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Trachinian Women
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Portrait of Plato (ca. 428- ca. 348 BC), Ancient Greek philosopher.
An Odyssey of Grecian Literature
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Greek:
Trachiniai
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Trachinian Women

play by Sophocles
Also known as: “Trachiniai”
Written and fact-checked by
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History

Trachinian Women, drama of domestic tragedy by Sophocles, performed sometime after 458 bce. The play centres on the efforts of Deianeira to win back the wandering affections of her husband, Heracles, who—although he is away on one of his heroic missions—has sent back his latest concubine, Iole, to live with his wife at their home in Trachis. Deianeira uses a love charm on Heracles, learning too late that it is poisonous, and she kills herself when she learns of the agony she has caused her husband.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.