Alcestis
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.Al·ces·tis
noun \al-ˈses-təs\Definition of ALCESTIS
: the wife of Admetus who dies for her husband and is restored to him by Hercules
Origin of ALCESTIS
Latin, from Greek Alkēstis
First Known Use: 14th century
Rhymes with ALCESTIS
Alcestis
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)In Greek legend, the beautiful daughter of Pelias, king of Iolcos. Admetus, son of the king of Pherae, sought her hand. To win her he was required to harness a lion and a boar to a chariot, and he succeeded with the aid of Apollo. When Apollo learned that Admetus had not long to live, he persuaded the Fates to prolong his life, on condition someone else die in his stead. As a loyal wife, Alcestis consented to do so, but she was rescued by Heracles, who wrestled with Death at her grave. Her story is told in Euripides' Alcestis.
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