Great Books Ep 74. Sophocles - Trachiniae. The All Conquering Power of Love.

Heracles sacks a city and causes a lot of destruction because he falls in love with someone and wants to have her at any cost. Does all-consuming romantic love exist or is it fiction?

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“.. the conquest of the whole city was due to love for this girl: the Lydian woman was not its destroyer, but the passion which this maid has kindled.”

~ ‘Trachiniae’ by Sophocles (Richard. C. Jebb translation. GB5 - p174)

Brief Summary:

Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, is anxiously awaiting her husband’s return. …