In Greek mythology, Sthenelus (Ancient Greek: Σθένελος, Sthenelos, "strong one, forcer"; derived from sthenos, "strength, might, force") was a king of Tiryns and Mycenae, and the son of Perseus who founded the latter city.

According to the mythographer Apollodorus, Sthenelus was the son of the Greek hero Perseus and the Ethiopian princess Andromeda, and the brother of Perses, Alcaeus, Heleus, Mestor, Electryon, and Gorgophone.^[1] By Nicippe, sister of Atreus and Thyestes,^[2] Sthenelus became the father of Eurystheus, Alcyone and Medusa (Astymedusa).^[3]

Sthenelus exiled his nephew Amphitryon, born to his brother Alcaeus, from Mycenae for having murdered Electryon, Sthenelus' other brother. (Amphitryon was also the husband of his niece, Alcmene, and she joined him in his exile.) As heir, Sthenelus was the successor to the throne of Mycenae, and was succeeded by his son Eurystheus, born to him and his wife Nicippe.^[4] According to the Roman mythographer Hyginus, Sthenelus was killed by Hyllus, the son of Heracles and Deianira.^[5]

• Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. Antiquity, Volume 14, Sym-Tub, editors: Hubert Cancik, Helmuth Schneider, Brill, 2009. ISBN 978-90-04-14219-0. Online version at Brill.
• Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.