Chapter 2

Introducing Nessus

Introduction

“At first, hapless one, he prayed with serene soul, rejoicing in his comely garb. But when the blood-fed flame began to blaze from the holy offerings and from the resinous pine, a sweat broke forth upon his flesh, and the tunic clung to his sides, at every joint, close-glued, as if by a craftsman’s hand; there came a biting pain that racked his bones; and then the venom, as of some deadly, cruel viper, began to devour him.”

—Sophocles (440-430 BCE)

Nessus was a centaur in Sophocles’ ancient manuscript, “The Death of Heracles.” This beastly creature dupes ...

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