Achelous

Achelous was a mighty river god, son of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. He was so strong that he could change his shape, and he often took the form of a bull. One day, he fell in love with a beautiful woman named Deianeira, and he challenged Heracles to a wrestling match for the right to marry her. Heracles won the match, and Achelous was forced to give up his claim on Deianeira. Achelous was also involved in the legend of the Argive hero Alcmaeon. Alcmaeon had killed his mother, and he was cursed to wander the land, pursued by the Furies. Achelous took pity on Alcmaeon, and he gave him a magic potion that would protect him from the Furies. However, the potion had a terrible side effect: it made Alcmaeon go mad. In his madness, Alcmaeon killed his own son. Achelous was a complex and fascinating figure. He was a powerful god, but he was also capable of great love and compassion. He was a symbol of the power of nature, but he was also a victim of its destructive forces.