Alebion attacked
Heracles with Dercynus when he passed through their country, Liguria in North-Western Italy, on his way back to
Mycenae from
Iberia having obtained the Cattle of
Geryon as his
tenth labour. The battle that followed was fierce; Albion and Dercynus (or Bergion) were supported by a numerous army. Heracles and his army were in a difficult position so he prayed to his father
Zeus for help. With the aegis of Zeus, Heracles won the battle, and both brothers were killed. It was this kneeling position of Heracles, when he prayed to his father Zeus, that gave the name
Engonasin (Ἐγγόνασιν, derived from ἐν γόνασιν), meaning "on his knees" or "the Kneeler" to
Hercules' constellation. The story is also alluded to in
Hyginus,
Dionysius and
Strabo. ==See also==