This article will address the topic of Licymnius, which has gained great relevance in recent years, due to its impact on various areas of society. Since its appearance, Licymnius has aroused great interest and generated intense debates in public opinion. Throughout this research, the different aspects related to Licymnius will be analyzed, as well as its implications in different contexts. The current and future perspectives of Licymnius will also be addressed, in order to provide a comprehensive vision of this currently significant topic.
In Greek mythology, Licymnius (/lɪˈsɪmniəs/; Ancient Greek: Λικύμνιος) was a good friend of Heracles and an illegitimate son of Electryon, King of Tiryns and Mycenae in the Argolid (which makes him half-brother of Alcmene, mother of Heracles). His mother is given as Mideia, a Phrygian woman.[1][2] One source mentions Alco (Ἀλκώ) as his sister.[3] Licymnios appears in the Iliad (II, 661-663) as an old uncle of Heracles (without other details than that of being a "spawn of Ares - which can be understood figuratively as "warrior")
Licymnius was the only one of Electryon's sons to return home after the unsuccessful war against the Taphians and Teleboans.[4] Licymnius married Perimede, daughter of Alcaeus and sister of Amphitryon, and became the father of Melas, Argius[5] and Oeonus.[6][7] Licymnius accompanied Amphitryon when the latter was expelled from the Argolid and fled to Thebes.
According to one story, found in the Iliad, he was accidentally killed in his old age by Heracles' son Tlepolemus, when the latter was beating his servant with a stick and Licymnius ran in between (or else Tlepolemus and Licymnius had a quarrel over a certain matter).[8][9][10][11] Pausanias mentions his tomb in Argos.[12]