NESSUS

[Greek heroic] In Greek mythology, a centaur who wanted to violate Deianira, the wife of Heracles. When they were crossing the river Euenus in Aetolia, Heracles let the centaur carry his wife on his back. When Heracles saw Nessus' intentions, he shot him with an arrow. Before he died, however, Nessus gave Deianira his blood and told her that it would ensure Heracles' love for her for ever. When she later gave a garment soaked in the centaur's blood to her husband, it poisoned him.