Amphitryon

Also known as: AMP. / Amphytrion · Family: Thebes · Role: father of Heracles · First appears: Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 1

In Scene 1 of Hercules Distracted, Amphitryon identifies himself as born at Argos and descended from Perseus through Alcaeus, and as the sire of Heracles. He is married to Alcmena, whose nuptial bed Zeus also shared, and calls his affinity with Creon a curse. Having fled stained by Electryon’s blood, Amphitryon seeks asylum at Zeus’s altar with Megara and Heracles’ children while Lycus (the younger) plans to kill them; he hopes Heracles’s return will save Megara and himself.

When Lycus confronts him in Scene 2, Amphitryon answers that words will be repaid by deeds. In Scene 3, he admits to Megara that he is as amazed as she is, and reproaches Zeus for failing to save Heracles’ sons. In Scene 4, Lycus forcibly drags him from his bed, drives the family from their home, and orders him to bring Megara and the children outside to die. In Scene 7, Amphitryon reveals that Heracles, in madness, has murdered his children and consort. In Scene 8, Heracles entrusts him with burying them, since exile prevents Heracles from performing the burial himself.

Relationship record

Life events

• Amphitryon and Megara sought asylum at Zeus’s altar with Heracles’ children.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 1)
  • With: Megara
  • “With their afflicted mother, lest the race Of Hercules should bleed, for an asylum Have chosen this altar of protecting Jove”
• Lycus (the younger) planned to kill Megara, Heracles’ children, and Amphitryon.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 1 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Lycus (the younger) Megara
  • “Lycus th’ egregious monarch of this land Would with the children of Alcides kill His consort, by fresh murders to extinguish The past, and kill me too”
• Lycus forcibly removes Amphitryon from his bed and drives the family from their home.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 4)
  • With: Lycus
  • “From his bed thy sire Was forcibly dragged forth.”
• Lycus orders Amphitryon to bring Megara and the children outside to die.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 4)
  • With: Lycus Megara
  • “But go, command the children and the wife Of Hercules without these gates t’ appear, Because ye have engaged that ye will die By your own hands.”
• Amphitryon reveals that Heracles murdered his children and consort during madness.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 7)
  • With: Heracles
  • “See there The corses of your murdered children lie.”
• Heracles entrusts Amphitryon with burying his murdered children because exile prevents him from doing so.(Euripides, Hercules Distracted — Scene 8 · 📍 Thebes)
  • With: Heracles
  • “To the tomb Consign their corses with funereal pomp, And o’er them shed the tributary tear: For me the laws allow not to perform This office.”