Alcestis in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Alcestis

18 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Alcestis, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Alcestis was a princess in Greek mythology, renowned for the love she had for her husband. She was the daughter of the king of Iolcus, Pelias, and Ana... For the story in one place, read our article on Alcestis.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.9.1–15Athamas, Sisyphus, Salmoneus, Melampus and AdmetusThe sons of Aeolus: Athamas, whose children Phrixus and Helle flee on the golden ram and who later loses Ino and Learchus to madness, then Sisyphus, Deion, Perieres, Magnes and Salmoneus, who is struck down for impersonating Zeus. Salmoneus's daughter Tyro bears Pelias and Neleus to Poseidon, and the section follows Neleus and Nestor at Pylus, Pelias in Thessaly, and Cretheus's line with the seer Melampus winning Pero for his brother Bias. It ends with Pheres, Admetus and Alcestis.

Euripides (15)

Euripides, Alcestis 369–415Second episode: Alcestis entrusts her children to Admetus and diesAlcestis makes Admetus repeat his promise before the children, and gives the children into his hands. She says that darkness is closing on her eyes, bids her children farewell, and dies, and the Chorus announces her death. Her son Eumelus cries out that his mother has left him, and Admetus tells him that she cannot hear or see.
Euripides, Alcestis 817–860Fifth episode: Heracles learns of Alcestis' death and goes to the tombThe Attendant tells him that the woman who died was Alcestis, wife of Admetus. Heracles, stung that his host hid the truth and let him feast, asks where she is buried. He resolves to repay Admetus' kindness by going to the tomb to wait for Death, to wrestle with him, and to bring her back.
Euripides, Alcestis 28–76Prologue: Apollo and Death quarrel over AlcestisDeath arrives and asks Apollo what he is doing at the house, and Apollo asks him to spare Alcestis. Death answers that his right is to take his due and that he will not give her up. Apollo warns that a man is coming who will take her from him by force, and Death goes into the house to claim her.
Euripides, Alcestis 213–279First choral song; Alcestis comes out to dieThe Chorus prays to Apollo as Paean to save Admetus, and then sees Alcestis come out of the house, supported by her husband. Alcestis speaks to the sun and the clouds, and sees Charon, the ferryman of the dead, calling her to come. Admetus begs her not to leave him or the children.
Euripides, Alcestis 1037–1117Exodos: Admetus reluctantly agrees to take the womanAdmetus explains that he was not unkind and hid his grief only out of hospitality, and that the sight of another woman in the house of Alcestis would be unbearable. Heracles insists, and Admetus, against his will, at last agrees to take her hand.
Euripides, Alcestis 1–27Prologue: Apollo explains why Alcestis must dieApollo says that he served in the house of Admetus as a herdsman, and that Admetus was so pious that he saved him from death by persuading the Fates to let him escape if another would die in his place. Admetus found no one willing but his wife Alcestis, who is dying this very day, and Apollo must leave the house before Death comes.
Euripides, Alcestis 77–140Parodos: the elders of Pherae ask whether Alcestis is deadThe Chorus of the elders of Pherae wonders at the silence in front of the palace and asks whether the queen is dead or alive. They notice that no water for purification has been set out at the door and no mourners are heard, and yet this is the appointed day. They say that only Asclepius could have saved her, that all sacrifices have failed, and they see a handmaid coming out in tears.
Euripides, Alcestis 141–212First episode: the Maid describes Alcestis' last hoursA Maid comes out of the house and tells the Chorus that Alcestis is alive and yet dead. She describes how the queen washed and dressed herself, prayed at the altar-hearth for her children, and wept in the bridal chamber. She says that Admetus holds his dying wife in his arms and begs her not to leave him.
Euripides, Alcestis 280–325Second episode: Alcestis asks Admetus never to remarryAlcestis tells Admetus that she gave her life for him, though she could have lived and married another, and that neither his father nor his mother would die for him. She asks him in return that he never give her children a stepmother, who would hate them, and that he care for them.
Euripides, Alcestis 416–475Second episode: Admetus orders mourning; the Chorus praises AlcestisThe Chorus tells Admetus that he must bear his misfortune, since all are debtors to death. Admetus says that he knew of it long before, and gives orders for the funeral, with all Thessalians to mourn with shorn hair and black robes. The Chorus sings a farewell to Alcestis, calling for her a happy life in the sunless house of Hades.
Euripides, Alcestis 507–568Third episode: Admetus conceals Alcestis' death and welcomes HeraclesAdmetus comes out, and Heracles notices his shorn hair and asks who is dead. Admetus, wishing to receive his friend, answers that it is a woman who is not of his family and who lived in his house. He orders his servants to take Heracles to the guest rooms and close the doors so that the noise of mourning will not be heard, and the Chorus is amazed that he welcomes a guest in his grief.
Euripides, Alcestis 570–613Second choral song on Admetus' hospitality; the funeral processionThe Chorus praises the hospitable house of Admetus, which Apollo once served as a shepherd. Admetus then asks the elders to salute the dead, and the body of Alcestis is carried out for the burial, and the Chorus sees Pheres, the aged father of Admetus, coming with gifts for the dead.
Euripides, Alcestis 706–746Fourth episode: Admetus and Pheres part in anger; Alcestis is borne to burialThe Chorus begs them to stop, and the quarrel goes on a little longer. Pheres leaves, telling Admetus that he is the murderer of his wife and that her family will take vengeance on him. Admetus curses his father and his stepmother, and goes to lay the body on the pyre, and the Chorus sings a farewell to Alcestis.
Euripides, Alcestis 962–1007Third choral song: nothing is stronger than NecessityThe Chorus says that it has traced the paths of the Muses and studied the sky, and yet found nothing stronger than Necessity, that there is no remedy for it in the writings of Orpheus or in the herbs of the sons of Asclepius. They say that Alcestis, who died for her husband, will be honoured as a goddess, and the Chorus sees Heracles coming toward the hearth.
Euripides, Alcestis 1118–1163Exodos: Heracles restores Alcestis to AdmetusHeracles tells Admetus to look at the woman, and Admetus, amazed, sees his wife, and wonders whether it is a ghost. Heracles tells him that he has wrestled with the god and won her back, but that she may not speak to him until she has been purified for three days. He departs, and Admetus calls on his people to hold dances and sacrifices; the Chorus ends the play.

Diodorus Siculus (2)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.50.1–4.53.7The Argonauts III: Medea, Pelias and the return to IolcusWhile the Argonauts are away Pelias puts Jason's father and brother to death, and Jason's mother kills herself. Medea promises to kill Pelias by a trick: she fashions a hollow image of Artemis and, appearing as an old woman made young by drugs, persuades his daughters to boil their father, and the Argonauts then take the palace. Jason gives the kingdom to Acastus, marries Pelias' daughters to notable men, dedicates the Argo at the Isthmus and settles at Corinth, and as the chiefs part Heracles proposes an oath of mutual aid and the games at the Alpheius that he names Olympia.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 6.2.1–6.9.1Book 6: other fragmentsThe fragments that follow take up the gods named after lands they conquered, the Titans Xanthus and Balius, crowns, Picus who was called Zeus, and the Dioscori. They go on to Salmoneus, who imitated Zeus's thunder, to Admetus, Alcestis and Melampus, and end with Bellerophon at the court of Proetus and the Chimaera.