Amphitryon
Amphitryon was the mortal husband of Alcmene whose identity Zeus stole for one night — making Amphitryon the cuckolded but loving father of Heracles.
The Legend of Amphitryon
Grandson of Perseus and king of Tiryns, Amphitryon was away fighting the Taphians when Zeus, disguised as him, visited Alcmene and conceived Heracles. When the real Amphitryon returned, he learned from the seer Tiresias what had happened. He raised Heracles alongside his own son Iphicles, and the boys' differing reactions to Hera's serpents — Heracles strangling them, Iphicles screaming — revealed their natures. Amphitryon connects the lineage of Perseus and Mycenae to the birth of Heracles at Thebes, with Zeus and Hera pulling the strings from Olympus.
Parents
Alcaeus and Astydameia
Symbols
Fun Fact
An "amphitryon" in French means a generous host — from a line in Molière's play: "The true Amphitryon is the one who gives the dinner."
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Amphitryon
🗡 heroidentity, deception
The husband of Alcmene whom Zeus impersonated to conceive Heracles, creating mythology's most famous case of divine identity theft.
Oebalus
🗡 heroLaconian Kingship, Foundation
Early king of Sparta whose descendants included Castor, Pollux, and Helen.
Icarius
🗡 heroNone recorded
A legendary king of Sparta and father of Penelope who tried to prevent his daughter from leaving with Odysseus after her marriage
Pentheus
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Thebes torn apart by his own mother for opposing the worship of Dionysus
Amphitryon
🗡 heroThe mortal husband impersonated by Zeus
The Theban general whose identity Zeus stole to sleep with Alcmene — producing the hero Heracles from divine deception.
Laius
🗡 heroNone recorded
King of Thebes whose attempt to cheat fate led directly to the Oedipus tragedy
Erichthonius
🗡 heroAthens, earth-born
Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena in secret.
Aethra
🗡 heroMotherhood, Captivity, Loyalty
Princess of Troezen, mother of Theseus, who became a captive slave in Troy.
Xuthus
🗡 heroFoundation, Migration, Paternity
Son of Hellen who colonized Achaea and the Peloponnese and was the father of Ion and Achaeus.
Amyntor
🗡 heroKingship, paternal conflict
King of Eleon or Ormenion whose curse upon his son Phoenix led to one of the Iliad's most poignant speeches
Leucippus of Messene
🗡 heroFatherhood, Daughters, Spartan Rivalry
Messenian king whose daughters Hilaeira and Phoebe were carried off by Castor and Polydeuces.
Alector
🗡 heroKingship, Argos
Argive nobleman and father of several notable figures in the Trojan War tradition