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InGreek mythology,Nessus (Ancient Greek:Νέσσος,romanized: Nessos) was a famouscentaur who was killed byHeracles, and whose poisoned blood in turn killed Heracles. He was the son ofCentauros. He fought in the battle with theLapiths and became a ferryman on the riverEuenos.
Nessus is known for his famous role in the story of theTunic of Nessus. After carryingDeianeira, the wife of Heracles, across the river, he attempted to have intercourse with her. Heracles saw this from across the river and shot aHydra-poisoned arrow into Nessus's breast. As he lay dying, as a final act of malice, Nessus told Deianeira that his blood would ensure that Heracles would be true to her forever, knowing the blood to be infected with the hydra's poison.
Deianeira foolishly believed him. Later, when her trust began to wane because ofIole, she spread the centaur's blood on a robe and gave it to her husband. Heracles went to a gathering of heroes, where his passion got the better of him. Meanwhile, Deianeira accidentally spilled a portion of the centaur's blood onto the floor. To her horror, it began to fume by the light of the rising sun.
She instantly recognized it as poison and sent her messenger to warn Heracles but it was too late. Heracles lay dying slowly and painfully as the robe burned his skin—either in actual flames or by the heat of poison. He died a noble death on a funeral pyre of oak branches. Heracles was then taken toMount Olympus byZeus and welcomed among the gods for his heroic exploits.[1][2][3]
A similar theme appears in certain versions of the story ofMedea.
Sophocles' playTrachiniae (Women of Trachis) is extensively based on a retelling of this myth.
Before the ancient Greeks told the story of Nessus and 'created' centaurs, the Kassites used them as guiding spirits.[4] There may also be a connection to the origin of centaurs in this myth. One etymological explanation for centaur stems from the meaning water-whipper, or water spirit.[5]
The Nessus Shirt story can be connected to real world events and figures of speech. It has been used as an allusion to the early settlers giving infected blankets to Native Americans.[6]
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