person
Oeneus
also: Oeneus, Oenei
King of Calydon and father of Deianira, the wife of Hercules. In the dying Hercules' speech from Sophocles' Trachiniae (quoted by Cicero) Deianira is named periphrastically as the mad child of Oeneus, whose poisoned robe destroyed the hero.
Reading notes
- Tusculan Disputations §2.20 one mad daughter, the child of Oeneus
A periphrasis for Deianira, daughter of King Oeneus of Calydon and wife of Hercules, who unwittingly poisoned her husband. 'Mad' (vaecors) marks her disastrous error rather than literal madness.