Eurystheus
heroKing of Mycenae who assigned Heracles his twelve labours, born prematurely through Hera's manipulation to gain power over the demigod.
The Myth
Hera rigged his birth to make him king — he was born two months early specifically to rule over Heracles. Zeus had boasted that the next descendant of Perseus born that day would rule. Hera delayed Heracles's birth and accelerated Eurystheus's, making the weaker man king and forcing the strongest hero in myth to serve him. Eurystheus spent the labours hiding in a bronze jar, so terrified of Heracles that he communicated orders through a herald. When Heracles brought back Cerberus, Eurystheus dove into the jar. After Heracles died, Eurystheus persecuted his children until they defeated and killed him. Alcmene reportedly gouged out his eyes.
Parents
Sthenelus, Nicippe
Symbols
Fun Fact
Eurystheus was so afraid of Heracles that he hid in a bronze storage jar and issued orders through a messenger.
Explore Further
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Heracles (Labours)
heroHeracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a...
Cerberus
creatureThe three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving and...
Cerberus (Labour)
conceptThe twelfth and final labour of Heracles: descending to the Underworld and bringing back Cerberus,...
Alcmene
heroAlcmene was the mortal woman whom Zeus seduced by disguising himself as her husband — she bore...
Perseus
heroThe legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus...
Perseus (Hero)
heroPerseus was the demigod son of Zeus and Danaë who slew Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the...
Sthenelus of Argos
heroSon of Capaneus and charioteer of Diomedes at Troy, one of the Epigoni who avenged their fathers at...
Iolaus
heroIolaus was Heracles' beloved nephew and charioteer who helped him slay the Hydra by cauterising the...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Hera Teleia
godAn epithet of Hera as goddess of marriage and its fulfilment, worshipped as the divine model of the...
Mycenae
placeMycenae was the great Bronze Age citadel in the Argolid, seat of King Agamemnon who led the Greek...