Things to think about as you read the play:
1. What are the three guest-friendships that form links between the first, middle, and last parts of the Alcestis?
2. How is the theme of music used in the play?
Asclepius: Asclepius was Apollo's son by Coronis. While Coronis was pregnant with Asclepius, Apollo killed her because of an affair she had with Ischys. As in the case of Dionysus' mother Semele, the unborn child was saved, however, and raised by the centaur Cheiron, who taught Asclepius the art of healing. See Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.10.3. It was this art which brought about the death of Asclepius, as he began saving people from death and even bringing people back from the dead. This angered Hades, the god of the underworld. When Hades complained that lives due to him were being brought back to life by Asclepius, Zeus killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt.
-What did Apollo do when Zeus killed Asclepius?
-What mortal man did Apollo serve?
-For here I found/Admetus, a good man, fit to entertain a god: The phrase points to one of the themes of the play--xenia, the Greek term denoting the relationship between a host and guest. A number of Greek myths recorded guest-friendships between gods and mortals. Those mortals who behaved properly (e.g. Admetus) usually received rewards from their divine guests. Those who behaved badly (e.g. Lycaon and Tantalus, who served the gods human flesh.). Apollo himself and Poseidon had also tested the xenia of Laomedon, king of Troy, by serving him as a shepherd for a year and helping build the walls of Troy. However, when Laomedon refused to pay the gods the agreed upon wages, Apollo sent a plague upon Troy and Poseidon sent a sea monster to terrorize the inhabitants.
I gained--by cunning--the consent/Of the immortal Fates: The three Fates, Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis, determined the length of a person's life. According to one tradition, Apollo got the Fates drunk in order to secure the life of Admetus.
-Who was willing to die for Admetus?
-What is happening to Alcestis as the play opens?
A man is on his way: Apollo refers to Heracles.
Eurystheus: Eurystheus was a king of Tiryns, a town near Mycenae and Argos. It was for Eurystheus that Heracles performed his famous and dangerous labors.
Thrace: Thrace is the region across the Hellespont from Troy. The Greeks regarded the Thracians as barbarians. In Euripides' Hecabe, Polymestor, who kills Priam's son Polydorus, is from Thrace.
the nether gods: i.e., the gods of the underworld, Hades and Persephone.
When once this sword has cut on lock/Of hair: The cutting of the hair symbolized the separation of the soul from the body. Many primitive cultures have taboos upon the cutting of hair, because it is believed that the person might suffer loss of strength (e.g., Samson and Delilah) or die (e.g., Pterelaus, who died when his daughter Comaetho cut a lock of his hair). Pelias: This is the same Pelias who usurped the throne of Iolcus from Jason's father Aeson.
Lycia: Lycia is a region in what is today the coast of southwestern Turkey.
the temple of Ammon: Ammon
in the waterless desert: the reference is probably to Egypt.
the altar of Hestia: Hestia is the goddess of the hearth and the household. She is seldom mentioned in Greek mythology, probably because she was so morally upright and never got involved in any of the quarrels and intrigues which plagued the other divinities.
Son of Pheres: i.e., Admetus.
Iolcos: Iolcos is on the northeastern coast of Greece. It is best known as the hometown of Jason, son of Aeson.
the lake: i.e., lake Acheron, which the souls of the dead had to cross to reach the underworld. Cf. Alcestis p. 56. The river Styx is usually named as the body of water which the dead had to cross to reach the underworld.
I could have married any Thessalian I chose: According to Apollodorus (Bibliotheca 1.9.15), Alcestis' father Pelias promised to marry his daughter to the man who could yoke a lion and a boar to a chariot car. Apollo, who was serving Admetus at the time, yoked the lion and the boar for Admetus and in this way Admetus won the hand of Alcestis.
-What specific request does Alcestis make of Admetus?
-What does Admetus promise he will do?
Orpheus: After the death of his wife Eurydice, Orpheus travelled to the underworld and won the release of Eurydice by singing for Pluto and Persephone, king and queen of the underworld. The lone condition for the release of Eurydice was that Orpheus not look back as they travelled from the underworld. Unfortunately, just as Eurydice was about to return to the upper world, she stumbled and when Orpheus turned around to see if she was allright, Eurydice vanished.
Cerberus: Cerberus is the multi-headed dog who prevents intruders from entering the underworld. Heracles final labor was to bring Cerberus from the underworld.
-What is the name of the son of Alcestis and Admetus?
-What does Admetus command the Thessalians under his rule to do?
the black-haired god of the deep earth: i.e., Hades (a.k.a. Pluto). stagnant Acheron: Charon ferries the souls of the dead across Lake Acheron (the name means "joyless").
the river of weeping: i.e., the Acheron.
-Who was not willing to die for Admetus?
-What is the purpose of Heracles' mission to Thrace?
-What is physically unusual about the horses?
-What is unusual about the diet of the horses?
-Who is the father of Ares?
-What other sons of Ares did Heracles fight?
-Who is the mother of Heracles?
-Who is the father of Heracles?
-Who is the grandfather of Heracles?
-Whom does Admetus tell Heracles has died?
-What does Admetus invite Heracles to do? Considering Admetus' current circumstances, what is unusual about this invitation?
-What does Admetus "have...the heart" to do?
-Why does Admetus not want to turn Heracles away?
Argive: i.e., of Argos, a town near Heracles current hometown of Tiryns. The region in which Argos, Tiryns, and Mycenae are located is called the Argolid.
Spotted lynxes loved his music and came/To feed beside his flock: The music of Apollo recalls the music of Orpheus (cf. p. 53), who was Apollo's son. Not only was Orpheus able to secure the release of his dead wife from the underworld, but also he was said to have been able to charm plants and animals with his music.
the glen of Othrys: i.e., the forested area around Mt. Othrys, situated about 35 miles south of Pherae.
the pleasant Boebian lake: Lake Boebe was a few miles north of Pherae.
-According to the Chorus, what is Admetus honoring to excess?
-What is the name of Admetus' father?
-Why is Admetus angry about Pheres' appearance at the funeral of Alcestis?
a woman from another city: Alcestis was from Iolcos, a town just to the east of Pherae.
-What will Admetus not lift a hand to do for Pheres?
Lydian: Lydia was a region on the coast of what is today western Turkey.
my father: According to Apollodorus (Bibliotheca 1.9.14), Cretheus was the father of Pheres.
-According to Pheres, what does he not have an obligation to do?
-What does Pheres accuse Admetus of?
The sun-god: i.e., Helios.
Acastus: Acastus, the son of Pelias, became king of Iolcos after the death of his father.
Along with Eumelus, the son of Alcestis and Admetus, Acastus sailed with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the golden fleece.
Hermes: Hermes escorted the souls of the dead to the underworld.
the dread King: i.e., Hades.
the earthy shades: i.e., the souls of the dead who are coming from the earth.
-According to the Servant, Heracles is the worst what he has ever welcomed?
And tosses off the blessed liquor--neat!: The Greeks usually diluted their wine with water. Heracles is drinking his wine undiluted.
-What "hideous" act does Heracles engage in?
-According to Heracles, what should the Servant say to himself?
-What goddess does Heracles advise the Servant to honour?
-According to the Servant, what does Admetus carry too far?
-How did Heracles abuse the hospitality of Admetus?
-What does Heracles decide he must do to pay back Admetus?
-What will Heracles do to the "black-robed king of the dead"? If that doesn't work, what will he do?
-What does Admetus wish would happen to him?
-According to the Chorus, with what can Admetus not wrestle?
Pelion: Mount Pelion was not far east from Admetus' hometown of Pherae.
-According to Admetus, what will ill-wishers say about him behind his back?
-According to the Chorus, "I have foudn nothing stronger/Than" what?
the Thracian inscriptions/Written down from the voice of Orpheus: Orpheus, who lived in Thrace, was not only a famous musician, but also a prophet of Dionysus. Euripides is telling his audience that the wisdom of both poets, whose works were accompanied by music, and prophets has no solution for escaping pain and suffering.
the salves and simples/Which Apollo gave to the priests of Asclepius: i.e., the potions and remedies. Neither the wisdom of Orpheus nor the medical knowledge of Apollo are able to solve the mysteries of life and death.
-Why is Heracles going to Thrace?
-How, according to Heracles, did her acquire the woman he brings with him?
-What does Heracles want Admetus to do with the woman?
-What does Admetus want Heracles to do with the woman?
-What does Heracles force Admetus to do?
-Who does Heracles' mystery woman turn out to be?
-Where and with whom did Heracles battle?
-Why can't Alcestis speak?