In Greek mythology, Amphitryon was a king of Tiryns, son of Alcaeus, and husband of Alemene. During his absence from home in order to punish the murderers of his wife's brothers, Almene was visited by Zeus in the disguise of Amphitryon, who himself returned home next day. She became the mother of Hercules by Zeus, and of Iphicles by Amphitryon. The story has been treated by Plautus in his Ampitruo, and after him by Molière in his Amphitryon, a very free adaptation of his original. Here his hero was supposed to be M. de Montespan, husband of the new mistress of Louis XIV.