HeraclesDeianeira1.0097

HeraclesDeianeira1.0097_Thorvaldsen

Marble relief sculpture of a winged woman being carried away by a centaur

Classical mythological narratives make Heracles' encounter with Nessus the beginning of his end. Without further captioning, this moment could very well depict the Marriage of Hippodamia and Perithoous.
Classically, Heracles wins Deianeira in a wrestle with the river-god Achelous late in his career, i.e. after completing his twelfth labor. On their way to Tiryns, they came to a flooding river where the centaur Nessus offered to help the couple across. Heracles waded the torrent alone but entrusted his bride to the treacherous centaur who abducted her. Enraged, Heracles shot from afar and fatally struck Nessus with a poisoned arrow (dipped in the Hydra's blood in his second labor). Dying, the deceptive centaur persuaded Deianeira to infuse his blood (infected indirectly with Hydra blood) into a shirt. After his death, Deianeira and Heracles continue their journey to Tiryns, where they lived happily for years and had many children together. The garment of Nessus becomes the tragic tool Deianeira uses late in his career to return Heracles' attentions from the youthful Iole to his rightful wife.