Eurystheus
King of Mycenae who assigned Heracles his twelve labours, born prematurely through Hera's manipulation to gain power over the demigod.
The Legend of Eurystheus
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
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Laius
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Busiris
🗡 heroNone recorded
Egyptian king who sacrificed strangers to Zeus until Heracles broke free and killed him
Perseus
🗡 heroHero who slew Medusa
The son of Zeus and Danae who beheaded Medusa, rescued Andromeda, and founded the Perseid dynasty of Mycenae.
Erichthonius
🗡 heroNone recorded
Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena, credited with inventing the four-horse chariot
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🗡 herokingship
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Erichthonius
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Earth-born king of Athens raised by Athena in secret.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Aletes
🗡 heroWandering, Vengeance, Kingship
Son of Aegisthus who briefly seized the Mycenaean throne before being killed by Electra.