Argument/Hypothesis
Herakles, on his return to Thebes, finds Lycus in possession of the throne, on the point of slaying his wife Megara, and his children. Having slain the tyrant, he is seized with madness at the instigation of Hera, and murders his wife and children, supposing them to be the relatives of his task-master, Eurystheus. On coming to his senses, he meditates suicide ; but is comforted by the advice of Theseus, with whom he sets out to Athens, in order to obtain expiation.
Alternative Argument
Herakles, on his return to Thebes, finds Lycus in possession of the throne, on the point of slaying his wife Megara, and his children. Having slammed the tyrant, he is seized with madness at the instigation of Hera, and murders his wife and children, supposing them to be the relatives of his task-master, Eurystheus. On coming to his senses, he meditates suicide ; but is comforted by the advice of Theseus, with whom he sets out to Athens, in order to obtain expiation.
Dramatis Personae
Amphitryon – Herakles’ stepfather, husband of Alcmene
Megara – Herakles’ wife, daughter of Creon
Lycus – Tyrant of Thebes who has usurped the throne
Herakles – son of Zeus and Alcmene, stepson of Amphitryon
Iris – Messenger of the gods, Hera's faithful servant
Lyssa – Goddess of Madness, a daemon
Messenger
Theseus – king of Athens
Chorus of Theban elders
Silent parts:
Heracles’ three young sons
Palace servants
Attendants of Lycus and Theseus
Distribution of Parts
Protagonist – Amphitryon and Lyssa
Deuteragonist – Megara, Iris, and Theseus
Tritagonist – Lycus, Heracles, and Messenger
Heracles was first produced for the Great Dionysia shortly before 415 BC.
Setting: Outside Herakles' palace at Thebes. To the left there is an altar outside of a temple dedicated to Zeus. [The altar cannot have been placed in front of the door to the palace. It would block the view of the door and its use and be in the way of the ekkyklema.]
Summary:
Prologue [Lines 1-106]:
Amphitryon, Megara, and her three sons by Herakles, are seated on the steps of the altar of Zeus the Saviour as suppliants.
Amphitryon tells us he is from Argos, but is now living in Thebes; that he is the father of Heracles. and with him is Megara daughter of Creon [See Antigone], Heracles wife. Amphitryon tells us he killed Electryon [father of Alcmene (therefore his father-in-law)] and was sent into exile from Argos; that to end his stepfather's exile Heracles made an offer to Eurystheus to clean up the Earth of its brutal violence. Eurystheus, whether or not on Hera's orders who was acting out of jealousy, imposed Labours on him, impossible tasks. Heracles has completed all of these save for the last, in which he has been sent down into Hades to bring up the hell-hound, Cerberus. Amphitryon tells us that he and Heracles' family await his return.
Some years previously Creon had been killed by Lycus who has seized the throne of Thebes for himself. Because he and Heracles' family were allied to the dead king, Lycus now wishes to murder them all, him, Megara and especially the boys for he fears the latter may grow wishing to seek vengeance. Heracles had asked Amphitryon to take care of his boys whilst he was away performing this last Labour. Now they are all sitting as suppliants by the altar of Zeus the Saviour. They are without food or drink, and have no spare clothes; the bare ground is their bed. Their palace has been sealed up, supposed friends have proved not to be so, whilst the true ones are powerless.
Megara tells us that she was not born an outcast but was the daughter of Creon, king of Thebes, a byword for wealth, power and fortune. He gave her to Heracles, stepson of Amphitryon, for wife. That she and the three boys, together with Amphitryon, are now awaiting death at the hands of Lycus. The boys keep asking "Where is father? Where has he gone? When is he coming back? What is he doing?" She says she tells them some tale to keep their curiosity at bay, but each time the great gate to the city opens they stand up to see if he is coming. She says that it is impossible to escape; there are guards posted at every frontier post and on every road.
Megara: Speak out, Amphitryon, What is in your mind? If we lose our time, I fear Death will not lose his. Have you lost your will to live? I still cling to hope.
Amphitryon: Death deferred may mean Death is foiled. Your husbad may yet come. Calm down and dry your children's tears. Comfort them. Direct their thoughts onto other matters. Despair is cowardly; the brave hold onto hope.
Parodos [Lines 107-139]:
The Chorus of Theban Elders enter.
They sympathise with the family, but lament that they are either too old or infirm to assist them and that when they were younger their bravery and strength did not disgrace the city. They weep for the children, and for Megara whose husband is lost in the Underworld. They compare the likeness of the looks of the boys to their father.
Chorus: O, Hellas, if these boys are killed you will lose three great champions.
First Episode [Lines 140-347]:
Enter Lycus with attendants. the murderer of Creon and usurper of his throne, arrives before the temple and immediately, without any further aso he demands to know how long they intend to prolong their lives. No one is coming to rescue them. Hercules lies dead in Hades.
Lycus: Amphitryon, I have no wish to allow these boys to grow into men to be able to kill me.
He and Amphitryon then discuss Heracles' bravery [his heroic valour]. Lycus says Heracles is not brave at all, but a coward, because he uses a bow and arrow to kill his foe at a distance. A brave man uses a spear or a sword in close combat.
Amphitryon says that a real hero is not a slave to his weapons. A hero is intelligent. It is someone who has found a way to use his weapons to advantage to enhance his chances of winning the battle. A broken spear spells death for a spearman. In the melée of a group of hoplites, if the swordsman next to you falls that increases the chance of being killed yourself. Using a bow is a far wiser choice. A skilled bowman can shoot off one thousand arrows and still have more left, all at a safe distance. In war it is common sense to strike at the enemy if they are in reach, but also to keep one's own skin intact.
Amphitryon then questions why Lycus wants to kill these boys. He calls Lycus a coward. Must they now be killed because of this? Let them leave as exiles. He accuses Hellas [Greece] for not coming to defend the boys.
Lycus answers him: Go my men and fetch logs and wood. Heap them around the altar of Zeus and set fire to them. We will burn these five to death. And you the Elders, you who oppose me, if your continue your crying, you'll find your homes brought down into ruin. You'll all learn I am king of Thebes, your king, and not the dead Heracles.
Chorus: O chthonic Thebans, are we not the sons of the dragon's teeth? Up with your walking-sticks and strike this tyrant. He is not a Cadmean. While we have life we will not let him kill the boys. We need to intervene, coming to the aid of true friends when they need our help. Thebes has gone insane. She would never have got you [Lycus] for her king otherwise.
Megara thanks the Chorus. Speaking to Amphitryon she argues that even though dying is fearful and that she loves the boys dearly as their mother she also has to remember that they are members of a royal house; that the poverty of exile would bring shame upon them. And that even though Amphitryon was once a famous warrior, it is unthinkable he should die a cowardly death. She also has to remember that she is the wife of a brave warrior, that he would not lift a hand to help the m if they disgraced their name.
Megara [To Amphitryon]: If you think your son is going to come back alive from Hades think again. What man has ever returned alive from there? If you think your enemy is a honourable man you might be able to tounch his heart with kind words. But if he's a rat, beware! When the gods have us ensnared in their net it is folly more than bravery to try to struggle out. What will be, will be!
Chorus: Amphitryon, you must try to find how to break out of the trap of Fate.
Amphitryon tells us that he is neither a coward nor does the love of life hold him back, but he can do nothing. He cannot save the children.
[He steps down from the altar.]
Amphitryon: O king, strike at my neck with your sword, or throw me off from a rocky height. Kill us adults first so that we do not see the children dying, nor hear their cries of "Mother" and "Grandfather".
Megara: One further request. Unlocka and open the palace doors so that we may change into proper funeral clothes.
Lycus tells his servants to open the palace doors. and permits them to go in to change their attire.
Exit Lycus
Exit Megara into the palace with the children.
Amphitryon makes a short complaint about how hopeless Zeus has been. And how it was he, the god, who has betrayed the children of his son, Heracles. And how Zeus has no understanding of the difference between right and wrong.
Exit Amphitryon into the palace.
First Stasimon [Lines 348-450]:
The Chorus sing an ode in praise of Herakles. It make no difference to them whether he should be referred to as the "son of Zeus or of Amphitryon".
They then chant the ode of the Twelve Labours of Heracles as a dirge for those about to die
[The Twelve Labours are the impossible tasks given to Heracles to perform by Eurytheus on Hera's orders].
[The following is Euripides' own list and order for these Labours.]
1. To rid the grove of Zeus of the fierce lion.
2. To lay low the mountain race of wild Centaurs with his murderous arrows.
3. Killing of the golden horned Cerynean hind which pillaged the farms bringing joy to the goddess Artemis.
4. The capture of Diomedes' man-eating mares.
5. The killing of Cycnos who, wanting to build a temple made of human skulls, murdered all the travellers who passed by his house.
6. The fetching of the golden apples guarded by a dragon from the garden of the divine women of the Hesperides, the Singing Maidens.
7. Making of the seas safe for sailors.
8. The holding up of the heavens for Atlas.
9. Capturing of the golden girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons.
10. Killing of the multi-headed Lernean Hydra.
11. The killing with arrows poisoned with the blood of the Lernaean Hydra of Geryon, a monster with three bodies.
12. Capturing and fetching it back up into the daylight of the three headed guard-dog of Hades, Cerberus.
The Chorus tell us that this last Labour has not yet been completed by Heracles. He has yet to return from Hades.
[In the case of this last Labour Heracles also brings Theseus back up into the land of the living.]
Second Episode [Lines 451–636]:
Enter Megara, the three boys and Amphitryon from the palace.
Megara laments that she is seeing her and Heracles' sons for the last time. She tells them that their father had intended for each of the three boys to rule a city: the eldest was to have become king of Argos; the second would have become king of Thebes; the third would rule Oechalia. Megara tells us she was planning good marriages for each of them to other royal houses. But Fate has intervened. They are now set to marry Death. But which one to hug first? She knows not. She calls upon Heracles to come back from Hades and rescue them, even if only as a phantom, by scaring away the cowards who plan to murder them.
Amphitryon calls on Zeus to help the boys, saying that his aid must come fast or it will be too late. He bids the Chorus, his "comrades" farewell. He regrets that "fortune in a single day" has robbed him of his reputation " like a feather that floats away toward the sky." He bids farewell to the Chorus. They will never see him again.
Heracles enters with his lionskin and club.
Megara: Children, your father is alive! Cling to his robes. Do not let go.
Heracles sees that everyone seems to be dressed in funerary clothes ready for their grave and Amphitryon is crying. He demands to know what's happening. Why all the confusion.
Megara tells him that they are to be killed; that her brothers and father are dead; that since he has been away Lycus has usurped the throne of Thebes and killed her father; that messengers from Eurystheus also kept on coming from Argos to Thebes reporting that he, Heracles, was dead; that their friends had abandoned them. One day armed guards came from Lycus and forced them out of their home; they were treated brutally.
Megara: What friends does one have when things are going badly for one? Misfortune creates a friendless condition.
Hercules: Tear off these wreaths of Hades! Let the light shine once more in your eyes. I am going to go to level the palace of this new king to the ground. I shall cut off his sacrilegous head and toss it to the dogs. Let them rip it to pieces. Cowardly Thebans whom I come across I will deliver blows on them using my all-conquering club. I will kill any Theban who has been treacherous. Let my bow fire arrows till I fill the Ismenus with slaughtered bodies and redden the spring of Dirke. My Labours were pointless tasks compared to what I have to do now. How can I fight lions on Eurystheseus' orders and chop the heads off Hydra, and not defend my own children? It is my duty to risk death for their defence. If I don't do this I will never be known as All-Conquering Heracles again!
Chorus: It is right for you to take up revenge for your children, your wife and your aged father.
Amphitryon: Do not act too hastily! Beware! Lycus has many friends: they are the people who raised the riots and sold Thebes into slavery to pay off their bankruptcy. You have been seen entering the city. Your enemies will find their way here soon.
Heracles: A bird warned me. I came here by a secret path.
Amphitryon: Go into your house. Pay respect to the deities of your hearth. Stay there. The king will come for us, to take us away for slaughter. If you stay inside all will fall into your hands. Don't excite the people till you made your home secure.
Heracles: Agreed. I must pay respect to the deities of my hearth first!
Amphitryon: Did you really go down into Hades and fetch back the three-headed monster Cerberus?
Heracles: Yes, I fought for it. It is now with Hermione at Demeter's grove. I also delayed to bring back Theseus who has now gone back to Athens. Come boys, go into your father's house. And you too my wife, and father.
Exeunt into the palace.
Second Stasimon [Lines 637–700]:
The Chorus chant an ode about how youth is dear to them, and old age a burden. Rather than having all the riches of an Asian potentate, youth is worth more: rather than having a palace full of gold they would rather have youth. Would that old age were to vanish beneath the ocean's waves; how they loathe it: if the gods had wisdom good men would have won a second youth as a mark of their virtue. We would have a way of distinguishing the good from those who are bad. Let us not cease singing to the Muses. We may be aged, but we have Memory. Let us sing of the glories of Heracles to the accompaniment of a lyre and Dionysos, the giver of wine. Let nothing restrain us from dancing. On Delos before the gates of the temple to Apollo the women perform a dance. They, the Chorus, also sing a paean to Heracles whose Labours made life calm for mortal men.
Third Episode [Lines 701–733]:
Enter Lycus with attendants from the side and Amphitryon from the palace.
Lycus [to Amphitryon]: You have all been far, far too long getting into your funerary vestments. Call for them. Demand they show themselves. You yourself have especially agreed voluntarily to die.
Amphitryon: You grind me down. My son is dead. You taunt me for that loss. You say we must die: so be it. Perform your will.
Lycus: Where is Megara? Where are the boys?
Amphitryon: Inside, in supplication on the altar's steps.
Lycus: Go inside then and bring them out.
Amphitryon: If I did that I would share in your blood-guilt.
Lycus: I am not afraid. I'll do it myself.
Lycus exits with his attendants into Heracles' palace
Amphitryon: Go! A fitting end awaits you! I'll go in myself to watch this fiend die, a just price for his wicked deeds.
Exit Amphitryon into the palace
Third Stasimon [Lines 734–814]:
[Chorus divides into two semichoruses, A & B]
Chorus A: Here's an end to our troubles. Hurrah for justice and the ebb and flow of fate from the gods.
Chorus B: At last you [Lycus] will suffer for the brutal way you have treated others.
Chorus A: We weep with tears of pleasure. The lord of this land has returned.
Chorus B: Let's see what's happening indoors. Let's see whether a certain person is faring as we hope.
Lycus [from within]: Oh no! I call out to all Thebes. I am being killed treacherously!
Chorus A: Here begins the song we love to hear.
Chorus B: Yes, he is a killer himself. [To Lycus] Face the punishment for what you have done.
Chorus A: Well, he was only a mere mortal who spread the dumb idea that the gods of heaven were weak and feeble.
Chorus B: Well, the godless man is dead now. Let's return to dancing.
[The two semi-choruses rejoin into a single chorus to dance and sing.]
They sing an ode of joy: Dance, Dance, Dance Thebes. The usurper [Lycus] is no more and has paid the penalty for his deeds. He blasphemed and showed contempt towards the gods, calling them weaklings. The old king [Heracles] rules in Thebes. They praise the "marriage" of Zeus with Heracles' mother.
Semi-chorus A: Are we all feeling a fit of fear? Look, a terrible apparition can be seen above the palace.
Semi-chorus B: Let us flee! Let us escape from here!
Fourth Episode [Lines 822–1015]:
Iris to the Chorus: Be not afraid Elders. I am Iris servant of the gods; with me is Madness [Lyssa] daughter of the night. We have come not to harm Thebes, but seek one man, begotten of Zeus and of Alcmene, as they say. Before he undertook his Labours Zeus protected him. Now that he has completed them Hera wants to pin on him the blood-guilt of killing kindred, by making him murder his own children. O come daughter of the night. Drive him mad, distort his mind with lust for his children's blood. If Heracles escapes our punishment the gods will be nowhere, and mortals will rule the earth.
Lyssa: My nature is noble. My privilege is not to delight in slaughter. I would wish to plead with Hera first before I see her fall into committing an unwise act. Hera has sent me to ravage a man who is famous on earth and amongst the gods too. He tamed untrodden lands, seas full of monsters. He alone has restored the worship due to the gods.
Iris: We must obey. These are Hera's orders.
Lyssa: I only wanted to turn your path away from evil towards good. As the sun is my witness I am acting against my will. If I must do as Hera and you will then I will be about my business. I will race into Heracles' heart. I shall shatter his house, bringing its roof down, down on his head. He will not know that he has killed his sons until he is free of my madness. Look, he is tossing his head, and his eyes are rolling around. Away Iris, I shall enter unseen into his house.
Iris is lifted away on the crane, and Lyssa climbs down into Heracles' palace at the back.
Chorus: O woe, Greece, raise the lament. the son of Zeus is being cut down. You will lose your benefactor. he will be gone made to dance by the raving madness of pipes [auloi]. The Gorgon daughter of the night [Lyssa] goads the horses of her chariot to commit harm. Swiftky the children will die by their father's hand.
Amphitryon is heard crying from within.
The Chorus chant that the dance of madness has begun. Murder is the tune being piped here. The dance is not for the flowing of Dionysos' wine, but for the shedding of blood. Murder, Murder! The house is shaking. The roof is caving in. The palace has been destroyed in a hurricane of hell.
Enter a Messenger from the palace. He speaks to the Chorus.
The Chorus ask him about the fate that has befallen the children in the palace.
Messenger: The children are dead.
Chorus: How did their father bring about their terrible death?
Messenger: There by the altar dedicated to Zeus stood victims for the slaughter, to be sacrificed to cleanse the palace, for Heracles had killed the king and thrown his body out to the dogs, the three boys together with Megara and the old Amphitryon, the knife and the barley-meal in its basket had circled the altar. There was silence. Heracles was about to lift the lighted torch to dip it in holy water when suddenly he stood there silent and hesitating.
The sons look at him. His countenance had changed: his eyeballs rolled unnaturally; a white froth dribbled down his beard. He then broke out with a manic laugh, saying:
'Why am I offering sacrifice and cleansing fire when I wil have to do it all over again. I haven't killed Eurystheus yet. I am going to have bring his head here, then in a singe ceremony I'll wash my hands of him and those I killed today. throw out that water, throw those baskets with the barley down, bring me my bow and my club, bring crowbars and pickaxes, I am going to attack Mycenae. I will prize their masonry open with iron.'
He then pretended he had a chariot, thrusting it forward he rode for Corinth and the Isthmus. All the servants thought their master raving mad. He rode into the room where Megara was, unpinned his cloak and naked began a wrestling match with an imaginary opponent, declaring himself victor to a non-existent crowd. Then he imagind he had come to Mycenae and shouted threats again Erystheus. Then Amphitryon cried out: 'What is this madness? Surely killing Lycus has not deranged you?'
Heracles pushed Amphitryon back and picked up his bow and quiver of arrows, and made ready to shoot his own sons, thinking they were Eyrystheus' children. Terrified his own children rushed this way and that, one hiding behind his mother's dress, one in the shadow of a pillar, and the other cowering behind the altar. Megara shrieked: 'What are you doing? They are your children!'
Swiftly he ran behind the pillar and shot one of the boys dead. Heracles cried out: 'There lies one of Eurystheus' cubs. He's paid his father's debt.'
By the altar there crouched another boy. Heracles took aim at him, but that boy was faster; he darted to his father's knees and reached up for his beard and neck saying: 'I am your son! I am yours, not Eurystheus'. Father dear, don't kill me!' Heracles' eyes were like a Gorgon's. He could not use his arrows as the boy was too close, so he raised his club and brought it crashing down on the boy's head, shattering his skull. His second victim was dead.
He made for the third, but Megara quickly snatched the boy away rushing into another room locking the door behind her. Using the iron tools he now had with him, the pickaxe and crowbar, he broke the door and its posts down. And with a single shot fom his bow killed both his wife and child.
He turned back to kill his father, Amphitryon. At that moment an armed phantom appeared checking his intent and striking him with a boulder on his chest. He fell to the ground. As he fell his body struck against one of the pillars holding up the roof of the palace. It broke and the roof caved in.
Those who had fled returned. Together with Amphitryon they bound him and fastened him to a stone column inside the palace. He was asleep.
Exit Messenger
Fourth Stasimon [Lines 1016–1041]:
The Chorus chant about the horror of the murders that are happening. Once it was the murders committed by the daughters of Danaus [of their "husbands"] that was the most unbelievable crime ever to have occurred in Greece. Now the horror of this one surpasses that one: Heracles has slain the three children that he fathered. What song of lament can they sing?
The doors of the palace swing open. The ekkyklema is wheeled out with a tableau of the bodies of the three children and Heracles' wife, Megara, displayed on it and Hercules upright and bound to a broken pillar asleep admidst the bodies.
Chorus: O misery! Here lie the children at the feet of their wretched father. Having murdered them he rests in awful sleep, lashed to one of the palace's pillars.
Exodus [Lines 1042–1428]
Enter Amphitryon from the palace.
The Chorus Leader acknowledges his entrance.
Amphitryon tells the Chorus not to wake Heracles.
Heracles awakes, surprised finding that he is alive. He wonders why he is tied up, moored like a ship to a column. Corpses lie all around him: he sees his bow, but the bodies of no monsters He feels stunned. Why is he helpless? What has happened? He exclaims that he understands nothing.
Amphitryon explains to him what has happened. Heracles says he was in a trance. Amphitryon says Hera was the cause, but he should forget her and be concerned with his own ruined life. Amphitryon tells him he murdered his wife and children whilst he was stark mad. Heracles says he wants to commit suicide by throwing himself off a cliff or killing himself with a sword. Theseus is coming. Heracles hides his head in shame in a cloak.
Enter Theseus with attendants.
Theseus says he has come with his army to liberate Thebes from Lycus. He owes a debt of honour to Heracles for bringing him back from Hades. But who has killed all these children?
Amphitryon tells him it was Heracles. He explains how it happened. Theseus asks why has Heracles covered his head in shame. Amphitryon tell Heracles to uncover his head.
Theseus: Come stand up, Heracles. Look at me. A noble heart endures Fate and does not flinch.
Theseus uncovers Heracles' head.
Heracles tells Theseus to stand back. He is unclean. Theseus tells him no curse infects a friend. Heracles tells Theseus he wants to kill himself; that he is full of suffering. Theseus tells him that he is mankind's greatest friend and benefactor.
Heracles: Of what help is Mankind? All the power is in Hera's hands.
Heracles explains to Theseus his origin and birth. That he was born to Alcmene. That he ought never to have lived at all. Amphitryon had killed Alcemene's father. Then Zeus, whoever he may be, sired Alcmene in revenge. When such a family has such a history no propserity follows its sons.
Heracles: Hera, the queen of heaven put snakes in my cradle to kill me.
Heracles tells Theseus that he grew up to be strong. He lists some of the Labours he had to do: the Centaurs, the Hydra, and finally the capture of the dog, Cerberus, bringing it up from Hades. He says he now far too defiled to be allowed to live. Cursed he can no longer enter temples with his friends. That he is also banished from Argos. What other city in Greece will take him; that he is no longer wanted here in Thebes. Hera has won and toppled the greatest man of Hellas.
The Chorus says Hera is to blame and the cause of all these events.
Theseus: All this is the work of Hera, wife of Zeus. Think carefully if this causes you to die. If the gods had given everyone a life free of troubles, but you, a cursed one, then, rather than suffering, kill yourself immediately. No mortal is free of misery, nor any god. They jump into each others' bed and commit sinful unions. Some chain up their fathers just to become kings. Yet they are continuing to accept their sinful life up there on Mount Olympus. Heracles. you're a mortal who thinks harhly about your sins whilst the gods see no wrong in theirs at all.
Well, obey the law, leave Thebes and come to Athens. I will give you a home and a portion of my wealth. I will give you all the gifts they, the parents of Athens, gave me for saving their children after I killed the Minotaur, amongst which were gifts of land. When you die the whole of Athens will worship you as their hero. This will be my repayment to you for saving my life. As I see it you are in need of friends, but know that when the gods honour us with good fortune we do not need friends. All we need is their help.
Heracles: These matters have nothing to do with the gods or my present troubles. I do not believe gods take part in unholy relationships, nor do they chain up their parents. No god is lord over another. A real god is in need of nothing. All these are, are simply miserable tales made up by poets. If I commit suicide people might think I am a coward. A man who cannot stand against misfortune can neither stand against an enemy's arrows. So I will keep my life and come with you to Athens. Pain has inflicted me many times but I never shed a tear because of it. Now it seems I must be Fate's slave. So be it.
[To Amphitryon]
Now I must become an exile for the murder of my own children. Bury them with proper rites. The law forbids me to do this. Lay them to rest next to their mother, poor woman whom I killed involuntarily.
Afterwards, remain in Thebes.
[To the dead boys and his murdered wife]
Sons, your father has murdered you. You have lost the honour and wealth the glory of my labours would have brought you had you lived. My poor wife, I have killed you most unjustly.
[He kisses them]
Do I cast my weapons away or do I keep them to remind me of the sin I have committed?
Thebans, cut off your hair, Attend the burial of these, my sons: shed tears for all of us. because we have been destroyed by a single cruel blow delivered by Hera.
Theseus: Let us leave now.
Heracle: Now that I have lost my own sons. I shall reagrd you as a son. Let none of the blood of this murder touch your clothes.
Theseus: Put your arms around me: I shall lead the way.
Heracles: Father, here's the kind of friend a man should find.
Heracles hesitates. He wants to hug his sons and his stepfather. Theseus says he will invite scorn. Heracles and Amphitryon bid farewell to each other. Heracles says he will come back to Thebes after Amphitryon has buried the boys to bring him to Athens. A good friend is worth more than all the wealth in the world. Anyone who thinks otherwise is mad.
Exit Heracles, Amphitryon and Theseaus.
Chorus: Mourn and shed tears; today we lost our noblest friend
Exeunt
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HERACLES Myth Timeless Myths
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ERIS - Greek Goddess of Strife & Discord (Roman Discordia)
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Greek hero cult - Wikipedia
The Greek Myths : Vol. 2 : Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 - Internet Archive 122 The Madness of Heracles
Euripides: Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς μαινόμενος) - Major Reference Works - Wiley Online Library
Heracles by Euripides GreekMythology.com
Heracles Study Guide - Course Hero
Heracles - Euripides - Ancient Greece - Classical Literature
Crowell's handbook of classical drama p.160 - Archive.org
Kathleen Riley (24 April 2008). The Reception and Performance of Euripides' Herakles: Reasoning Madness. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-156001-9.
Desmond J. Conacher (15 December 1967). Euripidean Drama: Myth, Theme and Structure. Chapter 4: Herakles: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. pp. 131–. ISBN 978-1-4426-3759-7.
Classical Antiquity 2008-10: Vol 27 Iss 2 - Internet Archive Euripides' Heracles in the Flesh
Silk, M. S. “Heracles and Greek Tragedy.” Greece & Rome, vol. 32, no. 1, 1985, pp. 1–22. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/642295.
Arthur W. H. Adkins. “Basic Greek Values in Euripides' Hecuba and Hercules Furens.” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 16, no. 2, 1966, pp. 193–219. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/637467.
Moore, Jocelyn. “House-Razing and the Relationship of Oikos and Polis in Euripides's Heracles.” Illinois Classical Studies, vol. 45, no. 1, 2020, pp. 25–48. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/illiclasstud.45.1.0025.
Knight, W. F. J. “Some Motives in Greek Tragedy Which Can Be Classified as Belonging to the Poetry of Escape.” The Classical Weekly, vol. 26, no. 12, 1933, pp. 90–91. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4339164.
Holmes, Brooke. “Euripides' Heracles in the Flesh.” Classical Antiquity, vol. 27, no. 2, 2008, pp. 231–281. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/ca.2008.27.2.231.
Papadimitropoulos, Loukas. “Heracles as Tragic Hero.” The Classical World, vol. 101, no. 2, 2008, pp. 131–138. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25471934
Parry, Hugh. “The Second Stasimon of Euripides' Heracles (637-700).” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 86, no. 4, 1965, pp. 363–374. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/292934
Barlow, Shirley A. “Structure and Dramatic Realism in Euripides' 'Heracles'.” Greece & Rome, vol. 29, no. 2, 1982, pp. 115–125. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/642338
Review Article: Euripides' Heracles
Kovacs, David. The Classical Journal, vol. 81, no. 4, 1986, pp. 357–359. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3297221
Meridor, Ra'anana. “Plot and Myth in Euripides' ‘Heracles’ and ‘Troades.’” Phoenix, vol. 38, no. 3, 1984, pp. 205–215. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1088273
PROVENZA, ANTONIETTA. “MADNESS AND BESTIALIZATION IN EURIPIDES' ‘HERACLES’.” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 63, no. 1, 2013, pp. 68–93., www.jstor.org/stable/23470076
S. E. Lawrence. "The God That Is Truly God and the Universe of Euripides' ‘Heracles." Mnemosyne, vol. 51, no. 2, 1998, pp. 129–146. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4432823.
Kirkpatrick, J., & Dunn, F. (2002). Heracles, Cercopes, and Paracomedy. Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-), 132(1/2), 29–61. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20054057
Greek Versions
Hercules : Euripides - Internet Archive Teubner
Heracles : Euripides - Internet Archive Shirley A. Barlow, Aris & Phillips Classical Texts
Euripides, Heracles - Gilbert Murray
Euripides ex recensione Volume III Frederici A. Paley: Accessit verborum et nominum index : Euripides - Internet Archive
Hercules : Euripides - Internet Archive
Hercules. Edidit A. Nauck
Euripides Heracles
Euripides; James Diggle (1981). Euripides fabulae Vol II. E Typographeo Clarendoniano. pp. 115–. ISBN 978-0-19-814590-5.
Translations
Euripides, Heracles E.P. Coleridge
The Internet Classics Archive - Heracles by Euripides E.P. Coleridge
Loeb Classical Library L010N, Euripides, Volume 3 p. 125 The Madness of Hercules - Internet Archive
Euripides (27 June 2002). Heracles and Other Plays. Heracles: Penguin Books Limited. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-14-044725-5.
Tragedies of Euripides Vol II translated by Theodore A. Buckley - Internet Archive
Euripides - Herakles: Translated by George Theodoridis
The Nineteen Tragedies and Fragments of Euripides : Euripides, Michael Wodhull p. 177- Internet Archive
The Plays of Euripides : Euripides, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Edward Philip Coleridge - Internet Archive
