Amphitryon

Family: Greek · Role: husband of Alcmena; father of Iphiclus · First appears: The Shield of Heracles · Part 1

Amphitryon left his country for Thebes, where he dwelt with Alcmena. He had slain her father Electyron over oxen, and was bound to avenge the deaths of her brothers by burning the villages of the Taphians and Teleboans.

In Part 1, Amphitryon returned home and lay with Alcmena; their son Iphiclus was born as one of her twins. The account distinguishes Iphiclus, “of Amphitryon the spear-wielder,” from his twin, who was born of Zeus. In Part 2, Heracles is identified as Amphitryon’s son.

Relationship record

Life events

• Amphitryon left his country and came to Thebes, where he dwelt with Alcmena.(The Shield of Heracles · Part 1 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Alcmena
  • “so he left his own country and came to Thebes and was suppliant to the shield-carrying men of Cadmus. There he dwelt with his modest wife”
• Amphitryon slew Electyron over his oxen.(The Shield of Heracles · Part 1)
  • With: Electryon
  • “Verily he had slain her noble father violently when he was angry about oxen;”
• Amphitryon was bound to avenge the deaths of Alcmena’s brothers and burn the Taphians’ and Teleboans’ villages.(The Shield of Heracles · Part 1)
  • “until he had avenged the death of his wife’s great-hearted brothers and utterly burned with blazing fire the villages of the heroes, the Taphians and Teleboans; for this thing was laid upon him”
• Amphitryon returned home and lay with Alcmena; their son Iphiclus was born as one of her twins.(The Shield of Heracles · Part 1 · 📍 Thebe)
  • With: Alcmena Iphiclus son of Amphitryon
  • “And all night long he lay with his modest wife, delighting in the gifts of golden Aphrodite.”

The Shield of Heracles · Part 1

• married with Alcmena “And she so honoured her husband in her heart as none of womankind did before her.”
• child: Iphiclus son of Amphitryon “Him she bare through the embrace of the son of Cronos lord of dark clouds and the other, Iphiclus, of Amphitryon the spear-wielder—offspring distinct, this one of union with a mortal man, but that other of union with Zeus, leader of all the gods.”
• parent: Alcaeus “And the noble son of Alcaeus led them, rejoicing in his host.”

The Shield of Heracles · Part 2

• child: Heracles “for they would clash their teeth when Amphitryon’s son was fighting:”

The Shield of Heracles · Part 3

• child: Heracles “the son of Amphitryon, mighty Heracles”

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Extracted from the original text of Hesiod and Homerica. Made with Rho MD.