After Hercules was summoned to heaven, Eurystheus, king of Argos, no longer had to fear him.So, he tried his best to take revenge on the descendants of the great hero.Most of them lived with Alcmene, the mother of Hercules, in Mycenae, the capital of Argos.In order to escape the king's persecution, they fled to Trakis, hoping to get the protection of King Keyux.Eurystheus asked Cyux to hand over the descendants of Hercules, otherwise he would use force against the weak kingdom.The descendants of Hercules were disturbed and fled Trakis again.Hercules' nephew and friend Iolaus, the son of Iphicles, took care of them like a father.When he was young, he shared fate with Hercules. Although he is old and gray-haired now, he still protects the descendants of his old friend and wanders with them everywhere.Their purpose was to consolidate the position and possessions acquired by Hercules in the Peloponnese.Chased by Eurystheus, they came to Athens.This is where Demophon, the son of Theseus, ruled.He had just driven out the usurper Menastheus and regained the throne.

After arriving in Athens, they pitched tents in the wilderness near the altar of Zeus, and fell before the altar to pray for the protection of the Athenians.Eurystheus sent a messenger to threaten them.The messenger said to Iolaus mockingly: "Iolaus, do you think it is safe here? But who dares to fight against the mighty Eurystheus? Go back to Argos quickly. A harsh sentence awaits you there: stoning you to death!" Iolaus answered fearlessly, "No! This altar will protect me. I am not only afraid of a villain like you, but I am not afraid of a mighty army sent by your master. Here is the piece that will save us." land of the free." The messenger Cyprusius threatened at this: "Well, listen, I did not come here alone, and there is a mighty army behind me. You will soon come from This so-called land of freedom is driven away!"

Iolaus turned his head and shouted loudly to the residents of Athens: "Pious citizens, you can't just watch the people under the protection of Zeus being robbed, and you can't watch the holy places be desecrated, because this And a disgrace to your city." The Athenians heard cries for help coming from all directions, and they saw a group of exiles sitting around the altar. "Who is that old man? Who are those beautiful young people?" Everyone asked.When they learned that these people who sought protection were descendants of the great hero Hercules, they not only sympathized, but respected them.They ordered the insolent emissary to leave the altar quickly, and told him to report his request to the king's ticket first.

"Who is the king here?" Cyprusius asked awkwardly, overwhelmed by the momentum of the Athenians. "He is a great man," they answered, "and you must obey his judgment. Our king is Demophon, son of the immortal hero Theseus."