Iphicles
Iphicles was the mortal twin brother of Heracles — born the same night to the same mother but fathered by a mortal, creating the perfect contrast to divine strength.
The Legend of Iphicles
Twin brother of Heracles and mortal son of Amphitryon, Iphicles was conceived the same night Zeus visited Alcmene disguised as her husband. When Hera sent serpents to the cradle in Thebes, Heracles strangled them while Iphicles screamed — revealing which twin was divine. Iphicles later accompanied Heracles on several labours and fathered Iolaus, who became Heracles's essential companion. He died fighting alongside Heracles in the war against Hippocoon of Sparta. His quiet mortality stands in contrast to his brother's Olympus-bound destiny.
Parents
Amphitryon and Alcmene
Children
Iolaus
Symbols
Fun Fact
The serpent test of the twins — one screams, one strangles — was one of the most popular scenes in Greek nursery art.
Explore Further
Dioscuri
🗡 heroCastor and Pollux, the divine twins
The Dioscuri were twin brothers — Castor (mortal) and Pollux (divine) — inseparable in life, who chose to share immortality by alternating between Olympus and Hades.
Castor and Pollux
🗡 heroThe divine twins who share immortality
The twin brothers of Helen — one mortal, one divine — who shared immortality by alternating between Olympus and Hades.
Castor
🗡 heroNone recorded
Mortal twin of the Dioscuri, famous horse tamer who shared immortality with Polydeuces
Alexiares
🗡 heroNone recorded
A son of Heracles and Hebe born on Mount Olympus after Heracles' deification, serving as a divine guardian against war
Aloeus
🗡 heroFarming, Giant-Fathers, Hubris
Thessalian king whose twin stepsons the Aloadae nearly defeated the Olympian gods.
Polydeuces
🗡 heroNone recorded
Immortal twin of the Dioscuri and the greatest boxer in Greek mythology
Proetus
🗡 heroNone recorded
A king of Tiryns who quarrelled with his twin brother Acrisius over the throne of Argos, an enmity that began in the womb and persisted throughout their lives
Amphitryon
🗡 heroidentity, deception
The husband of Alcmene whom Zeus impersonated to conceive Heracles, creating mythology's most famous case of divine identity theft.
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.
Calais
🗡 heroWind, flight
Winged son of Boreas the North Wind who sailed with the Argonauts and drove off the Harpies
Alcmene
🗡 heroMother of Heracles
Alcmene was the mortal woman whom Zeus seduced by disguising himself as her husband — she bore Heracles, the greatest hero of Greek mythology.
Bucolion
🗡 heroHerding, nobility
Eldest but illegitimate son of the Trojan king Laomedon who was raised among herdsmen