About the work
Tragedy by Sophocles about the unintended death of Heracles at the hands of his wife Deianeira. Neither the date of composition nor of performance survives; scholarship places the play inconsistently, though often among Sophocles' earlier work.
Plot
Deianeira learns that her husband Heracles is bringing home the captive Iole to take as a concubine. Hoping to win back his love, she coats a robe with what she believes is a love charm made from the blood of the centaur Nessus – in truth, it is poisoned with the Hydra's venom. Heracles dies in agony wearing the robe, and Deianeira, horrified at her fatal mistake, takes her own life.
Cultural significance
Women of Trachis shares motifs with Euripides' Alcestis and belongs to the seven surviving tragedies of Sophocles. It is discussed today chiefly for its portrayal of Deianeira's tragic error and the brutal suffering of the dying Heracles.