The Rhetoric of Weapons in Euripides’ Heracles

Abstract

Euripides’ Heracles includes an agon scene between Lycus and Amphitryon in which great prominence is attached to the value of the bow as opposed to that of the spear. According to some scholars, this debate about the weapons is not appropriate and it even seems to destroy the dramatic illusion. This paper, however, analyzes the role of bows and spears in the tragedy and it shows how weapons are used to make the transformation of the hero in the play visible.