IOLAUS

ancient Greek hero, the nephew, charioteer, and assistant of Heracles. He was the son of Iphicles, himself mortal half brother of Heracles by the same mother. Iolaus aided Heracles in his second labour, the slaying of the Hydra and its ally the crab. He also went with him to the far west to capture the cattle of the giant Geryon. Hence he was associated with various places in Sicily and, later, in Sardinia. Iolaus had a hero cult at Thebes, but elsewhere he was worshipped only in conjunction with Heracles.