Eurystheus

Mortal man

In Greek mythology, Eurystheus (; Ancient Greek: Εὐρυσθεύς, lit. 'broad strength', IPA: [eu̯rystʰěu̯s]) was king of Tiryns, one of three Mycenaean strongholds in the Argolid, although other authors including Homer and Euripides cast him as ruler of Argos.

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Mentions
3
Connected characters
3
Books
3
Eurystheus. King Eurystheus — Liber Chronicarum, Rijksmuseum RP-P-2016-49-29-14
King Eurystheus — Liber Chronicarum, Rijksmuseum RP-P-2016-49-29-14 · Unknown woodcut artistImage source CC0

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeus”
Il. 8.360–364
“to the mighty Heracles. Of him, a father baser by far, was begotten a son goodlier in all manner of excellence, both in fleetness of foot and in fight, and in mind he was among the first of the men of Mycenae; he it was who then yielded to Hector the glory of victory.”
Il. 15.640–644
“And herself spake to Zeus, son of Cronos, to bear him word: ‘Father Zeus, lord of the bright lightning, a word will I speak for thy heeding. Lo, even now, is born a valiant man that shall be lord over the Argives, even Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus, of thine own lineage; not unmeet is it that he be lord over the Argives.’”
Il. 19.120–124

Connections

Father · Sources
Father · Sources
And herself spake to Zeus, son of Cronos, to bear him word: ‘Father Zeus, lord of the bright lightning, a word will I speak for thy heeding. Lo, even now, is born a valiant man that shall be lord over the Argives, even Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus, of thine own lineage; not unmeet is it that he be lord over the Argives.’
Il. 19.123

Il. 19.123

Connection · Sources
Connection · Sources

В стихах 8.362–364 Гера, вспоминая Геракла, говорит, что он был «Еврисфеем томим в подвигах тяжких»; описание связывает Еврисфея с поручениями Гераклу.

howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeus
Il. 8.362–364

Il. 8.362–364

Herald · Sources
Herald · Sources

Стихи 15.639–640 прямо называют Копрея посланником от Еврисфея владыки; служба вестника прямо названа.

but the lion leapeth upon the midmost, and devoureth a heifer, and thereat they all flee in terror; even so in wondrous wise were the Achaeans one and all then driven in wondrous rout by Hector and father Zeus, albeit Hector slew one only man, Periphetes of Mycenae, the dear son of Copreus, that had been wont to go on messages from king Eurystheusto the mighty Heracles. Of him, a father baser by far, was begotten a son goodlier in all manner of excellence, both in fleetness of foot and in fight, and in mind he was among the first of the men of Mycenae; he it was who then yielded to Hector the glory of victory.
Il. 15.639–640

Il. 15.639–640

In art

Leagros Group. Storage jar with Herakles carrying the Erymanthean boar. J. Paul Getty Museum. CC0. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125154185

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q212087

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.