Yolao

Yolao and Heracles. Roman Mosaic of the 1st century. Ninfeo de Anzio.

In Greek mythology Yolao, Iolas or Iolao (Ἰόλαος / Iólaos), son of Iphicles and Automedusa, was one of the most faithful companions of his uncle, Heracles, who used to drive the chariot. Plutarch and Euripides even present him as his eromenos (lover).

Mythology

Yolaus helped his uncle slay the Lernaean Hydra (cauterizing their many necks with fire as Heracles decapitated them, to prevent the heads from regenerating) and capture Geryon's cattle. He took part in the expedition of the Argonauts and also in the Calydonian boar hunt. He also won the first Olympic Games, instituted by Heracles, driving his horses.

He married Mégara, to whom his uncle had ceded him because she reminded him of the murder of their children, and had a daughter with her: Leipefilena. He was sent by Heracles to Sardinia in command of the children he had had with the daughters of Thespius, the Thespiads, with the order to found a colony. There he took from the savage inhabitants the best regions of the country, civilized them, and was later to be worshiped there. From Sardinia he went to Sicily, and then returned with Heracles shortly before his death.

After Deianira poisoned her husband Heracles, believing that he was unfaithful to her with Yole, Yolao lit the funeral pyre on which she immolated herself (although other versions say it was Philoctetes). After this, when his remains could not be discovered (because he had been promoted to Olympus), Yolao was the first to offer him sacrifices as a demigod.

According to Pausanias Yolao died in Sardinia, while according to Pindar and other sources he was buried in the tomb of his grandfather, Amphitryon, where he was worshiped as a hero. His descendants in Sardinia were called Ίολαεις (Estrabo v, p. 225) and Yolaenses.

Such was his attachment to the sons of Heracles that after his death, when Eurystheus demanded the Athenians surrender them, who had been kindly received in the city, Iolao asked the gods of the underworld for permission to recover for an hour their youth and come back to earth to help them. Permission was granted and so he killed Eurystheus. Another version makes youth recover thanks to the intervention of the goddess Hebe, wife of Heracles on Olympus and, therefore, her political aunt.

Worship

According to Diodorus Siculus, Iolao was the object of a heroic cult in Sicily, where Heracles had consecrated a forest and various sacrifices to him. He was especially revered in the city of Agira:

Those who remain in the city of Agira dedicate their scalpel to Yolao and let her grow carefully until she is in a position to be offered to this god with great ceremonies. His temple is so holy and respectable that those who lack the usual sacrifices lose their voice and become as dead. However, they return to their original state as soon as they vow to satisfy this duty and give appropriate assurances. The inhabitants of Agira call Herculana at the door before which they make their offerings to Yolao. They celebrate their feast every year with the same solemnity, with exercises of struggle and horse racing, without distinguishing in them the masters of the slaves, admitting them to the same dances, tables and sacrifices.

In the time of Pausanias there was still a city called Iolaïa in Sardinia, where Yolao was worshiped as a hero.

Fonts

• Mythological Library II, 4, 11; 5, 2; 6, 1.
• DIODORS SYCULE: Historical Library IV, 29; 30; 40.
• EURÍPIDES: The Hierarchy.
• HIGINO: Fables 14; 103; 173.
• OVIDIO: Metamorphosis IX, 394 - 417.
• PAUSANIAS: Description of Greece X, 17; 23; 29.
• PÍNDARO: Policy XI, 137. Olympics IX, 149.