Erginus was the son of Clymenus or Periclymenus, his predecessor, and Buzyge (or Budeia)[1] and his brothers were Arrhon, Azeus, Pyleus, Stratius,[2] Eurydice[3] and Axia.
[6] Erginus avenged his father's death at the hands of Perieres, charioteer of Menoeceus of Thebes; he made war against Thebans, inflicting a heavy defeat.
This prompted a second war between Orchomenus and Thebes, only this time Thebes (under the leadership of Heracles) was victorious, and a double tribute was imposed on the Orchomenians.
[7] Erginus was slain in battle according to the version of the story given by most ancient writers (e.g., the Bibliotheca, Strabo,[8] Eustathius).
But according to Pausanias, Erginus was spared by Heracles and lived to a ripe old age, and even fathered two sons, Trophonius and Agamedes, on a younger woman.