Lichas

Lichas was the herald of Heracles in Greek mythology, the man who carried the poisoned robe from Deianira to the hero and was killed for it. Heracles, in agony from the robe, hurled him into the sea, and the islands and rocks off the Euboean coast were said to bear his name.

Lichas in Sophocles’ Trachiniae

The Herald and Iole

In Sophocles’ play, Heracles has taken the city of Oechalia, and Lichas, his herald, is sent home to Trachis ahead of him with a group of captive women. Heracles himself waits at Cenaeum, the headland of Euboea, where he is raising altars to Cenaean Zeus (Sophocles, Trachiniae 237–241). Deianira asks Lichas who the young captive is, and he claims not to know; but a messenger who has heard the tale in the market-place says that Lichas is hiding the truth: the hero had destroyed Oechalia for the love of the princess Iole, whom he intends to bring home. Deianira then questions Lichas again, and he admits that Heracles, who excels in everything else, was overcome by his love for Iole (Sophocles, Trachiniae 225–290, 335–374, 393–489).

The Robe

Deianira, fearing that Iole will take her place, decides to use what the centaur Nessus told her was a love charm: his blood, which she had kept. She smears a robe with it, seals it in a casket and gives it to Lichas to carry to Heracles, with instructions that no one else is to put it on before Heracles wears it at the sacrifice (Sophocles, Trachiniae 596–632). Lichas knows nothing of the poison.

The Death of Lichas

Heracles put on the robe and began the sacrifice; as the fire warmed it, the poison began to eat into his flesh. In his pain he called for Lichas and asked what trick had brought the robe. Lichas, knowing nothing, answered that it was a gift from Deianira alone. Then Heracles seized him by the foot, at the ankle joint, and threw him against a sea-washed rock, so that the white brain and blood were scattered from his shattered skull (Sophocles, Trachiniae 772–782). Hyllus, the son of Heracles and Deianira, tells the story and says that Lichas was not to blame.

Other Versions

Apollodorus tells the same events more briefly. Heracles, preparing to sacrifice to Zeus at Cenaeum, sends the herald Lichas to Trachis to fetch fine raiment. From Lichas, Deianira learns about Iole, and, fearing that Heracles will love the girl more than herself, she smears the tunic with Nessus’ blood, which she supposes to be a love charm. When the poison from the hydra begins to eat Heracles’ skin, he lifts Lichas by the feet and throws him from the headland (Apollodorus, Library 2.7.7).

In Ovid, Heracles finds the terrified Lichas hiding in a hollow rock and cries out: “Did you give me the deadly gift? Will you be the cause of my death?” Lichas begs and makes excuses, but Heracles whirls him round three or four times and flings him into the Euboean sea. In the air, Ovid says, his body hardened, as rain freezes into snow and snow into hail, and the tradition is that he was turned into a rock. A small rock still stands out of the deep water of the Euboean sea and keeps the outline of a human form; sailors are afraid to tread on it, as if it could feel, and call it Lichas (Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.211–229).

Places Named After Lichas

Strabo says that the three Lichades islands, lying off the coast of the Epicnemidian Locrians, opposite the Euboean cape Cenaeum, were named after Lichas (Strabo 9.4.4). He also quotes verses placing “the tomb of wretched Lichas” near the Euboean shore of Cenaean Zeus (Strabo 10.1.9).

What Followed

After the death of Lichas, Heracles was carried back to Trachis. Deianira, learning what her gift had done, killed herself, and Heracles ordered a pyre built on Mount Oeta (Apollodorus, Library 2.7.7; Sophocles, Trachiniae 930–935, 1191–1262).

Lichas Sources

The main sources are Sophocles, Trachiniae (225–290, 335–489, 596–632, 772–782, 930–935, 1191–1262); Apollodorus, Library 2.7.7; Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.134–229; and Strabo 9.4.4 and 10.1.9.

See Also: Heracles, Deianira, Shirt of Nessus, Iole, Nessus, Hyllus