Character Contest 52 – Sagittarius
Centaurs and archers. Here is one version of the Greek myth of Nessus.
Nessus
Close-up
The myth
During an adventure, Hercules and his second wife Deianeira arrived at the River Evenus. Nessus, the river’s self-proclaimed ferryman, offered the demi-god and his bride passage. He carried Deianeira first. Once across, Nessus started to run. He intended to kidnap the fair maiden.
Hercules quickly struck the centaur with a poison arrow. Before he died,Nessus told Deianeira to use his blood should Hercules ever be unfaithful. Suspecting that Hercules was indeed cheating, jealous Deianeira stained a tunic with the blood. When the demi-god donned the tunic, he felt pain so intense that he set himself on fire. Zeus rescued Hercules before he burned to death.
