Heracles and Achelous

The Story

Heracles was not the only powerful figure who wished to marry Deianira.

Among his rivals was Achelous, the great river god of Aetolia.

Achelous was one of the most important river gods in Greek tradition and possessed the ability to change his form.

The dispute over Deianira was settled through physical combat.

Heracles and Achelous wrestled.

During the struggle Achelous attempted to use his ability to transform himself.

In the best-known versions he assumed the form of a great bull.

But Heracles was famous for overcoming creatures of extraordinary strength.

He seized Achelous and broke off one of the river god's horns.

Achelous was defeated.

Heracles therefore won the right to marry Deianira.

The broken horn later became connected with traditions surrounding the cornucopia, the horn of plenty.

Ancient accounts differ over exactly how this connection developed.

In some versions Achelous recovered his own horn by exchanging it for the horn of Amalthea.

Other traditions more directly associate the broken horn itself with abundance.

The contest is important because it leads directly into the later story of Heracles and Deianira.

Heracles wins Deianira through strength, but their marriage will eventually become connected with the centaur Nessus and the hero's mortal death.

Achelous, meanwhile, demonstrates the strange nature of the Greek river gods.

He is simultaneously a river, a deity and a shape-changing opponent capable of confronting one of the greatest heroes of mythology.