Centaur (Nessus)
creatureNessus was the centaur whose poisoned blood, given as a false love charm, ultimately destroyed the invincible Heracles.
The Myth
Nessus offered to ferry Deianira across a river. Midstream, he assaulted her. Heracles shot him with a Hydra-poisoned arrow. Dying, Nessus told Deianira his blood was a love charm. Years later, fearing she'd lost Heracles to Iole, she soaked a robe in the blood. The Hydra venom burned Heracles alive. Unable to die, he built his own pyre on Mount Oeta, achieving apotheosis through fire.
Parents
Ixion and Nephele
Symbols
Fun Fact
A "shirt of Nessus" means an inescapable torment — used in everything from diplomacy to describing toxic relationships.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Hydra
creatureA monstrous water serpent with multiple heads that grew two more whenever one was cut off. Slaying...
Io
heroIo was a priestess of Hera whom Zeus seduced and then transformed into a white cow to hide from his...
Ixion
heroIxion was the first human to murder a kinsman and the first to attempt seduction of a goddess —...
Nessus
creatureNessus was the centaur who tried to abduct Heracles' wife Deianira — and whose poisoned blood,...