STHENEBOEA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Stheneboea was a queen of Ancient Greece according to the tales of Greek mythology, though, Stheneboea is remembered best not for any ruling qualities, but for false accusations made against Bellerophon.
Stheneboea Daughter of Iobates
Stheneboea was the daughter of King Iobates of Lycia, born to a mother unnamed; some writers referred to this daughter of Iobates as Antaea, rather than Stheneboea. Stheneboea would have a sister named Philonoe.
Stheneboea Wife of Proetus
During the rule of Iobates, Proetus son of King Abas came to Lycia, for Proetus had been exiled from his homeland of Argos by his twin brother, Acrisius. Iobates was so taken by Proetus that he gave his daughter Stheneboea in matrimony to Proetus, and also provided Proetus with a Lycian army in order that the kingdom of Argos would be his.
Proetus and his army could not conquer Acrisius though, and the war effectively ended in a draw, but an agreement was reached that the kingdom would now be divided. Thus, Acrisius would rule Argos, whilst Proetus would rule Tiryns.
Stheneboea had thus become Queen of Tiryns.
Proetus and his army could not conquer Acrisius though, and the war effectively ended in a draw, but an agreement was reached that the kingdom would now be divided. Thus, Acrisius would rule Argos, whilst Proetus would rule Tiryns.
Stheneboea had thus become Queen of Tiryns.
Queen Stheneboea
Stheneboea would bring forth four children for Proetus; a son, called Megapenthes, a future king of Argos, and three daughters, Iphianassa, Iphinoe and Lysippe. The daughters of Stheneboea and Proetus are famed for being overcome by madness, either due to interfering of Hera or Dionysus.
Stheneboea and Bellerophon
It was during the rule of Proetus that the Corinthian Bellerophon came to Tiryns; Proetus would absolve Bellerophon of his crime of fratricide.
Whilst a guest in Proetus’ court, Bellerophon came to the attention of Stheneboea, with the Queen of Tiryns attempting to seduce the handsome Corinthian.
Bellerophon would reject the advances of Stheneboea, and in retribution, Stheneboea would lie to her husband, informing him of Bellerophon’s attempt to rape her. Proetus, fearful of the wrath of the Erinyes if he killed a guest in his house, dispatched Bellerophon to the court of Stheneboea’ father, Iobates, in Lycia.
The lies of Stheneboea were not unique to this tale, and similar tales were often told, with another famous example being the lies of Astydamia, wife of King Acastus, when Peleus was in Acastus’ court.
Whilst a guest in Proetus’ court, Bellerophon came to the attention of Stheneboea, with the Queen of Tiryns attempting to seduce the handsome Corinthian.
Bellerophon would reject the advances of Stheneboea, and in retribution, Stheneboea would lie to her husband, informing him of Bellerophon’s attempt to rape her. Proetus, fearful of the wrath of the Erinyes if he killed a guest in his house, dispatched Bellerophon to the court of Stheneboea’ father, Iobates, in Lycia.
The lies of Stheneboea were not unique to this tale, and similar tales were often told, with another famous example being the lies of Astydamia, wife of King Acastus, when Peleus was in Acastus’ court.
The Downfall of Stheneboea
Bellerophon ended up prospering in Lycia, overcoming all the dangers that Iobates put in his path, and eventually Iobates married off Stheneboea’s sister, Philonoe, to Bellerophon.
The news of this marriage resulted in Stheneboea committing suicide, fearing that her previous lies about Bellerophon would now be exposed.
A less common tale is told of the death of Stheneboea, with Bellerophon returning to Tiryns, and taking his new sister-in-law for a flight upon Pegasus, before letting her fall to her death, such an action was considered unworthy of a hero of Bellerophon’s standing, and so it was a version of the Queen of Tiryns’ death which was not often repeated.
The news of this marriage resulted in Stheneboea committing suicide, fearing that her previous lies about Bellerophon would now be exposed.
A less common tale is told of the death of Stheneboea, with Bellerophon returning to Tiryns, and taking his new sister-in-law for a flight upon Pegasus, before letting her fall to her death, such an action was considered unworthy of a hero of Bellerophon’s standing, and so it was a version of the Queen of Tiryns’ death which was not often repeated.
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Colin Quartermain - Stheneboea - 7th December 2019