the princess Iole as a captive. Deianira, learning that her husband intended to bring the beautiful young woman home, feared she was being replaced. Remembering Nessus's gift, she soaked a ceremonial robe in the centaur's blood and sent it to Heracles. When Heracles put on the garment, the Hydra's venom in Nessus's blood burned into his flesh with agonizing, incurable fire. The robe fused to his skin, and every attempt to remove it tore away his flesh.
When Deianira learned what she had done, she was devastated. Her son Hyllus accused her of deliberate murder before understanding the truth. Unable to bear the horror of having killed her husband through innocent trust in a dying enemy's lie, Deianira took her own life with a sword.