The Children of Herakles by Euripides
"The Children of Herakles" is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, likely around 430 BCE. The play follows Iolaus, the loyal friend of Herakles, and the Herakleidae, Herakles's children, as they seek refuge from Eurystheus, the king of Argos, who has pursued them relentlessly. Their journey leads them to Athens, where they find temporary sanctuary at the altar of Zeus. However, their safety is threatened when Copreus, Eurystheus's herald, demands their surrender, leading to a confrontation that showcases themes of loyalty, justice, and the moral dilemmas faced by leaders.
The Athenian king, Demophon, ultimately decides to protect the Herakleidae, invoking the city's honor and kinship ties. Despite the looming threat of war, the play explores the complexities of sacrifice and duty as Macaria, the daughter of Herakles, volunteers to be sacrificed to secure victory against the Argives. The narrative culminates in a dramatic resolution, emphasizing the conflict between personal vengeance and civic duty, as Alcmene, Herakles's mother, seeks to avenge her family while grappling with the implications of her actions. The play explores powerful themes of heroism, familial loyalty, and the consequences of divine influence in human affairs.
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The Children of Herakles by Euripides
First transcribed:Hērakleidai, c. 430 b.c.e. (English translation, 1781)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of plot: The age of legend
Locale: Before the temple of Zeus at Marathon
Principal characters
Iolaus , the aged friend of HeraklesCopreus , the herald of EurystheusDemophon , the king of AthensMacaria , Herakles’ daughterAlcmene , Herakles’ motherEurystheus , the king of Argos
The Story:
Iolaus, the aged warrior friend of the dead Herakles, together with Alcmene and the Herakleidae, the children of Herakles, have for years been wandering over Greece seeking a refuge from Eurystheus, king of Argos. No city dares to take them in against the command of the powerful Argive ruler. At last the wanderers arrive in Athens. There, while resting at the temple of Zeus, they are immediately confronted by Copreus, the herald of Eurystheus, who demands that they proceed at once to Argos and submit to death by stoning. Iolaus staunchly refuses, and when Copreus seizes the children a violent conflict ensues and Iolaus is thrown to the ground.
The chorus of aged Athenians immediately summons their king, Demophon, who is warned by Copreus that his refusal to surrender the Herakleidae to the Argives will surely result in war. In response to Iolaus’s plea, Demophon offers his protection on the grounds that the children of Herakles are gathered around the altar of Zeus, that they are bound to him by ties of kinship, and that the honor and freedom of Athens are at stake. Copreus sullenly departs, after warning that he will return with an army and punish Athens for its insolence. The grateful Iolaus praises the Athenians for their willingness to aid the helpless in an honest cause, but he refuses to leave the temple until the issue with Argos is settled.
The Argive host appears, led by Eurystheus himself. Demophon, who consults a variety of public and private oracles, comes to Iolaus with the news that victory depends upon the sacrifice of some royal maiden and that he cannot in good conscience slay his own daughter. When the distraught Iolaus offers to surrender himself to Eurystheus, Demophon points out that the Argive king desires only the children.
Macaria, daughter of Herakles, emerges from the temple to offer herself, insisting that she be chosen even after Iolaus proposes that the victim be selected by lot. After she is led away, a servant of Hyllus, son of Herakles, enters to announce that Hyllus arrives with an army to aid the Herakleidae. The elated Iolaus summons Alcmene from the temple to hear the good news. He is so overjoyed that in spite of his age he insists on donning armor and setting off to take part in the battle.
Later a servant brings Alcmene tidings of victory and describes how, after the cowardly Eurystheus refused single combat with Hyllus, the rejuvenated Iolaus plunged into the fray and took Eurystheus prisoner. Alcmene is astounded that Iolaus did not kill him on the spot. When guards bring the bound Eurystheus before her, she demands his immediate death.
The messenger of Demophon cautions her that such an act will violate Athenian custom, but the vengeful Alcmene swears that she herself will kill Eurystheus if necessary. The Argive king explains that he never had any personal quarrel with the Herakleidae and that he was forced to do as he did by the divine power of Hera, the deity of Argos. Nevertheless, he will not ask for mercy; in fact, since an old oracle predicted it, he is quite willing to submit to death if his body will be buried at Pallene, where in the future his spirit can protect his former enemies. The bloodthirsty Alcmene then demands that he be taken away from the city, slain, and cast to the dogs. Observing that, so long as Eurystheus is not killed within Athens, no stain of guilt will come upon the city, the chorus leads him away to be executed.
Bibliography
Dumezil, Georges. The Stakes of the Warrior. Translated by David Weeks. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983. Explains how the Herakles figure embodies attributes of both the monster-slayer and the monster itself. Provides a useful background against which to consider Euripides’ tragedy.
Euripides. The Children of Heracles. With introduction, translation, and commentary by William Allan. Warminster, England: Aris & Phillips, 2001. The text of the play is written in Greek, with the English translation on the facing pages. The introduction discusses the play’s structure, setting, staging, and the myth upon which it was based, and provides other details about the work’s historical and literary context. The extensive commentary section clarifies allusions and references and provides other information to enhance understanding of the play.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Heraclidae. Introduction and commentary by John Wilkins. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Suitable for more detailed study of the play.
Foley, Helene P. Ritual Irony: Poetry and Sacrifice in Euripides. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1985. An enlightening treatment of the issue of sacrifice in Euripides’ plays. Provides a clearer understanding of the sacrificial elements in The Children of Herakles.
Mendelsohn, Daniel Adam. Gender and the City in Euripides’ Political Plays. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Analyzes Athenian ideas of politics and the feminine as demonstrated in Children of Herakles and The Suppliants.
Morwood, James. The Plays of Euripides. Bristol, England: Bristol Classical, 2002. Morwood provides a concise overview of all of Euripides’ plays, devoting a separate chapter to each one. He demonstrates how Euripides was constantly reinventing himself in his work.
Zuntz, Gunther. The Political Plays of Euripides. New York: Manchester University Press, 1955. A good account of the political elements found in many of Euripides’ plays, which need to be taken into consideration by modern readers. Deals in detail with The Children of Herakles.