< Iphicles, son of Amphitryon >

1 Origin

Iphicles was born in Tiryns in 1286 BC.

Iphicles' father was Amphitryon, son of Alcaeus. [Apo.1.8.2, Paus.8.14.2, 9, Pliny.7.49]

1.1 Mother of Iphicles

Pausanias tells us that Iphicles was wounded in a battle with Elis and was nursed to health by Buphagus of Pheneus of Arcadia and his wife Promne. [Paus.8.14.9]

Buphagus, whose name is mentioned in the lore, was not a layman and was probably Iphicles' foster father.

Laonome, daughter of Guneus of Pheneus, appears in the legend as the mother of Amphitryon. [Apo.2.4.5, Paus.8.14.2]

However, it is more likely that Amphitryon's mother was Hipponome, daughter of Menoeceus of Thebes, and Laonome was Amphitryon's wife. [Apo.2.4.5]

In other words, Iphicles' mother was Laonome, daughter of Guneus, and Buphagus was presumably Laonome's brother.

2 Family

Iphicles married Automedusa, daughter of Alcathus (or Alcathus). [Apo.2.4.11]

Iphicles and Automedusa had a son, Iolaus. [Apo.2.4.11, Hyginus.173, Paus.8.14.9]

Iphicles and Automedusa had a daughter, Iope. [Plut.These.29]

Iphicles married the daughter of Creon. [Apo.2.4.11]

Iphicles and the daughter of Creon had two children. [Apo.2.4.12]

3 Others

Probably, when Iphicles was born, Amphitryon's wife Laonome died in exchange for her son's life. Iphicles was raised by Buphagus, a resident of Pheneus who was thought to be Laonome's brother, and his wife Promne. [Paus.8.14.9]

Iphicles then moved to Thebes, where Amphitryon lived.

In 1268 BC, Iphicles married Automedusa, daughter of Alcathous (or Alcathus). [Apo.2.4.11]

Automedusa was the daughter of Alcathous, brother of Eurydice (or Lysidice), mother of Iphicles' stepmother Alcmena.

In 1256 BC, Iphicles, together with Amphitryon and his stepbrother Heracles, fought against Erginus of Orchomenus. [Apo.2.4.11]

Iphicles was given a daughter by Creon of Thebes in recognition of his military achievements. [Apo.2.4.11]

In 1251 BC, Iphicles migrated from Thebes to Tiryns with Heracles. [Apo.2.4.12 and Diod.4.10.6]

In 1243 BC, Iphicles migrated from Tiryns to Pheneus in Arcadia with Iolaus, Heracles, and Alcmena. [Diod.4.33.2]

In 1243 BC, Iphicles died in Pheneus from a wound he received in battle. [Apo.2.7.3, Paus.8.14.9]