Electryon

Electryon is a notable figure in Greek mythology, remembered as a king of Tiryns and Mycenae and a member of the distinguished Perseid lineage. His story intertwines themes of dynastic succession, family conflict and the heroic ancestry of significant mythological figures. The traditions surrounding him highlight the complex genealogies and political rivalries characteristic of early Greek heroic legend.

Family Background and Lineage

Electryon belonged to the Perseid dynasty, being the son of Perseus and Andromeda, making him a direct descendant of one of the most renowned heroic couples in Greek mythology. His siblings included Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, Sthenelus, Cynurus, Gorgophone and Autochthe, all of whom feature in various genealogical traditions connected to Argolis.
He was most commonly married to Anaxo, daughter of his brother Alcaeus and sister to Amphitryon. In alternative accounts, Electryon’s spouse is named as Eurydice of Mycenae, a daughter of the Pelopid dynasty. Through his wife, Electryon fathered a large number of children. His daughter Alcmene would become the mother of Heracles, while his sons—Stratobates, Gorgophonus, Phylonomus, Celaeneus, Amphimachus, Lysinomus, Chirimachus, Anactor and Archelaus—formed a sizeable royal household. In addition, Electryon had an illegitimate son, Licymnius, born to a Phrygian woman named Mideia.
This broad familial network positioned Electryon within a complex dynastic context, linking him not only to the rule of Mycenae but also to neighbouring regions through marital connections and ancestral claims.

Conflict over the Mycenaean Kingdom

A central episode in Electryon’s myth involves a dispute over territorial inheritance. The six sons of Pterelaus, king of the Taphians and descendants of Electryon’s brother Mestor, approached Mycenae to assert their claim to a share of the kingdom. Electryon’s refusal to acknowledge their claim led to hostilities. The Taphian princes retaliated by driving away his cattle, a valuable source of wealth and prestige.
This provoked a violent conflict in which Electryon’s sons engaged the Taphian invaders. The battle proved disastrous for both sides: only Licymnius survived among Electryon’s sons, while Everes alone remained from the Taphian lineage. Following the conflict, Everes sold the captured cattle to Polyxenus of Elis.
Electryon’s nephew Amphitryon, who was promised Alcmene’s hand in marriage, later repurchased the cattle and returned them to his uncle. However, in doing so he accidentally killed Electryon. According to the predominant version of the myth, the fatal incident occurred when Amphitryon threw his club at a stray cow, unintentionally striking Electryon. An earlier literary tradition attributed the king’s death to a moment of anger on Amphitryon’s part, reflecting the variability typical of Greek heroic myths.

Succession and Aftermath

Following Electryon’s death, his brother Sthenelus capitalised on the power vacuum. He seized the throne of Mycenae, accused Amphitryon of murder and forced him into exile. This act reshaped the political landscape of the Perseid dynasty and set the stage for further mythological developments, including Amphitryon’s later role in Thebes and the birth of Heracles.
The episode illustrates the fragile nature of power in early Greek legendary kingdoms, where kinship ties could both secure and undermine authority. Electryon’s demise was thus not only a personal tragedy but a turning point in the broader mythological narrative of Mycenae.

Significance in Greek Mythological Tradition

Electryon’s importance within Greek mythology lies primarily in his place within the genealogical framework leading to Heracles, one of the greatest heroes of Greek tradition. As the father of Alcmene, he forms a pivotal link in a lineage celebrated in epic poetry and genealogical lore. Moreover, his story exemplifies familiar mythological motifs such as inheritance disputes, unintended homicide and the dangerous consequences of family rivalry.