Oeneus and Althaea, king and queen of Calydon, were parents of Meleager and Deianira. The Moirai bound Meleager's life to a firebrand at birth, which Althaea preserved until grief drove her to burn it.
Heracles married Deianira after winning her hand by wrestling the river god Achelous. Their son Hyllus led the Heraclidae after Heracles' death and apotheosis.
Achelous courted Deianira, terrifying her with his shape-shifting forms. She was saved when Heracles defeated Achelous in a wrestling match and won her hand instead.
The Cornucopia was created during the contest between Heracles and Achelous for Deianira's hand. Heracles broke off the river god's horn while wrestling him in bull form.
Heracles' capture of Iole after sacking Oechalia provoked Deianira's fatal jealousy. Eurytus's refusal to give Iole to Heracles thus set in motion the chain of events that led to the hero's death.
In Sophocles' Trachiniae, Hyllus confronts his mother Deianira, accusing her of deliberately poisoning Heracles with Nessus's robe. His bitter reproach drives Deianira to suicide before Hyllus learns the truth of her innocence.
In Sophocles' Trachiniae, Deianira's jealousy over the captive Iole drove her to send the poisoned robe of Nessus, causing Heracles' death. Deianira showed both compassion and fear toward Iole.
Meleager and his sister Deianira were both children of Oeneus and Althaea. After Meleager's death, his shade in the Underworld persuaded Heracles to marry Deianira.
Nessus attempted to abduct Deianira while ferrying her across the river Evenus. As he lay dying from Heracles's arrow, he told Deianira to keep his blood as a love charm — a deception that would later destroy Heracles.
Oeneus's daughter Deianira married Heracles after he defeated the river god Achelous. Her departure from Calydon left the aging king increasingly isolated before his eventual deposition by Agrius.
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