Nessus

English > Greek (Woodhouse)

Νέσσος, ὁ.

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

Nessus: i, m., = Νέσσος.
I A river in Thrace, now the Mesto or (Turkish) Karasu, Liv. 45, 29, 6; also called Nestos ( = Νέστος), Mel. 2, 2.—
II A Centaur, who, on offering violence to Dejanira, was slain by Hercules with a poisoned arrow, Ov. M. 9, 101 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 34.—Hence,
III Nessēus, a, um, adj., of Nessus: venenum, with the blood of Nessus, poisoned by the arrow of Hercules, Ov. H. 9, 163: palla tabe Nesseā illita, Sen. Herc. Oet. 716.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

Nessus,¹² ī, m. (Νέσσος), centaure tué par Hercule : Ov. M. 9, 101 ; Hyg. Fab. 34 || rivière de Thrace : Liv. 45, 29, 6.

Latin > German (Georges)

Nessus, ī, m. (Νέσσος), I) ein Fluß in Thracien, der auf dem Gebirge Rhodope entspringt u. in das Ägäische Meer fällt, j. Mesto, bei den Türken Karasu, Liv. 45, 29, 6. – urspr. Nestos (Νέστος) gen., Mela 2, 2, 2 u. 9 (2. § 17 u. 30). – II) ein Zentaur in Ätolien, der von Herkules, als er die Deïanira entführen wollte, getötet wurde, aber sterbend der Deïanira das mit seinem giftigen Blute getränkte Gewand als Liebesmittel gab (s. Herculēs), Ov. met. 9, 101. Hyg. fab. 34. – Dav. Nessēus, a, um (Νέσσειος), nessëisch, des Nessus, venenum, Ov.: tabes, Sen. poët.

Wikipedia EN

In Greek mythology, Nessus (Ancient Greek: Νέσσος, romanized: Nessos) was a famous centaur who was killed by Heracles, and whose poisoned blood in turn killed Heracles. He was the son of Centauros. He fought in the battle with the Lapiths and became a ferryman on the river Euenos.

Nessus is known for his role in the story of the Tunic of Nessus. After carrying Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, across the river, he attempted to have intercourse with her. Heracles saw this from across the river and shot a Hydra-poisoned arrow into Nessus's breast. As he lay dying, as a final act of malice, Nessus told Deianeira that his blood would ensure that Heracles would be true to her forever, knowing the blood to be infected with the hydra's poison.

Deianeira foolishly believed him. Later, when her trust began to wane because of Iole, she spread the centaur's blood on a robe and gave it to her husband. Heracles went to a gathering of heroes, where his passion got the better of him. Meanwhile, Deianeira accidentally spilled a portion of the centaur's blood onto the floor. To her horror, it began to fume by the light of the rising sun.

She instantly recognized it as poison and sent her messenger to warn Heracles but it was too late. Heracles lay dying slowly and painfully as the robe burned his skin—either in actual flames or by the heat of poison. He died a noble death on a funeral pyre of oak branches. Heracles was then taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus and welcomed among the gods for his heroic exploits.

A similar theme appears in certain versions of the story of Medea.

Sophocles' play Trachiniae (Women of Trachis) is extensively based on a retelling of this myth.

Translations

az: Ness; be: Нес; br: Nessos; ca: Nessos; cs: Nessos; de: Nessos; el: Νέσσος; en: Nessus; eo: Neso; es: Neso; eu: Neso; fa: نسوس; fi: Nessos; fr: Nessos; hu: Nesszosz; id: Nessos; it: Nesso; ja: ネッソス; ko: 네소스; la: Nessus; lb: Nessos; lt: Nesas; nl: Nessus;: Nessos; pt: Nesso; ro: Nessus; ru: Несс; sk: Nessos; sv: Nessos; ta: நெசஸ்; tr: Nessos; uk: Несс; zh: 涅索斯