In
Greek mythology,
Electryon was the son of
Perseus and
Andromeda, and king of
Tiryns and
Mycenae or Medea in
Argolis. He married either
Anaxo, daughter of his brother
Alcaeus and sister of
Amphitryon, or
Eurydice daughter of
Pelops. His wife bore him a daughter
Alcmena and many sons (Stratobates, Gorgophonus, Phylonomus, Celaeneus, Amphimachus, Lysinomus, Chirimachus, Anactor, and Archelaus). Electryon had an illegitimate son
Licymnius by
Midea, a
Phrygian woman. The six sons of
Pterelaus, King of the
Taphians, descended from Electryon's brother
Mestor came to Mycenae to claim a share of kingdom. When Electryon spurned their request, they drove off his cattle; Electryon's sons battled against them, and all but Licymnius (on one side) and
Everes (on the other) died. Everes sold the cattle to
Polyxenus of
Elis. Amphitryon, Electryon's nephew and promised in marriage to Alcmena, bought the cattle and returned them to his uncle, but accidentally killed him as he threw his club at one of the cows. Electryon's brother
Sthenelus seized the throne of Mycenae, charged Amphitryon with murder, and sent him into exile.
