Greek mythology
Nessus
The centaur whose poisoned blood killed Heracles
- Mythology
- Greek mythology
- Group
- Monsters · Centaurs
- Appears in
- Heracles
Listen to “Heracles” in the app
Nessus is the centaur who ferries travelers across a river and tries to carry off Deianira, the wife of Heracles. The hero shoots him with an arrow steeped in the Hydra's venom, and as he dies Nessus whispers to Deianira that his blood will work as a love-charm. Years later she uses it, and the poison fulfills his dying revenge by destroying Heracles.
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Heracles
Chapter 1
00:00--:--
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is Nessus?
- Nessus is the centaur who ferries travelers across a river and tries to carry off Deianira, the wife of Heracles. The hero shoots him with an arrow steeped in the Hydra's venom, and as he dies Nessus whispers to Deianira that his blood will work as a love-charm.
- Which mythology does Nessus belong to?
- Nessus belongs to Greek mythology.
- Which stories does Nessus appear in?
- Nessus appears in Heracles, told as chaptered audio dramas in MythologyNow.
Cite this page
APA
MythologyNow. (2026). Nessus. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/nessusMLA
"Nessus." MythologyNow, 2026, https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/nessus.Chicago
MythologyNow. "Nessus." Accessed 2026. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/nessus.Listen to the stories of Nessus
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