
Heracles (right) and Iolaus (left)
Iolaus was the son of Iphicles and Automedusa. He was the grandson of Alcmene and Amphitryon. He accompanied his uncle Heracles (son of Alcmene and Zeus) during his twelve labours. He notably helped defeat the Lernaean Hydra (which sprouted two heads for every one it lost) by cauterising the wounds, leaving it unable to regenerate.

Heracles, Iolaus and Eros
Heracles later married his wife Megara to Iolaus. Their daughter Leipephilene was the mother of King Aletus of Corinth, ancestor of the Bacchiadae.
In Popular Culture[]
- A genus of butterfly is named after Iolaus
Family[]
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