Lycus (son of Hyrieus)

Also known as: Lycus · Family: Theban · Role: king · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.5

🌐 Also appears in: Greek Tragedy — The Same Myth, Three Voices (as Lycus)

Apollodorus says Hyrieus and the nymph Clonia were the parents of Lycus and Nycteus. The brothers had fled Euboea after killing Phlegyas, then settled at Hyria and were enrolled as citizens through their friendship with Pentheus.

While Laius was a child, Lycus took over the government and served as his guardian. After Nycteus killed himself, charging Lycus to punish Epopeus and Antiope, Lycus marched against Sicyon, subdued it, killed Epopeus and led Antiope away captive. He and his wife Dirce imprisoned and mistreated her.

When Zethus and Amphion recognized their mother, they killed Lycus; Dirce was tied to a bull and her body thrown into the spring named after her.

Relationship record

Apollodorus, Library 3.5

siblings with Nycteus (The preceding sentence identifies Lycus and Nycteus as the two persons.) “so long as Laius was a child. Both of them had fled [ from Euboea ] because they had killed Phlegyas, son of Ares and Dotis the Boeotian, and they took up their abode at Hyria”
married with Dirce “But Lycus and his wife Dirce imprisoned Antiope and treated her despitefully.”
ward: Laius “the government was usurped by Lycus, brother of Nycteus, so long as Laius was a child.”
enemies with Phlegyas “Both of them had fled [ from Euboea ] because they had killed Phlegyas, son of Ares and Dotis the Boeotian”
friends with Pentheus “they were enrolled as citizens through their friendship with Pentheus.”
guardian: Nycteus “In a fit of despondency Nycteus killed himself, after charging Lycus to punish Epopeus and Antiope.”
enemies with Epopeus “Lycus marched against Sicyon , subdued it, slew Epopeus, and led Antiope away captive.”
with Antiope (Lycus took Antiope captive.) “Lycus marched against Sicyon , subdued it, slew Epopeus, and led Antiope away captive.”
enemies with Antiope “But Lycus and his wife Dirce imprisoned Antiope and treated her despitefully.”
enemies with Zethus “They recognized their mother and slew Lycus, but Dirce they tied to a bull, and flung her dead body into the spring that is called Dirce after her.”
enemies with Amphion “They recognized their mother and slew Lycus, but Dirce they tied to a bull, and flung her dead body into the spring that is called Dirce after her.”

Apollodorus, Library 3.10

parent: Hyrieus “Hyrieus had Nycteus and Lycus by a nymph Clonia”
parent: Clonia “Hyrieus had Nycteus and Lycus by a nymph Clonia”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.