ABSTRACT
Son of Sthenelus and Nicippe or Menippe; king of the Argolid, including Mycenae and Tiryns. He was the bitterest enemy of Heracles, who was enslaved to him while he performed his Twelve Labours. For when Heracles, Zeus’ outstanding mortal son, was about to be born to Alcmena, Hera, jealous that she was to have no part in the creation of the greatest of all heroes, decided to deprive the child of his human birthright, the rule of the Argolid. Zeus let fall the secret of Heracles’ impending birth by boasting to the gods that ‘that day a man would be born of woman, of a race of Zeus’ own blood, who would rule those dwelling around him’. However Sthenelus’ wife Nicippe (or Menippe) happened to be seven months pregnant at the time, and as Sthenelus was a descendant of Perseus, his son would as truly fulfil the prophecy as Heracles. Besides, after Amphitryon had accidentally killed the previous king of Mycenae, Sthenelus’ brother Electryon, Sthenelus had seized its throne for himself. So Hera, with the help of Ilithyia, goddess of childbearing, accelerated the birth of Eurystheus and held back Alcmena’s delivery until the serving woman Galanthis tricked the goddess into abandoning her purpose: by which time it was too late for Heracles to fulfil Zeus’ prophecy.
