Healing the Mind: A Psychotherapy Scene in Euripides’ Heracles

Abstract

The exodos of Euripides’ Heracles presents a uniquely Euripidean scene of psychological healing, centered on the encounter between Heracles and Theseus. This article analyses Heracles’ conscious response to the actions he committed in madness, expressed as grief (λύπη), at times overshadowed by shame (αἰδώς), and, at others, by an overwhelming sense of pollution (μίασμα). The study evaluates the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the therapeutic strategies undertaken by Heracles himself, Amphitryon, and Theseus in addressing Heracles’ psychological crisis. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the article integrates close textual analysis with insights from contemporary psychological and psychotherapeutic frameworks. Central to the discussion is the role of Theseus as a therapeutic figure who facilitates Heracles’ emotional and cognitive transformation. His intervention initiates a shift in Heracles’ beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, closely mirroring principles found in modern eclectic psychotherapy, particularly those drawn from body-oriented therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).