Hercules’ brother, King Iphicles of Corinth, was not with his wife when she died — he was out controlling rioting soldiers. For this he blamed the vetern warriors led by Ajax and demanded they leave Corinth without dedicating a statue. Hercules and Iolaus, friends of Ajax, tried to intervene. But deadly battles broke out when Iphicles killed Phidias, the statue’s designer. Ajax tried to kill Iphicles as retribution, but he ended up devoured by giant sand worms. Tired of the madness, Iphicles relented by officiating at the dedication of Phidias’ statue and extending land to the veterns.