Lycus

Family: Egyptian · Role: prince · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 2.1

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

Lycus is an Egyptian prince who, in the account of Apollodorus, obtained Agave, daughter of Danaus and Europe, by lot in marriage. He is named as the son of Dascylus, and when Heracles came to Mysia, Lycus entertained him; during a battle with the king of the Bebryces, Heracles sided with Lycus and slew many, including Mygdon, brother of Amycus.

Lycus and his brother Nycteus fled from Euboea after killing Phlegyas, son of Ares and Dotis, and settled at Hyria. Through their friendship with Pentheus, they were enrolled as citizens. When Nycteus killed himself, he charged Lycus with punishing Epopeus and Antiope. Lycus subdued Sicyon, killed Epopeus, and took Antiope captive; as guardian of the child Laius, he governed while Laius was young. Lycus and his wife Dirce later imprisoned Antiope and treated her cruelly, until Zethus and Amphion recognized their mother and slew Lycus.

Elsewhere, Lycus is described as a son of Poseidon, and also as the son of Hyrieus and the nymph Clonia, with Nycteus as his brother. Another genealogy names him among the sons of Pandion and pandionsonofmetiadusa, alongside Aegeus, Pallas, and Nisus.

Relationship record

Apollodorus, Library 2.1

married with Agave “Busiris, Enceladus, Lycus, and Daiphron obtained by lot the daughters that had been borne to Danaus by Europe , to wit, Automate, Amymone, Agave, and Scaea.”

Apollodorus, Library 2.5

parent: Dascylus “Lycus, son of Dascylus”
with Heracles (interaction) “he came to Mysia , to the court of Lycus, son of Dascylus, and was entertained by him”
with Heracles (Lycus entertained Hercules, who sided with him in battle.) “and was entertained by him; and in a battle between him and the king of the Bebryces Hercules sided with Lycus and slew many, amongst others King Mygdon, brother of Amycus.”

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: Poseidon “Poseidon had intercourse with two of them, first with Celaeno, by whom he had Lycus”
parent: Hyrieus “Hyrieus had Nycteus and Lycus by a nymph Clonia”
parent: Clonia “Hyrieus had Nycteus and Lycus by a nymph Clonia”

Apollodorus, Library 3.15

parent: pandionsonofmetiadusa “he had sons born to him, to wit, Aegeus, Pallas, Nisus, and Lycus”
siblings with Aegeus “he had sons born to him, to wit, Aegeus, Pallas, Nisus, and Lycus”
parent: Pandion “he had sons born to him, to wit, Aegeus, Pallas, Nisus, and Lycus”

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