Editing Deianira (section)

=== Death of Heracles ===
The most famous story containing Deianira concerns the [[Shirt of Nessus]]. A wild centaur named [[Nessus (mythology)|Nessus]] attempted to kidnap or rape Deianira as he was ferrying her across the river [[Evinos|Euenos]], but she was rescued by Heracles, who shot the centaur with an arrow laced with the venom of the [[Lernaean Hydra|Hydra]]. As he lay dying, Nessus persuaded Deianira to take a sample of his blood, claiming that, when mixed with his semen, it would create a love potion that would ensure Heracles would never again be unfaithful.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Apollodorus |title=Library |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D2%3Achapter%3D7%3Asection%3D7 |access-date= |website= |page=2.7.7 |no-pp=y}}</ref>

When Heracles fell in love with the younger and more beautiful [[Iole]], Deianira, fearing that she would lose her husband, decided to use the potion. She soaked a tunic or shirt (perhaps Heracles' famous [[Nemean lion|lionskin shirt]]) in the potion. When Heracles put on the shirt, the venom from the very arrow he had used to kill Nessus began to burn and eat away at his skin. When he tried to remove the shirt, he tore off chunks of his own flesh. Eventually, unable to bear the pain any longer, Heracles built a funeral pyre and immolated himself. When Deianira realized what she had done, she committed suicide, either by hanging or by a sword.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-21 |title=Ovid's Heroides IX: Notes and Resources |url=http://english.edgewood.edu/heroides/hero09n.htm#Deianira |access-date=2024-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121092126/http://english.edgewood.edu/heroides/hero09n.htm#Deianira |archive-date=2008-11-21 }}</ref> {{sequence|prev=[[Omphale]]|list= Wives of [[Heracles]] |next=[[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]]}}