Encyclopedia > Alcestis

  Article Content

Alcestis

A princess in Greek mythology, Alcestis ("might of the home") was known for her love for her husband. Their story was popularised in Euripedes's drama by the title "Alcestis."

Apollo was, at one point, banned from Olympus for nine years. During this time he served as a shepherd for King Admetus of Pherae[?] in Thessaly. Since Admetus treated Apollo well, the god promised him that when it came time for King Admetus to die, another would be allowed to take his place. Admetus then fell in love with Alcestis. Her father, though, King Pelias would only give permission if Admetus rode a chariot pulled by lions and boars and other wild animals. Apollo helped Admetus accomplish this and the pair wed. When it did indeed come time for Admetus to die, Alcestis agreed to die for him. Heracles intervened and both of the pair were allowed to live.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Monty Woolley

... Born Edgar Montillion Wooley in New York City, Woolley was a professor and lecturer at Yale University (one of his students was Thornton Wilder) who began acting on ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 32.3 ms