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κἀπὸ ματρὸς ἄφαρ βέβακεν. Sophocles does not tell us whether Heracles took his bride away from her father's home immediately after the fight. According to the common account Heracles and Deianeira remained with Oeneus for a considerable time after their marriage, while the hero did various exploits. ( Apollod.2. 7. 6: Diod.4. 36, who speaks of three years.) Then, having accidentally slain a youth in the house of Oeneus, Heracles departed with his wife and infant son (Hyllus) to Trachis.

ἄφαρ is not necessarily inconsistent with that version: it means merely that the result of the fight at once transferred Deianeira from the care of her mother to that of a husband.


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hide References (2 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Pseudo-Apollodorus, Library, 2.7.6
    • Diodorus, Historical Library, 4.36
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