Editing Admetus of Pherae (section)

==Mythology==
[[File:Cornelis van Poelenburch - Apollo and the Cattle of Admetus - WGA7489.jpg|left|thumb|''Apollo and the Cattle of Admetus'' by [[Cornelis van Poelenburgh|Cornelius van Poelenburgh]] (1620)|277x277px]]

=== Relationship with Apollo ===
Admetus was famed for his [[hospitality]] and justice. When [[Apollo]] was sentenced to a year of servitude to a mortal as punishment for killing [[Delphyne]], or as later tradition has it, the [[Cyclopes]], the god was sent to Admetus' home to serve as his herdsman.<ref>Apollodorus, 3.10.4</ref> Apollo in recompense for Admetus' treatment made all the cows bear twins while he served as his cowherd.<ref>[[Scholia]] ad [[Euripides]], ''[[Alcestis (play)|Alcestis]]'' 2</ref>

The romantic nature of their relationship was first described by [[Callimachus]] of Alexandria, who wrote that Apollo was "fired with love" for Admetus.<ref>Callimachus, ''Hymn to Apollo''</ref> Plutarch lists Admetus as one of Apollo's lovers and says that Apollo served Admetus because he doted upon him.<ref>[[Plutarch]], ''Amatorius'' 17; ''Numa'' [https://topostext.org/work/651#Num.4.5 4.5]</ref> Latin poet [[Ovid]] in his [[Ars Amatoria]] said that even though he was a god, Apollo forsook his pride and stayed in as a servant for the sake of Admetus.<ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Ars Amatoria]]'' 2.239</ref> [[Tibullus]] describes Apollo's love to the king as ''servitium amoris'' (slavery of love) and asserts that Apollo became his servant not by force but by choice.<ref>[[Tibullus]], ''Elegies'' 2.3</ref>

=== Marriage to Alcestis ===
Apollo later helped Admetus win the hand of [[Alcestis]], the daughter of [[Pelias]], king of [[Iolcus]]. Alcestis had so many suitors that Pelias set an apparently impossible task to the suitors—to win the hand of Alcestis, they must yoke a boar and a lion to a chariot. Apollo harnessed the yoke with the animals<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.15; Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#50 50]</ref> and Admetus drove the chariot to Pelias, and thus married Alcestis.

Admetus, however, neglected to sacrifice to [[Artemis]], Apollo's sister. The offended goddess filled the bridal chamber with snakes and again, Apollo came to Admetus' aid. Apollo advised Admetus to sacrifice to Artemis, and the goddess removed the snakes.

=== Heroism of Alcestis ===
[[File:Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis, by Frederic Lord Leighton, England, c. 1869-1871, oil on canvas - Wadsworth Atheneum - Hartford, CT - DSC05068.jpg|thumb|330x330px|''Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis'' by [[Frederic Leighton|Frederic Lord Leighton]], England (c. 1869–1871)]]
The greatest aid Apollo gave to Admetus was persuading the [[Moirai|Fates]] to reprieve Admetus of his fated day of death. According to [[Aeschylus]], Apollo made the Fates drunk, and the Fates agreed to reprieve Admetus if he could find someone to die in his place.<ref>[[Aeschylus]], ''[[Oresteia|Eumenides]]'' 728</ref> Admetus initially believed that one of his aged parents such as his father Pheres would happily take their son's place of death. When they were unwilling, Alcestis instead died for Admetus.

The scene of death is described in [[Euripides]]' play ''[[Alcestis (play)|Alcestis]]'', where [[Thanatos]], the god of death, takes Alcestis to the Underworld. As Alcestis descends, Admetus discovers that he actually does not want to live:

{{blockquote|I think my wife's fate is happier than my own, even though it may not seem so. No pain will ever touch her now, and she has ended life's many troubles with glory. But I, who have escaped my fate and ought not to be alive, shall now live out my life in sorrow.|Euripides, ''Alcestis'' 935ff.}}

=== Intervention of Heracles ===
The situation was saved by [[Heracles]], who rested at Pherae on his way towards the man-eating [[Mares of Diomedes]]. Heracles was greatly impressed by Admetus's [[Xenia (Greek)|kind treatment of him as a guest]], and when told of Admetus' situation, he entered Alcestis' tomb. He repaid the honor Admetus had done to him by wrestling with [[Thanatos]] until the god agreed to release [[Alcestis]], then led her back into the mortal world. According to other accounts, [[Persephone]], queen of the [[Underworld]] instead brought Alcestis back to the upper world.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}

[[Plutarch]] said Heracles saved Alcestis via medicine, and that Heracles saved her because he and Admetus were lovers: "as [Admetus] had a great love for his wife, so was greatly beloved by the hero." Plutarch said Heracles had too many male lovers to count, but listed Admetus and [[Iolaus]] as two of the most notable.<ref>[[Plutarch]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0314%3Asection%3D17 ''Amatorius'' 17].</ref><ref name="advo">{{cite news |author=Christopher Harrity |date=14 August 2013 |title=The Golden Age of Denial: Hercules, the Bisexual Demigod |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2013/08/14/golden-age-denial-hercules-bisexual-demigod?pg=8 |access-date=6 February 2021 |publisher=Advocate}}</ref>