Iolaus. In Greek mythology, Iolaus was a Theban divine hero, son of Iphicles and Automedusa.
He was famed for being Heracles' nephew and for helping with some of his Labors, and also for being one of the Argonauts. Through his daughter Leipephilene, he was considered to have fathered the mythic and historic line of the kings of Corinth, ending with Telestes.
A genus of Lycaenid butterfly has been named after him. An exoplanet around star HAT-P-42 is named after him.
As a son of Iphicles, Iolaus was a nephew of Heracles. He often acted as Heracles' charioteer and companion.
Plutarch claimed that he was Heracles' lover, and that the shrine to him in Thebes was a place where male couples worshiped and made vows. The Theban gymnasium was also named after him, and the Iolaia or Iolaea, an athletic festival consisting of gymnastic and equestrian events, was held yearly in Thebes in his honor. The victors at the Iolaea were crowned with garlands of myrtle. Iolaus provided essential help to Heracles in his battle against the Hydra, his second labor. Seeing that Heracles was being overwhelmed by the multi-headed monster, who grew two heads in place of each one cut off, Iolaus helped by cauterizing each neck as Heracles beheaded it. Heracles gave his wife, Megara, age thirty three, to Iolaus, then only sixteen years old-ostensibly because the sight of her reminded him of his murder of their thre
He was famed for being Heracles' nephew and for helping with some of his Labors, and also for being one of the Argonauts. Through his daughter Leipephilene, he was considered to have fathered the mythic and historic line of the kings of Corinth, ending with Telestes.
A genus of Lycaenid butterfly has been named after him. An exoplanet around star HAT-P-42 is named after him.
As a son of Iphicles, Iolaus was a nephew of Heracles. He often acted as Heracles' charioteer and companion.
Plutarch claimed that he was Heracles' lover, and that the shrine to him in Thebes was a place where male couples worshiped and made vows. The Theban gymnasium was also named after him, and the Iolaia or Iolaea, an athletic festival consisting of gymnastic and equestrian events, was held yearly in Thebes in his honor. The victors at the Iolaea were crowned with garlands of myrtle. Iolaus provided essential help to Heracles in his battle against the Hydra, his second labor. Seeing that Heracles was being overwhelmed by the multi-headed monster, who grew two heads in place of each one cut off, Iolaus helped by cauterizing each neck as Heracles beheaded it. Heracles gave his wife, Megara, age thirty three, to Iolaus, then only sixteen years old-ostensibly because the sight of her reminded him of his murder of their thre
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