ALKESTΙ

In those years when Hercules and Theseus lived, Pelias was king in Jolko, a city in Thessaly. He had a daughter, famous for her beauty, kindness and domesticity, whose name was Alceste.

Many royal children asked to marry her, and among them was Admittus, king of Ferron, a neighbouring state. So he too went to ask her to marry him. But the proud King Pelias said to him:

- I will give you my daughter your wife, if you will come and take her in a carriage drawn by a lion and a boar.

Memory

Admitos left sadly. For no matter how handsome and strong a lad he was, how could he warm these two beasts together?The days passed and he did not know what to do. Then he remembered that he had once entertained the god Apollo in his house for a year, because Zeus had punished him. So now he would seek his protection.

Realization of the feat

So with the help of the god he went to the forest and gathered the two beasts in his car and then he came to the palace of Pelias. The king was surprised, of course, but what could he do?

Wedding

He kept his word and Admitos married Alcesti. Apollo also came to the wedding, and brought Admetus this gift: If he was ever in danger of dying, he would be saved if he would accept another of his own to die for him.

Dying

Once, however, Admitos fell seriously ill. Day by day he was getting worse and they couldn't find a cure. Then his family remembered Apollo's gift and ran to his parents. But neither of them would die for their child. Desperate, they returned to the palace again and mourned.

The sacrifice of Alcesti

Then Alcesti declared that she accepted to die. What would I do with life, she thought, without my husband; let him live to bring up our children. She went to her husband, kissed him, said goodbye to her children and then lay down on her bed and died.

Immediately Admitos felt he was made well.

Death of Alkistis

But he soon understood what had happened and his grief at the death of his wife was unbearable. They prepared the dead woman, whom the whole world wept for, for she died so young and beautiful for her husband's sake, and in the afternoon they would go to bury her. Admytus was shut up in his room, inconsolable, and wanted to see no one.And the hours went by ...

Hercules arrives

On that day, Hercules arrived in Ferres, for good luck. It was then that he went to fetch the horses of Diomedes. So he set off for the palace at once, to greet his friend Admetus. The king, of course, welcomed him and ordered the slaves to attend to him. For then hospitality was a sacred custom. He even said nothing to Heracles and let him eat.

The promise of Hercules

 But as he ate and drank, the hero realized that something was going on. He saw the servants were very sad and he asked them, but they would not tell him. But with much he learned that Alceste had died. He then rose from the table and ran away to catch up with Charon. 

Hercules fights with the Grim Reaper

He caught up with him near the Acheron River. There they fought for hours and in the end Hercules defeated him and took with him the soul of Alcestis.

Happy again

When they came back, Alceste came alive. And then the joys and celebrations that took place cannot be described.

Admitos and Alceste lived many, many years, loved and happy