Historiae Romanorum

Iphitos

His father, Eurytos, the king of Oichalia, held an archery contest, to see who would marry his daughter Iole.  Needing a wife, Heracles traveled to Oichalia and won the contest.  Eurytos, however, refused to let his daughter be married to him.  He feared another one of Heracles' fits of madness and his grandsons killed.  Iphitos, urged his father to reconsider.

While Heracles was still in the town, the famous thief Autolycus stole some cattle of Eurytos, which was blamed upon Heracles.  Iphitos did not believe that Heracles was responsible.  He went to Heracles, and asked his help in finding the cattle.  Heracles agreed, but soon, in another fit of madness, he hurled Iphitos from the walls of the city, killing him.

Source(s):

1. Apollodorus.  Bibliotece.

This page was last updated on July 21, 2004.