The Trachiniae

The Trachiniae or The Women of Trachis (Greek: Τραχίνιαι) is a play by Sophocles, notable mainly for the unsympathetic portrayal of Heracles. As in the play Ajax, Sophocles has cast a well-known hero in a negative light. The story begins with Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, distraught over her husband's neglect of his family. Heracles is often involved in some adventure and rarely visits them. She sends their son Hyllus to find him, as she is concerned over prophecies about Heracles and the land he is currently in. After Hyllus sets off, a messenger arrives with word that Heracles was victorious in his recent battle and coming home soon. Lichas, a herald of Heracles, brings in slave girls captured from a recent siege. He gives Deianeira a false story of why Heracles had laid siege to the city. He claimed Eurytus was responsible for Heracles being enslaved, and therefore vowed revenge against him and his people. Among the girls is Iole, daughter of Eurytus. Deianeira soon learns...