Nessus (mythology)

Later, when her trust began to wane because of Iole, she spread the centaur's blood on a robe and gave it to her husband.

Heracles lay dying slowly and painfully as the robe burned his skin—either in actual flames or by the heat of poison.

Sophocles' play Trachiniae (Women of Trachis) is extensively based on a retelling of this myth.

Before the ancient Greeks told the story of Nessus and 'created' centaurs, the Kassites used them as guiding spirits.

[5] The Nessus Shirt story can be connected to real world events and figures of speech.