The Myth of Alcestis

Alcestis was a mythical queen of Thessaly, wife of King Admetus and personification of the devoted, selfless, wife and husband in ancient Greece. She was the daughter of Pelias and Anaxibia, the daughter of Viatos or, according to others, of Philomachis, the daughter of Amphiaraus, and the sister of Akastos, Peisidiki, Pelopia and Hippothoia, the most beautiful of all the sisters.

Although more widespread is the love of Admetus for Alcestis, the latter is nevertheless known for her devotion to her husband, after she took his place in death and returned to life after the intervention of Heracleus. There are two versions of the story, one from the Library of Pseudo-Apollodorus (1st-2nd century AD) where Hercules does not play a role, but thanks to Euripides (480-406 BC) and the work of Alcestis (written 438 BC) the version with the participation of Herakles is the best known.

Although the Library of Pseudo-Apollodorus was compiled after Euripides, the stories it contains are considered to be much older. Therefore the story where Alcestis is brought back to life by Persephone probably predates Euripides’ play giving a dramatic tone to the story and of course exploiting the popularity of Heracles.

Alcestis and Admetus

Both versions begin in the same way and emphasize the importance of faith, love and kindness. Once upon a time there lived a kind king, Admetus, who ruled the kingdom of the Pherae in Thessaly. He knew each of his subjects by name and so one night when a stranger appeared at his door begging for food, he knew he was from a foreign country but welcomed him into his home.

After feeding and clothing the stranger, she asked his name, but the man did not answer, and asked Admetus if he could become the king’s slave. Admetus did not need another slave but recognizing that the man was in poverty, he took him as a shepherd for his flocks.

The stranger stayed with Admetus for a year and one day reveals himself to be the god Apollo. He had been sent to earth by Zeus as a punishment and could not return to the realm of the gods until he served a mortal as a slave for a year.

Apollo thanked Admetus for his kindness and offered to grant him whatever he desired, but the king said he had everything he needed and needed no reward for what he had done. Apollo replied that in the future he would return to help him whenever he needed something and then disappeared.

A little while later, Admitos fell in love with the princess Alcestis of Iolkos. The princess was kind, beautiful and had many suitors but she wanted to marry Admetus. However, Pelias’ father refused Admetus’ request and stipulated that the only way he would give his daughter to him would be if he rode into the city driving a chariot drawn by a lion and a boar.
Alcestis with her children shortly before her death (Apulian red-faced Bather 349 BC)

Admetus was desperate until he remembered Apollo’s promise. He then called the god who appeared and after subduing a lion and a wild boar he drove them into a golden chariot. Admetus drove the chariot to Iolkos and Pelias had no choice but to give his approval to marry his daughter.

Apollo was among the wedding guests and gave Admetus an unusual gift, a kind of immortality. In particular he told them how he had made a deal with the Fates who controlled destiny, that if ever Admetus fell ill to death, it would be well if someone would voluntarily die in his place.

The couple lived happily together for many years and their home was famous for brilliant gatherings, but one day, Admetus fell ill and the doctors said he would not recover. His courtiers remembered Apollo’s gift and all felt that someone should give their life to save such a kind and good king, but no one wanted to do it themselves.

Admetus’ parents were old, so it was thought that one of them would volunteer, but even though they had little time left, they refused to hand him over. No one from the court, neither Admetus’ family, nor his subjects would take the king’s place on the deathbed except Alcestis.

At this point the two stories diverge. In the older version, Alcestis agrees to take her husband’s place and dies. Her spirit is taken to Hades by Death and presented to Persephone who asks who this soul is that has willingly come to her realm and Death explains the situation. Persephone is so moved by Alceste’s story of love and devotion to her husband that she commands Death to bring the queen back to life. Since then Alcestis and Admetus live happily ever after.

Heracles & Alcestis

However, in Euripides’ version of the Alcestis play, Heracles plays a central role in bringing Alcestis back from the dead. In this, as in the first, no one takes the place of Admetus in death except Alceste. Admetus accepts her sacrifice and begins to recover as his queen grows weaker and weaker. The entire city mourns Alcestis as she teeters on the edge between life and death.

Admetus stays at her bedside and she asks in return for her sacrifice not to remarry and thus keep her memory alive. Admetus agrees and swears that he will never again go to festivals, nor will he allow a banquet to be held in the palace, and shortly afterwards Alcestis dies.

Hercules was an old friend of the couple and arrives at the palace unaware of Alceste’s death. Admetus, not wanting to spoil his friend’s arrival, orders the servants to say nothing of what has happened and to treat Hercules as they always do.

The servants, however, are still upset over the loss of the queen, and Hercules remarks that they are not serving him and his retinue properly. After a few drinks, he starts insulting them and asks the king and queen to come and correct the courtiers’ bad behavior, when one of the servants breaks down and tells him what happened recently.

Hercules regrets his behavior and so travels to the underworld where Death leads the spirit of Alcestis to the realm of Persephone. He fights death and frees the queen, bringing her back to the light of day. Hercules takes her to the palace at the moment when Admetus returns from her funeral and hands him the veiled woman, to host her, without revealing to him that it is Alceste.

He tells the king that he must depart because he is in the middle of performing one of his Twelve Games (to return the Horses of Diomedes) and asks him to take care of the woman while he is away. Admetus refuses because he promised Alceste that he would not remarry and it would be improper for him to remain a woman in the palace so soon after his wife’s death.

Hercules however persists and places Alcestis’ hand on Admetus, who lifts the veil and finds that Alcestis has returned from the dead. Hercules tells him that she will not be able to speak for three days and will remain pale, until she is purified and then she will be as before.

Euripides’ play ends there, while other versions of the myth continue the story further and end according to Heracles, with Alcestis and Admetus living a long and happy life together until Death returns and takes them both together .

Admetus and Alceste were considered in antiquity to be models of conjugal affection. They had three children, Eumilus, Ippasus and Perimiles, of whom Eumilus distinguished himself as the leader of the Pheraeans in the Greek campaign against Troy.

Legacy and meaning of the Myth

The story served the usual entertainment purposes of ancient Greek literature while simultaneously containing cultural values, in this case faith and devotion. Ancient audiences, like all modern ones, would have faced the question of what they would do under similar circumstances: would they give their lives effortlessly for someone they loved? The answer would mean a lot in terms of individual values.

Studying the details of the story in which one person willingly gives his life for another, the audience wonders what drives someone to this act. The concept of devotion – compassion in ancient Greece was more of a social code that dictated how to behave.

The reference to social superiority and the state was an important aspect of this codex and Alceste’s story, which, in addition to its enduring reputation as one of the most important romantic stories of ancient Greece, could encourage an audience to recognize the value of of self-sacrifice giving everything for the good of others, especially the state. By giving oneself or one’s sons, brothers, fathers, husbands to the army, one was following Alcestis’ selfless example and ensuring a memorable memory.