The descendants of Hercules

The descendants of Hercules

In Greek mythology, and more generally in ancient Greece, the term Irakleides referred to the sons of Hercules and their descendants.


Hercules one of Herakleidon.
Many royal families in ancient Greece demarcate their origin to the most celebrated hero of Greek mythology, Hercules. Typical is the case of the kings of Macedonia, which was  imitated by almost all the dynasties of the Hellenistic states.

The narrower sense of the word, Irakleides are the descendants of Heracles and Deianira, with the descent of the Peloponnese which relates the arrival of the last Dorians in Greece. Immediately after the death of Hercules and his ascent to Olympus, the children were left without a protector and persecuted by Eurystheus. Initially fled to the king of Trahina in Ceyx, he remembered his benefactions Hercules. But Eurystheus made him the clear. Then Irakleides went to Athens, where Theseus reigned (according to others his descendants), and asked for asylum seekers Sitting as the 'Mercy altar. " Eurystheus requested delivery of "seekers" but neither Theseus nor any other Athenian agreed to deliver them, so Eurystheus declared war on Athens. In the battle that ensued in Attica, the Athenians routed his army Evrystheos, who lost his life while killed and five sons. This victory was predicted by the oracle of Delphi, which had given the Athenians the promise that if they won sacrificed her own free will unspoiled by "noble maiden." The Macaria, daughter of Hercules and Deianira, then willingly sacrificed to give the victory to the brothers and the Athenians.

Since the death of Eurystheus and destruction of his army, the Irakleides wanted to return to the Peloponnese, they came Hercules, who vainly tried to return there until his death. Driven by Yllo occupied almost all its cities. But after about a year there appeared a deadly plague and oracle asked said that this event was the "divine wrath" because Irakleides had returned before the specified "from Destiny" time. Obeying then the "will of the gods," the Irakleides abandoned the Peloponnesus and returned to Attica, where they settled in the area of ​​Marathon.
Once resolved the last traces of the terrible epidemic, the Yllos fled to the Oracle of Delphi and asked the oracle about when to go back to the Peloponnese. He was then given an oracle that adequate time would be "after the third harvest" or "after the third harvest." Among all his brothers, the Yllos was the real heir of Hercules and he had lived most of the time with him and raised him. For these reasons Yllos been recognized by Irakleides leader and had commissioned him to lead them in their homes. Immediately after this prophecy, therefore, the Yllos head of his brothers attempted to pass the Isthmus of Corinth. But where he met his army arrayed Echemou, king of Tegea. Instead battle was preferred by both sides a duel between chiefs. In this Yllos killed, so the Irakleides returned back.
After many years, the grandson of Yllou Aristomachos went back to ask the oracle. The oracle given to him, at least as I have understood it himself, saying that the gods would grant a victory if you follow the "straight path." Believed that the phrase meant the Isthmus and tried to pass him, but was killed there. The Irakleides returned to Central Greece once again.
The sons of Aristomachos when adult, she sent the elders, the Temenus, again at Delphi, where he claimed the same oracle calling his ancestors: "When will the day of our return?" However, because he had noticed that his ancestors followed the oracle and he had stood in the cause of their loss, the extra Temenus asked bitterly God, "Why?" He answered him by Pythian it was not his mistake if his ancestors could not correctly interpret the oracles. He, however, explained a little more, that the "third harvest" connoted the third generation, and the "straight path" the sea route between the coast of mainland and Peloponnese. The Temenus was pleased with the explanations of the new oracle. He and his siblings were actually the third generation. Immediately, Irakleides started construction on a coast of Locris necessary for a sea invasion and landing vessels. At this site there was a town that, after setting up the yard there, was named today Nafpaktos (the word nafs and verb pignymi = fabricate). Legend tells us that the time that Irakleides awaiting the construction of ships, the younger brother of Timenou, Aristodemus, parafronise and killed. His death was the beginning of a series of misfortunes for Irakleides. Pausanias but the Laconic tells us that Aristodemus was killed in Laconia after the distributed them to his sons.

Shortly afterwards, a day arrived in camp Herakleidon a seer named Karnos and maintained friendly relations with them. However, the psychological situation in the camp was tense and now believed it was coming to them "bewitched" sent by the Peloponnesians. And one Heraclides, the Knight, the son of sexes was pierced with his lance. Then a sudden storm broke out and destroyed the ships were almost ready. The next day a plague began decimating the army. The Temenus ran her once notorious Oracle of Delphi and verified by an oracle that the storm and pestilence were effects of divine wrath for the murder of the seer. God added that the killer should be exiled for 10 years and that Irakleides had to use as a guide in their campaign "a creature with three eyes." The Temenus obeyed and exiled Knight. Then went from there Oxylos, returning from Elis in his native Aetolia, astride his horse. Oxylos was eyed and Irakleides felt that his eye with his two horse constituted three eyes "plasma" that they had to use. So they took him as a guide for their return to the Peloponnese since Oxylos accepted provided that would help him understand the throne of Elis.
After all this, Irakleides landed in the Peloponnese and subjugated the residents after several battles. As a corollary of the final and definitive prevalence them, founded an altar of "Zeus Patroos."
Then the Irakleides were divided between the various regions kingdoms of the Peloponnese. Supported, however, by the fabulist that only three major areas were divided: Argolida, Messinia and Laconia. The Arcadia was never conquered by Irakleides as due to a supposed prophecy again forced to make peace with the Arcadians (see Kresphontes, blisters). But the cause of that peace every fabulist sees it differently and it seems logical that only the new occupants would have no benefit from the stress of their armies to conquer the most mountainous and barren region of Peloponnese.

List of children of Hercules
A) From the daughters of Thespis:
Alokratis
Amestrios
Antiadis
Adila
Antimachus
Antifos
Archedikos
Archemachos
Astyanax
courageous
herder
Voulefs
bully
Entelidis
Erasippos
Eumenes
Evrythras
Evrykapis
Evryopis
Eurypylus
Threpsippas
Iovis
hussar
circus
Ippozygos
curve
Kelefstanor
Kleolaos
Creon
Laomedon
Laomenis
Leucippus
Likaion
Lycurgus
mentor
cloud
Nikodromos
Oistrovlis
Olympus
Omolippos
Onisippos
Patroclus
Polylaos
Teleftagoras
Tellis
Falla
B) From other mortals:
Diikoon, Thirimachos, Kreontiadis (from Megara)
Tlipolemos (from Astyochi or Melite (mythology))
Thessalos (from Chalciope or Astyochi)
Eviris (from Parthenope)
Thestalos (from Epikasti)
Yllos, tench, Ktisippos, Macaria, Onitis (or Oditis) (from Deianeira)
Ahelo (or herd) the Tyrrhenian (the hub)
Palaemon (from autonomous)
Antiochus (from Midas)
Telephus, Telephus (the dawn)
C) From goddesses:
Alexiaris, Invincible (from Hebe)