Heracleidae by Euripides

Iolaus, an older gentleman, has taken it upon himself to protect the children of Heracles, who has been killed.  He has wandered from country to country seeking refuge for himself and the two boys and a girl, who are being pursued by the Argives.   He arrives before the altar of Zeus in Marathon, believing that here at last he will be able to find refuge and protection.

At first, it appears that Demophon, the King of Marathon, will allow him to stay, but shortly Corpeus, a representative of the Argives, arrives demanding that the refugees be surrendered to him.  When Demophon refuses, Corpeus leaves, but returns with an army of Argives.  Eurystheus, King of the Argives, is demanding that a young woman of noble birth be sacrificed to appease him and buy the safety of Heracles’ offspring.  Iolaus offers himself, but Eurystheus would gain nothing by the death of “one so old,” so this is not acceptable.

Macaria, daughter of Heracles, offers herself in order for her brothers to live.  I’m not clear on why it happens, but a battle erupts in spite of her sacrifice.  Alcmena, grandmother to the children arrives on the scene. Iolaus decides that he must join the battle even though he is elderly.  The Argives lose, and it is reported that Iolaus was as a young man again while he fought.

Eurystheus is brought, bound before Alcmena.  She wants him killed and says she will do it herself if no one else will.  Eurystheus defends his actions in trying to kill the children of Heracles.  Even though he is actually related to them, he felt he had to kill them because they would hate him for killing their father.  He claims to have been afflicted with this determination by Hera.  Eventually, he is taken away to be killed.

Observations:

*Euripides once again exhibits his notion that the only noble thing a woman can do is to die sacrificially.  This seems to be an on-going theme for him.  …here I offer my life freely and without constraint, and for my brothers and myself I undertake to die.  For I, by loving not my life too well, have found a treasure very fair, a glorious means to leave it.

*The difficulty of accepting one’s declining strength as one ages is demonstrated in Iolaus’ desire to fight.  In his case, something miraculous happens, and he actually becomes young and strong again.  …he is a hero whom the gods delight to honour…he hath passed from age to youth once more.  Fantasy!  Reverse aging only happens in fiction.

*I know the temper and nature of these citizens; they would rather die, for honour ranks before mere life with men of worth.  Marathon is described elsewhere in the play as a “free city.”  Here hast thou found men and a free city, that feared not thee.  I suppose this means that it was a democracy, although it had a king.  The founding fathers of the United States had probably read this and other early Greek works espousing the idea that freedom was worth personal sacrifice.  I just wish that in Euripides’ works it was the men, and not so frequently the women, who were ready to put their lives on the line.