Deianeira, Death, and Apotheosis

Abstract

This chapter is focused, in the first part, on the character of Deianeira, especially on her relationship with Achelous, Nessus, and Heracles and how she deals with them. The consequences of these relations are negative, as her name implies (“killer of men”). They are defeated or killed. However, some authors exonerate Deianeira of culpability for Heracles’ death. The death of Heracles and his following apotheosis are examined in the second part. Once he is burned both by the poisoned tunic and the pyre, Heracles’ afterlife is located both in Hades (his mortal part) and with the gods (his immortal part), among whom he enjoys a second youth and a marriage to Hebe, as a prize for his worldly sufferings. Finally, the chapter ends with an analysis of Deianeira’s associations with magic.