KING EURYSTHEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Eurystheus was a famous king in tales of Greek mythology, for as well as ruling over two kingdoms, that of Mycenae and Tiryns, he was also a long term antagonist of Heracles, for it was King Eurystheus who set Heracles his Twelve Labours.
Eurystheus Grandson of Perseus
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Eurystheus was a Perseid, a descendent of the Greek hero Perseus, for Eurystheus was the son of Sthenelus, son of Perseus; Eurystheus being born to Sthenelus’ wife Nicippe.
The fact that Nicippe was a daughter of Pelops, also made Eurystheus a Pelopides, as well as a Perseid. The Thrones of Mycenae and TirynsNow it might be assumed that Eurystheus was always supposed to become king of Mycenae and Tiryns, for after all he was the son of King Sthenelus, who ruled both kingdoms.
Even before Eurystheus was born though, Zeus had made plans for his own son to become king, rather than the son of Sthenelus. Now it might appear that Zeus was usurping the rightful succession to the throne, but Sthenelus had himself taken the thrones when his brother had been accidentally killed by Amphitryon, when in fact the line of succession should have gone through Alcmene’s line, for Alcmene was the daughter of Electryon. The fact that Alcmene was pregnant with Zeus’ son, Heracles, only strengthens Zeus’ plans. In any case, Zeus had decided what was to occur, and the supreme god made a declaration that a Perseid that was to be born on a certain date was to become king of Mycenae and Tiryns. Zeus was of course referring to Heracles, but the god failed to specify this. |
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The Intrigue of Hera
Zeus’ wife Hera had had to deal with the infidelity of her husband for eons, and the goddess had no wish to see an illegitimate son of her husband honoured with his own kingdoms. Thus, Hera plotted and planned, and using her influence, gained the assistance of Ilithyia, the Greek goddess of Childbirth. Hera now sought to make Zeus’ proclamation come true, just not in the manner that Zeus had intended.
Ilithyia was thus employed to delay the birth of Heracles to Alcmene, whilst bring forward the due date of Eurystheus.
Despite the intrigue of his wife, Zeus was not about to ignore his own proclamation, and so Eurystheus would become king of Mycenae and Tiryns, although he was forever indebted to Hera.
Hera, of course, was not content with simply depriving Heracles of the throne, and would set about trying to kill the son of her husband.
Ilithyia was thus employed to delay the birth of Heracles to Alcmene, whilst bring forward the due date of Eurystheus.
Despite the intrigue of his wife, Zeus was not about to ignore his own proclamation, and so Eurystheus would become king of Mycenae and Tiryns, although he was forever indebted to Hera.
Hera, of course, was not content with simply depriving Heracles of the throne, and would set about trying to kill the son of her husband.
King Eurystheus
Sthenelus would eventually die, and Eurystheus would become king of Mycenae and Tiryns.
Eurystheus would wed Antimache, daughter of Amphidamas of Arcadia. Eurystheus would therafter become father to one daughter, Admete, and five sons, Alexander, Eurybius, Iphimedon, Mentor and Perimedes.
Eurystheus would wed Antimache, daughter of Amphidamas of Arcadia. Eurystheus would therafter become father to one daughter, Admete, and five sons, Alexander, Eurybius, Iphimedon, Mentor and Perimedes.
The Penance of Heracles
Heracles had been born and raised in Thebes, and there had married Megara, the daughter of Creon; by Megara, Heracles had become father to two sons.
Hera though was still tormenting Heracles, and so the goddess sent Madness down upon him, resulting in Heracles killing his wife and children.
When he came back to his sense Heracles travelled to Delphi to ask the Oracle how he could be absolved of his sins. The Oracle told Heracles that he must travel to Tiryns and there enter the service of King Eurystheus for a number of years.
Thus, Heracles was to become a servant in the kingdom he should have been ruling.
Hera though was still tormenting Heracles, and so the goddess sent Madness down upon him, resulting in Heracles killing his wife and children.
When he came back to his sense Heracles travelled to Delphi to ask the Oracle how he could be absolved of his sins. The Oracle told Heracles that he must travel to Tiryns and there enter the service of King Eurystheus for a number of years.
Thus, Heracles was to become a servant in the kingdom he should have been ruling.
Eurystheus sets Impossible Tasks
When Heracles presented himself in Tiryns, Hera then commenced to plot with King Eurystheus, and a series of tasks were allocated to Heracles to complete, each designed to kill the son of Zeus.
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Heracles of course was not killed during the Labours, and the successful completion of the tasks only served to portray Eurystheus as a coward.
Indeed, when Heracles returned from the first task, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion, Eurystheus was so fearful that he hid himself in bronze jar, and subsequently, Heracles was not allowed to enter the city of Tiryns.
After the first Labour, Heracles’ tasks were relayed to the hero by the herald of King Eurystheus, Copreus, who was also the uncle of Eurystheus.
Copreus had come to Mycenae following his killing of a man in Elis. Similarly, two other uncles, Atreus and Thyestes, would also arrive in the kingdom of King Eurystheus, gaining refuge.
As well as the cowardice of Eurystheus, the Labours also showed the calculating nature of the king, for Eurystheus disallowed two of the original ten Labours, because of assistance (the Hydra) and payment (the Augean Stables), and so Heracles was forced to complete two more tasks.
Ultimately though, the tasks were completed and the period of servitude of Heracles to Eurystheus came to an end.
Eurystheus now feared that Heracles intended to take the throne, and so Eurystheus banished Heracles from the Argolis.
Indeed, when Heracles returned from the first task, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion, Eurystheus was so fearful that he hid himself in bronze jar, and subsequently, Heracles was not allowed to enter the city of Tiryns.
After the first Labour, Heracles’ tasks were relayed to the hero by the herald of King Eurystheus, Copreus, who was also the uncle of Eurystheus.
Copreus had come to Mycenae following his killing of a man in Elis. Similarly, two other uncles, Atreus and Thyestes, would also arrive in the kingdom of King Eurystheus, gaining refuge.
As well as the cowardice of Eurystheus, the Labours also showed the calculating nature of the king, for Eurystheus disallowed two of the original ten Labours, because of assistance (the Hydra) and payment (the Augean Stables), and so Heracles was forced to complete two more tasks.
Ultimately though, the tasks were completed and the period of servitude of Heracles to Eurystheus came to an end.
Eurystheus now feared that Heracles intended to take the throne, and so Eurystheus banished Heracles from the Argolis.
Heracles Bringing to Eurystheus the belt of the Amazon Queen - Daniel Sarrabat (1666-1748) - PD-art-100
Eurystheus and the Descendants of Heracles
Heracles would go on to have further adventures, but ultimately the son of Zeus would predecease King Eurystheus.
When the news of Heracles death reached Eurystheus the king was not reassured, for he now feared that the children of Heracles would seek to take the thrones of Mycenae and Tiryns, thus Eurystheus set about killing all the Heraclides that he could find.
When the news of Heracles death reached Eurystheus the king was not reassured, for he now feared that the children of Heracles would seek to take the thrones of Mycenae and Tiryns, thus Eurystheus set about killing all the Heraclides that he could find.
The Death of King Eurystheus
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Eurystheus assembled a large army and the descendants of Heracles found that they had few places of refuge left to them in the face of such an army; eventually though, many Heraclides found sanctuary in Athens.
When the Mycenaean army arrived at Athens King Demophon (or Theseus) refused to give up those that he had given refuge to, and so a battle erupted between the Athenians and their Heraclides allies, and the Mycenaens. Ultimately the battle was won by the Athenians and the Heraclides, and Eurystheus was killed, possibly by the son of Heracles, Hyllus. Hyllus certainly cut off the head of Eurystheus, and presented it to his grandmother, Alcmene. Alcmene promptly gouged out the eyes of the dad king in retribution against the acts done to her son and her descendants. It was though not a descendant of Heracles who took over the kingdoms of Eurystheus, for some say Tiryns returned to the kingdom of Argos, whilst the kingdom of Mycenae had been left in the care of Eurystheus’ uncles Atreus and Thyestes. When the news of Eurystheus death reached them, the people of Mycenae decided that one of Eurystheus’ uncles should be king, which resulted in disagreement between Atreus and Thyestes, with many crimes undertaken by both. |
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