# Heracles — Philoctetes character guide

> Heracles in Philoctetes by Sophocles.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Heracles, Zeus - born Heracles

**First appearance:** 0002-philoctetes

## Who they are

The deified hero whose bow Philoctetes carries, he descends from Olympus to speak the will of Zeus over the play's final deadlock.

## Relationships

### [Odysseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters/odysseus)

_social_

Heracles is a legendary hero whose bow is central to the plot, but he has no direct interaction with Odysseus in the play.

### [Philoctetes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters/philoctetes)

_friendship_

Heracles bequeathed his bow to Philoctetes as a token of friendship and gratitude for lighting his funeral pyre.

### [Neoptolemus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters/neoptolemus)

_social_

Heracles appears as a deus ex machina to resolve the conflict, but has no personal relationship with Neoptolemus.

### [Sailor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters/sailor)

_social_

Heracles and the sailor have no relationship; the sailor is merely a minor character in the story.

## In the story

### [Dramatis Personae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/chapters/dramatis-personae)

Listed as a character in the dramatis personae.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in the note about kindling his funeral pyre on Mount Oeta.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters/heracles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/philoctetes_se/characters