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Euripides · c. 480-406 BC

Children of Heracles

Ἡρακλεῖδαι
Ancient Sources / Euripides / Children of Heracles

Read our guide to Children of Heracles

Children of Heracles (Heracleidae) was probably staged in the late 430s BC. After the death of Heracles, his old companion Iolaus has fled with the hero's children from the persecution of Eurystheus, king of Argos, and they take refuge as suppliants at an altar in Athens. The play asks whether Athens will protect them, at the price of war, and ends with the capture of Eurystheus. The sections follow the play's own units (prologue, parodos, episodes, choral songs and exodos) and keep the standard line numbers of the Greek text.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 22 passages, about 9800 words in English.
Translator
Edward P. Coleridge (1891)
Edition
Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902, as digitised by Perseus. English: Edward P. Coleridge, The Plays of Euripides, London: George Bell and Sons, first published 1891 (Bohn's Classical Library; the Perseus header records a later printing)
Cite as
Euripides, Children of Heracles 1 (by line number)

Contents · 22 passages

  1. 1–54Prologue: Iolaus and the children of Heracles at the altar in Athens501 words
  2. 55–83Copreus tries to drag the children from the altar294 words
  3. 84–119Iolaus tells the Chorus who the children are; Demophon arrives313 words
  4. 120–180First episode: Copreus claims the exiles for Eurystheus612 words
  5. 181–235First episode: Iolaus pleads for the children as Theseus' kin537 words
  6. 236–287First episode: Demophon refuses to give up the suppliants554 words
  7. 288–332Iolaus thanks Athens and praises noble birth424 words
  8. 333–380Demophon prepares for war; the Chorus sings in defiance of Argos372 words
  9. 381–426Second episode: the oracle demands a noble maiden416 words
  10. 427–473Second episode: Iolaus offers himself in the children's place462 words
  11. 474–538Second episode: Macaria offers her life553 words
  12. 539–573Second episode: Macaria will die freely, not by lot319 words
  13. 574–607Second episode: Macaria's farewell to Iolaus and her brothers329 words
  14. 608–641Second choral song; a servant of Hyllus arrives305 words
  15. 642–708Third episode: Alcmena hears of Hyllus; Iolaus resolves to fight705 words
  16. 709–747Third episode: Alcmena begs Iolaus not to leave her402 words
  17. 748–798Third choral song; the servant announces victory410 words
  18. 799–866Messenger speech: the battle and the capture of Eurystheus598 words
  19. 867–927Fourth choral song; Alcmena rejoices456 words
  20. 928–982Exodos: Eurystheus is brought before Alcmena528 words
  21. 983–1017cExodos: Eurystheus defends his conduct330 words
  22. 1018–1055Exodos: Eurystheus' oracle and Alcmena's verdict365 words

More by Euripides

English translation by Edward P. Coleridge (1891). Original text: Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902, as digitised by Perseus. English: Edward P. Coleridge, The Plays of Euripides, London: George Bell and Sons, first published 1891 (Bohn's Classical Library; the Perseus header records a later printing).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.