Herakles' Children

Children of Heracles (, Hērakleidai; also translated as Herakles' Children and Heracleidae) is an Athenian tragedy by Euripides that was first performed c. 430 BC. It follows the children of Heracles (known as the Heracleidae) as they seek protection from Eurystheus. It is the first of two surviving tragedies by Euripides where the children of Heracles are suppliants (the second being Heracles). Background The Children of Heracles was written by the youngest of the great trilogy of Greek playwrights Euripides. His mother’s name was Cleito; his father’s name was Mnesarchus or Mnesarchides. One tradition states that his mother was a greengrocer who sold herbs in the marketplace. Aristophanes joked about this in comedy after comedy; but there is better indirect evidence that Euripides came of a well-off family. With the Peloponnesian War waging, Euripides left Athens in 408 BCE to live the remainder of his life in Macedonia. Many believe he wrote some of his best plays there. It is said that when Athenians speak of “the poet” they are referring to Euripides. Euripides played little or no part in Athenian political affairs; the one exception was a brief diplomatic mission to Sicily. He died in Macedonia in 406 Eurystheus was responsible for many of the troubles of Heracles. In order to prevent the children of Heracles from taking revenge on him, he sought to kill them. They flee under the protection of Iolaus, Heracles' close friend and nephew. The characters that are part of this tragedy are Eurystheus, a powerful tyrant, Demophon, King of Athens, Macaria, the daughter, Alkmene, her mother, and Iolaus.