NESSUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Nessus is numbered amongst the centaurs of Greek mythology, and arguably Nessus ranks alongside Chiron as the most famous of all the mythical creatures.
Nessus Offspring of Ixion
|
Nessus, along with all other centaurs, is commonly named as the offspring of the foolish king Ixion, and Nephele, the Zeus crafted cloud.
Some sources though, do state that centaurs were the offspring of Centaurus, the son of Ixion and Nephele. Nessus was said to have initially resided upon Mount Pelion, the mountain of Magnesia in Thessaly. |
|
Nessus and the Centauromachy
The centaurs were named as cousins of the Lapiths, and when Pirithous was to marry Hippodamia, the centaurs, Nessus included, were invited to the festivities. As wine flowed, the centaurs got more and more drunk, and as they did so their savage nature came to the fore.
The centaurs decided to abduct all of the females from the wedding banquet. There were though other guests at the wedding, including Theseus, Peleus and Nestor, and as the centaurs acted the heroes took up arms to fight the centaurs. In the ensuing battle many centaurs were killed, but others survived, but were forced to leave Magnesia; Nessus was one such centaur.
Nessus would find a new home for himself in the land through which the River Evenus flowed.
Some say though, that Nessus found his new home after he had fled Mount Pholoe, the home of the civilised centaur Pholus. Nessus was thus described as one of the centaurs who had attacked Heracles, after the Greek hero had opened some wine in Pholus’ cave.
The centaurs decided to abduct all of the females from the wedding banquet. There were though other guests at the wedding, including Theseus, Peleus and Nestor, and as the centaurs acted the heroes took up arms to fight the centaurs. In the ensuing battle many centaurs were killed, but others survived, but were forced to leave Magnesia; Nessus was one such centaur.
Nessus would find a new home for himself in the land through which the River Evenus flowed.
Some say though, that Nessus found his new home after he had fled Mount Pholoe, the home of the civilised centaur Pholus. Nessus was thus described as one of the centaurs who had attacked Heracles, after the Greek hero had opened some wine in Pholus’ cave.
The Death of Nessus
|
On the banks of Evenus, Nessus acted as a ferryman, taking those willing to pay upon his back, the cross the river. Nessus was said to have claimed to his potential customers, that he had been given his role by the gods, because of his morality, although of course nothing could have been further from the truth.
It was to the bank of the Evenus that Heracles and his wife, Deianeira came. Heracles could of course swim the river, but Deianeira was put upon the back of Nessus, to easily allow her to cross. Nessus would reach the far bank of the Evenus, but there his true nature came to the fore, and taken by the beauty of Deianeira, tried to abduct her. Deianeira cried out, and her cry was heard by her husband. Quickly Heracles took up his bow, and unleashed an arrow which hit Nessus. |
Abduction of Deianeira -
Guido Reni (1575–1642) - PD-art-100
|
The Intrigue of Nessus
|
Realising he was dying, Nessus nevertheless managed to concoct a plan of revenge. Realising that his blood had been poisoned by the venom of the Lernaean Hydra, Nessus quickly convinced Deianeira that his blood was a love potion, a potion that would reignite Heracles’ love for his wife, if it ever waned.
As Nessus died, so Deianeira collected up some of his blood. |
|
Years later, Deianeira feared that Heracles was on the verge of leaving her for Iole, and so Deianeira anointed a shirt with the blood of Nessus. When Heracles put on the shirt, so he himself was poisoned by the blood of the Hydra, and so Heracles himself died because of Nessus.
|
|
Colin Quartermain - Nessus - 21st January 2024