Iolaus

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Heracles and his nephew, helper and eromenos Iolaus. 1st c. CE mosaic from the Anzio Nymphaeum, Rome

In Greek mythology, Iolaus (Greek: ΄Ιόλαος) was a Theban divine hero, son of Iphicles and thus a nephew of Heracles. He often acted as Heracles' charioteer and companion, and was thought to have been Heracles' eromenos (beloved), thus functioning as the Theban patron hero of pederasty.

Plutarch reports that down to his own time male couples would go to Iolaus' tomb in Thebes to swear an oath of loyalty to the hero and to each other.^[1] This initiatory myth is believed to be of ancient origin. The tomb of Iolaus is also mentioned by Pindar.^[2]

The Theban gymnasium was also named after him, and the Iolaeia, an athletic festival consisting of gymnastic and equestrian events, was held yearly in Thebes in his honor.^[3]

Heracles and Iolaus, with Eros between them.
4th c. BCE Etruscan ritual vessel

Iolaus provided essential help to Heracles in his battle against the Hydra, his second labor. Seeing that Heracles was being overwhelmed by the multi-headed monster, who grew two heads in place of each one cut off, Iolaus sprang to help, cauterizing each neck as Heracles beheaded it.

Heracles gave his wife, Megara, to Iolaus – ostensibly because the sight of her reminded him of his murder of their three children. They had a daughter, Leipephilene. He was one of the Heraclidae.^[4]

Upon Heracles' death, Iolaus lit the funeral pyre, though according to some mythographers, this was Philoctetes instead.

[edit] Television

Iolaus was a main character in the syndicated television series Hercules: the Legendary Journeys, and was played by Michael Hurst. This Iolaus was neither the lover nor the relative of Hercules (the show used Roman names for several key characters), but simply a traveling companion, almost a sidekick. The character as portrayed in the series occasionally eclipsed Hercules. In Young Hercules Iolaus was played by Dean O'Gorman.