Lynceus

Family: Messene · Role: son of Aphareus · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.8

Lynceus, of Messene and son of Aphareus, is named alongside his brother Idas as a son of Arene. Elsewhere, he is said to have been born to Egyptus and Argyphia, alongside Proteus. At Lerna, Hypermnestra spared him when Danaus’s daughters slew their bridegrooms, because he had respected her virginity; Danaus afterwards united them in marriage.

Lynceus later reigned over Argos after Danaus and fathered Abas by Hypermnestra. At Messene, Idas seized the cattle after unfairly dividing the spoil, prompting Castor and Pollux to pursue them. Lynceus discovered Castor’s hiding place and revealed it to Idas, who killed him. Pollux then chased Lynceus and killed him with a spear, though Lynceus wounded him in the head with a stone and left him unconscious.

Relationship record

Life events

• Danaus's daughters slew their bridegrooms, except Hypermnestra, who spared Lynceus.(Apollodorus, Library 2.1 · 📍 Lerna)
  • With: Danaus Hypermnestra
  • “and they slew their bridegrooms as they slept, all but Hypermnestra; for she saved Lynceus because he had respected her virginity:”
• Danaus united Hypermnestra and Lynceus in marriage.(Apollodorus, Library 2.1)
  • With: Danaus Hypermnestra
  • “Danaus afterwards united Hypermnestra to Lynceus;”
• Lynceus succeeded Danaus as ruler of Argos.(Apollodorus, Library 2.2 · 📍 Argos)
  • With: Danaus
  • “Lynceus reigned over Argos after Danaus”
• Idas seized the cattle after unfairly dividing the spoil, prompting the Dioscuri to reclaim it.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11 · 📍 Messene)
  • With: Castor Pollux Idas
  • “And before they knew where they were, Idas had swallowed his own share first and likewise his brother's, and with him had driven off the captured cattle to Messene. But the Dioscuri marched against Messene , and drove away that cattle and much else besides.”
• Idas killed Castor after Lynceus discovered his hiding place.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11)
  • With: Castor Idas
  • “But Lynceus spied Castor and discovered him to Idas, who killed him.”
• Pollux killed Lynceus but was wounded and rendered unconscious.(Apollodorus, Library 3.11)
  • With: Pollux
  • “Pollux chased them and slew Lynceus by throwing his spear, but in pursuing Lynceus he was wounded in the head with a stone thrown by him, and fell down in a swoon.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.8

• parent: Aphareus “Idas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus”
• siblings with Idas “Idas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus”

Apollodorus, Library 2.1

• parent: Egyptus “Lynceus and Proteus had been borne to Egyptus by a woman of royal blood, Argyphia”
• parent: Argyphia “Lynceus and Proteus had been borne to Egyptus by a woman of royal blood, Argyphia”
• married with Hypermnestra “First, they picked out Hypermnestra as the eldest to be the wife of Lynceus”

Apollodorus, Library 2.2

• child: Abas “Lynceus reigned over Argos after Danaus and begat a son Abas by Hypermnestra;”
• with Danaus (Danaus was Lynceus's predecessor.) “Lynceus reigned over Argos after Danaus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.10

• parent: Arene “Aphareus and Arene, daughter of Oebalus, had sons Lynceus and Idas and Pisus”

Apollodorus, Library 3.11

• with Pollux (Pollux slew Lynceus.) “Pollux chased them and slew Lynceus by throwing his spear”
• with Pollux (Lynceus wounded Pollux.) “but in pursuing Lynceus he was wounded in the head with a stone thrown by him”
• enemies with Castor “But Lynceus spied Castor and discovered him to Idas, who killed him.”
• enemies with Pollux “Pollux chased them and slew Lynceus by throwing his spear, but in pursuing Lynceus he was wounded in the head with a stone thrown by him, and fell down in a swoon.”

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