THESTIUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​The Molionides were twin brothers from tales of Greek mythology, associated with the city state of Elis, the Molionides would meet their end at the hands of Heracles. 

​Sons of Molione

​The term Molionides is the collective name for Cleatus and Eurytus, twin brothers born to Molione. Molione was the daughter of Molus, a member of Aetolian royalty. Molione would marry Actor, an Elean royal.

This is why the Molionides are also occasionally referred to as the Actoridae.

Some say though, that the Molionides had an immortal father in the form of the god Poseidon; where it was said that the god visited Molione, whilst in the form of a bird. Subsequent to the encounter, Molione would give birth to a silver egg, and it was from this silver egg that the Molionides were born. 

The story of the silver egg is of course reminiscent of the story of Leda and the Swan. 

Later mythology has suggested that the Molionides were Siamese-twins, one body but four arms, four legs and two heads but Homer, in the Iliad, makes no mention of this. So the possibility was that the Molionides were considered inseperable, like Castor and Pollox. 

​Nestor and the Molionides

​Today, the Molionides are primarily known for the encounter with Heracles, but before those events, Nestor told of events when the Pylians and Eleans  went to war. The Pylains had been decimated by their own encounter with Heracles, but when the Eleans, including the Molionides sought to take advantage of the situation, Nestor led a successful counter-attack. 

Indeed, at one point, Nestor came close to killing the Molionides, but Poseidon brought forth a sea mist, which hid the twins, allowing them to escape. 

​Heracles and the Molionides

​The most famous tale of the Molionides though comes when they cross paths with the Greek demi-god Heracles. 

Heracles was at the head of an Arcadian army heading to Elis, for he sought retribution on King Augeas, the man who had reneged on a promise. Augeas called for assistance, and the Molionides answered the call. The Molionides were nephews of Augeas, but at the same time, Augeas also offered the twins land and titles. 

The Molionides were initially very successful against the forces of Heracles, defeating them in open battle. Heracles was perhaps encumbered by an illness that had overtaken him. Some say that it was in the first battle between the forces of Heracles and the Molionides, that Iphicles, the brother of Heracles, was mortally wounded

In a moment between battles, Heracles made peace with Augeas, the Molionides would ignore the subsequent truce though, and again attacked Heracles, causing the Arcadian army to flee. Heracles though escaped and plotted his revenge, both for the killing of Iphicles and the breaking of the truce. 

Heracles would set an ambush, and waited for the Molionides to travel to make sacrifices at the Isthmian Games. A now rejuvenated Heracles, would attack the twins, and easily kill the Molionides. 

After the death of the Molionides. Heracles led a large army of Thebans, Argives and Arcadians against Elis, where Augeas was overthrown, and the kingdom given to Augeas’ son, Phyleus.

​The Sons of the Molionides

​Before their deaths, the Molionides had married Theronice and Theraephone, the twin daughters of King Dexamenus of Olenus. Cleatus, with Theronice, would thus become father to a son called Amphimachus, whilst, Eurytus, with Theraephone, would become father to Thalpius. 

The sons of the Molionides would inherit the land and titles in Elis that had once been promised to their fathers. 

The sons of the Molionides, Thalpius and Amphimachus, would be named leaders of Achaean forces during the Trojan War. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - The Molionides - 28th February 2026