Alcestis is a
princess in
Greek mythology, known for her love of her
husband. Her story was popularised in
Euripides's tragedy
Alcestis. She was the daughter of
Pelias, king of
Iolcus, and either
Anaxibia or Phylomache.In the story, many
suitors appeared before King
Pelias, her father, when she became of age to marry. It was declared she would marry the first man to yoke a lion and a boar (or a bear in some cases) to a
chariot. The man who would do this,
King Admetus, was helped by
Apollo, who had been banished from Olympus for 9 years to serve as a shepherd to Admetus. With Apollo's help, Admetus completed the king's task, and was allowed to marry Alcestis. After the wedding, Admetus forgot to make the required sacrifice to
Artemis, and found his bed full of
snakes. Apollo again helped the newly wed king, this time by making the
Fates drunk, extracting from them a promise that if anyone would want to die instead of Admetus, they would allow it. Since no one volunteered, not even his elderly parents, Alcestis stepped forth. Shortly after,
Heracles rescued Alcestis from
Hades, as a token of appreciation for the hospitality of Admetus. Admetus and Alcestis had a son,
Eumelus, a participant in the siege of
Troy, and a daughter, Perimele.
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[Greek] The daughter of King Pelias, and wife of Admetus. She volunteered to die in his place, but was returned from the underworld by Heracles and reunited with her husband. She is a classical example of love and loyalty. On a piece of art in the temple of Artemis (rebuilt after the fire of 356 BCE), made by Scopas of Praxiteles, she is portrayed between the winged god of death and Hermes.
ALCESTE [NOME]. ALCESTI [NOME]
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