Sophocles, Trachiniae [Women of Trachis]

Brad Levett (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Ed. by Laura Swift, The Open University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.1: Greek Writing and Culture: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial, -800--100.
Vol. editors: Jonathan Burgess (University of Toronto), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Vaios Liapis (Open University of Cyprus), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Mali Skotheim (Ashoka University), Laura Swift (The Open University)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. -430

Places

Ancient Greece (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play
Tragedy

Resources

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Recommended Reading

The

Women of Trachis

dramatizes the destruction of Heracles, the most celebrated hero in Greek civilization, by his wife Deianeira. The son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, Heracles was revered throughout Greece for his heroic deeds, in particular his destruction of numerous monsters and criminals. These “labours” were understood as a civilizing force because they made previously uninhabitable parts of the world safe for human settlement (see lines 1010-1013, 1090-1102). In our play, the hero has finally completed his tasks, but his fate still hangs in the balance; Deianeira tells us that Heracles left a prophecy stating that at the current time he would either die or his labours would come to an end (76-81, restated in greater detail at 153-177). It will be revealed that in fact…

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2902 words

Citation: Levett, Brad. "Trachiniae". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 December 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=8421, accessed 19 April 2024.]

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