Iphicles’s Family Tree

About Iphicles →

Family

• Alcmene(parent),Amphitryon(parent)— Marriage

  Amphitryon and Alcmene conceived Iphicles on the same night Zeus impersonated Amphitryon to sire Heracles, making the twins half-brothers with different fathers. Apollodorus' Bibliotheca records this dual conception.

• Iolaus(child)

  Iphicles, mortal twin of Heracles, fathered Iolaus, who became his uncle Heracles' most devoted companion and charioteer during the Twelve Labors.

Allied with

• Heracles

  Iphicles fought alongside his divine twin Heracles in multiple campaigns, including wars against Laomedon and the sons of Hippocoon. Despite being fully mortal, he served loyally as a warrior companion.

Associated with

• Hera

  In Pindar's Nemean 1, when Hera sent two serpents to kill the infant twins, Heracles strangled the snakes with his bare hands while Iphicles cried out in terror — revealing which child was Zeus's son and which was mortal.