Herakles

Euripides's play, The Madness of Heracles, dramatizes events after the hero Heracles completed his 12 labors. In the play, the goddess Hera drives Heracles to madness, during which he kills his wife and children. Upon regaining his sanity, he grapples with despair before finding honorable retirement in Athens.1

Another play by Euripides, Children of Heracles, focuses on the Athenians defending the children of the deceased Heracles from King Eurystheus. Euripides, one of classical Athens's three great tragic dramatists, often explored complex psychological states and questioned traditional beliefs in his works. His plays, such as Medea and The Madness of Heracles, delve into the darker aspects of human nature and the often capricious actions of the gods.2345