Alcmene (alk-MEE-nee). Mother of Heracles and Iphicles. Although Heracles and Iphicles were twins, only Heracles was an immortal hero. It was understood that Iphicles was the son of Alcmene's mortal husband, Amphitryon, while Heracles was the son of Zeus, who had tricked Alcmene by impersonating her husband. The goddess Hera, jealous of her husband Zeus's infidelity, delayed Alcmene's delivery of Heracles so that his cousin Eurystheus became king of Mycenae and Tiryns in his stead.