Nessus

Nessus tried to carry Deianira away while crossing the river Evenus. Heracles heard her cries from the other bank and shot the centaur with an arrow coated in Hydra poison. Nessus fell wounded, with the arrow passing through his body. As blood flowed from his wounds, he gathered it and planned revenge. He told Deianira to keep the blood and use it as a love charm if she feared losing her husband’s affection. He claimed that a garment smeared with it would prevent a rival from taking her place. Deianira believed him.

Heracles and Deianira continued their journey. Later, Heracles became involved with Iole, the beautiful daughter of Eurytus, king of Oechalia. Eurytus had refused to give Iole to Heracles after Heracles had won her, so Heracles gathered an army and attacked Oechalia. He killed Eurytus and his sons, captured the city, and took Iole captive.

On his return, Heracles stopped at Cenaion in Euboea to sacrifice to Zeus. He sent a herald to Trachis for fine clothing, including a robe for the ceremony. Deianira learned that Iole was travelling with Heracles and feared that her husband’s affection would pass to the younger woman. She remembered Nessus’s advice and decided to test the charm. She rubbed the centaur’s blood into the garment and sent it to Heracles.

Heracles put on the garment and began the sacrifice. When the tunic grew warm, the poison from the Hydra began to act. The blood that Nessus had presented as a love charm carried the venom from the arrow, and the garment poisoned Heracles. Deianira’s attempt to keep her husband’s love therefore brought about his death.