Cenaeum
A promontory on the northwestern tip of Euboea where Heracles built an altar and put on the fatal shirt of Nessus.
The Story of Cenaeum
After his campaigns in Thessaly, Heracles landed at Cape Cenaeum on Euboea to make sacrifices in gratitude. He sent his herald Lichas to retrieve from his wife Deianeira a fine ceremonial robe to wear during the sacrifice. Deianeira, believing she was sending a love charm, had soaked the robe in what the dying centaur Nessus had told her was a love potion — but it was in fact poisoned centaur blood. When Heracles put on the robe, the poison burned into his flesh. In agony, he hurled Lichas into the sea, then made his way to Mount Oeta to die.
Explore Further
Nessus
🐉 creatureCentaur whose blood killed Heracles
Nessus was the centaur who tried to abduct Heracles' wife Deianira — and whose poisoned blood, given as a love charm, eventually killed the greatest hero.
Centaur
🐉 creatureCentaur whose dying gift killed Heracles
Nessus was the centaur whose poisoned blood, given as a false love charm, ultimately destroyed the invincible Heracles.
Oeta
🏛 placegeography
The Thessalian mountain where Heracles built his own funeral pyre and was consumed by fire, ascending to Olympus.
Lichas
🗡 heroNone recorded
Herald of Heracles who unwittingly delivered the poisoned robe that killed his master
Erymanthus
🏛 placegeography
An Arcadian mountain where the monstrous Erymanthian Boar lived, target of Heracles' fourth labour.
Rhoeteum
🏛 placegeography
A promontory on the Trojan shore where the tomb of Ajax was located and pilgrims came to honour the hero.
Centaur
🐉 creatureGentle centaur host of Heracles
Pholus was a civilised centaur who hosted Heracles on his way to capture the Erymanthian Boar — accidentally triggering a battle with the other centaurs.
Shirt of Nessus
💭 conceptcurse, artifact
The poisoned garment that killed Heracles, soaked in the blood of the centaur Nessus and given to Deianeira as a false love charm.
Chryse
🏛 placegeography
A small sacred island near Lemnos associated with Philoctetes, who was bitten by a serpent at its altar.
Lesbos
🏛 placegeography
An Aegean island where the severed head of Orpheus floated ashore, still singing, after the Maenads tore him apart.
Lycia
🏛 placekingdom, Anatolia
A mountainous region in southwestern Anatolia whose warriors fought for Troy and whose hero Bellerophon slew the Chimera.
Pherae
🏛 placeGeography
A city in Thessaly where Admetus ruled and Alcestis chose to die in her husband's place