Stheneboea’s Family Tree

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Family

• Iobates(parent),Philonoe(sibling)

  King Iobates of Lycia had two daughters: Stheneboea, whom he gave in marriage to Proetus of Tiryns, and Philonoe, whom he later gave to Bellerophon after the hero proved his divine favor.

• Proetus(spouse)— Marriage

  Proetus married Stheneboea, daughter of King Iobates of Lycia, after fleeing there during his exile from Argos. She is also known as Anteia in the Iliad.

Enemy of

• Bellerophon

  Stheneboea, wife of Proetus, desired Bellerophon and falsely accused him of attempted seduction when he rejected her. Her lie set in motion the hero's deadly journey to Lycia bearing his own death warrant.

Associated with

• Iobates

  Stheneboea's false accusation of Bellerophon triggered the chain of events that brought the hero to Iobates's court. As Stheneboea's father, Iobates was drawn into the plot to kill the man his daughter had accused.

• Philonoe

  Stheneboea's sister Philonoe married Bellerophon after his heroic deeds proved his worth. The irony of Iobates giving his other daughter to the very man Stheneboea had falsely accused was not lost on ancient audiences.

• Proetus

  Stheneboea accused the young exile Bellerophon of assault to her husband Proetus. Enraged, Proetus sent Bellerophon to his father-in-law Iobates with a sealed letter requesting the bearer's death.