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Euripides · c. 480-406 BC

Heracles

Ἡρακλῆς
Ancient Sources / Euripides / Heracles

Read our guide to Heracles

Heracles was probably staged in the 410s BC. While Heracles is away in the underworld on his last labour, the usurper Lycus seizes Thebes and threatens his wife Megara, his father Amphitryon and his children. Heracles returns in time to rescue them and kill Lycus, but Hera sends Madness to drive him to kill his own family, and the play ends with the hero's despair and the friendship of Theseus. 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, 26 passages, about 12900 words in English.
Translator
Edward P. Coleridge (1891)
Edition
Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913, 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, Heracles 1 (by line number)

Contents · 26 passages

  1. 1–59Prologue: Amphitryon explains the plight of Heracles' family559 words
  2. 60–106Prologue: Megara and Amphitryon despair474 words
  3. 107–169Parodos: the old men of Thebes; Lycus threatens the suppliants502 words
  4. 170–237First episode: Amphitryon defends Heracles against Lycus647 words
  5. 238–274First episode: Lycus orders the suppliants burned348 words
  6. 275–347First episode: Megara and Amphitryon accept death; the robes of the dead750 words
  7. 348–441First choral song: the labours of Heracles573 words
  8. 442–496Second episode: the family comes out dressed for death494 words
  9. 497–522Second episode: Heracles appears before the family273 words
  10. 523–561Second episode: Heracles hears what has happened in his absence441 words
  11. 562–609Second episode: Heracles resolves on vengeance against Lycus487 words
  12. 610–636Second episode: Heracles tells of his return from Hades308 words
  13. 637–700Second choral song: youth, old age and the glory of Heracles375 words
  14. 701–748Third episode: Lycus returns and is lured into the house422 words
  15. 750–821Third choral song: Lycus dies; Iris and Madness appear473 words
  16. 822–873Fourth episode: Iris and Madness send Heracles mad570 words
  17. 875–921Fourth choral song; cries from within as Heracles kills his children351 words
  18. 922–1015Messenger speech: Heracles murders his wife and children919 words
  19. 1016–1087Exodos: the Chorus and Amphitryon watch over the sleeping Heracles504 words
  20. 1088–1145Exodos: Heracles wakes and learns what he has done598 words
  21. 1146–1202Exodos: Heracles wishes to die as Theseus arrives524 words
  22. 1204–1254Exodos: Theseus finds the veiled Heracles519 words
  23. 1255–1312Exodos: Heracles' case against going on living548 words
  24. 1313–1339Exodos: Theseus counsels endurance272 words
  25. 1340–1393Exodos: Heracles decides to live558 words
  26. 1394–1428Exodos: Heracles leaves for Athens with Theseus419 words

More by Euripides

English translation by Edward P. Coleridge (1891). Original text: Greek text: Gilbert Murray (ed.), Euripidis Fabulae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913, 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.