Sthenelus' father Capaneus was one of the
Seven Against Thebes. He was an outstanding warrior, but he was also notorious for his arrogance. He stood just at the wall of
Thebes during the war of the Seven against Thebes and shouted that Zeus himself could not stop him from invading it. While he was mounting the ladder, Zeus struck and killed Capaneus with a thunderbolt. At his funeral, Sthenelus watched as his mother Evadne threw herself on her husband's funeral pyre and died. The sons of the Seven Against Thebes, including Sthenelus, swore to avenge their fathers, after which they were called the Epigoni. Ten years later, they defeated the Thebans and took the city. Sthenelus ruled
Iphis' half of
Argos, along with
Diomedes, after both
Adrastus and
Aegialeus had died. Sthenelus fought alongside
Diomedes and the other
Argives in the
Trojan War and brought 25 ships to
Troy. The
Iliad portrays Sthenelus and Diomedes as close companions both on and off the battlefield. Sthenelus drives Diomedes' chariot and advises him in battle. Their close relationship is emphasized by Diomedes when he proclaims that, even if all the other Achaeans lose faith and return home, he and Sthenelus will stand together and fight until Troy falls. Sthenelus was one of the men who hid in the
Trojan horse. When Diomedes returned to Argos after the fall of Troy, he learned that his wife Aegiale was having an affair with Cometes, the son of Sthenelus. They plotted to kill Diomedes, but he was able to escape and travel to
Italy. It is unknown if Sthenelus joined him or stayed in Argos. He was succeeded by his son
Cylarabes. During Cylarabes' reign, Argos was finally reunited after having been divided into three parts since the reign of Anaxagoras. ==Namesakes==