Eurystheus A king of Mycenae. A descen-
dant of Perseus, son of Sthenelus and cousin to
Heracles. Classical resources are Apollodorus’s
Library (2.4.12–2.Five.12, 2.Eight.1), Euripides’
Heracleidae (928–1,052), and Pindar’s Pythian
Odes (9.Seventy nine–81). Perseus had several youngsters of
whom were Electryon, father of Alcmene,
and Sthenelus. Zeus had decreed that a toddler
approximately to be born, a descendant of Perseus,
would reign over the Argolid. He intended
Heracles to be this baby, but Hera organized
to delay the beginning of Heracles by way of seven days
in order that Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, might be
born first and have to rule rather than Electryon’s
grandson Heracles.
Heracles was commanded by using the Olympian
gods via the Delphic Oracle
