Lynceus
In Greek mythology, Lynceus (/ˈlɪnsjuːs/; Ancient Greek: Λυγκεύς, Lungeús means "lynx-eyed") was a king of Argos, succeeding Danaus on the throne.
Family
Lynceus was named as a descendant of Belus through his father Aegyptus, who was the twin brother of Danaus, father of fifty daughters called Danaides. He had forty-nine siblings and out of them had five full brothers namely Proteus, Busiris, Enceladus Lycus and Daiphron through their mother Argyphia, a woman of royal blood. By Hypermnestra, Lynceus became the father of Abas, who succeeded him as king.
Mythology
Lynceus father' Aegyptus commanded that his sons should marry the Danaides but Danaus together with his daughters fled to Argos where King Pelasgus ruled. Then Lynceus together with his brothers and father arrived to take the Danaides. Danaus gave them to spare the Argives the pain of a battle however, he instructed his daughters to kill their husbands on their wedding night. Forty-nine followed through, but one, Hypermnestra refused because Lynceus honored her wish to remain a virgin. Danaus was angry with his disobedient daughter and threw her to the Argive courts but Aphrodite intervened and saved her. Lynceus later killed Danaus as revenge for the death of his brothers. Lynceus and Hypermnestra then began a dynasty of Argive kings (the Danaid Dynasty) beginning with Abas. In some versions of the legend, the Danaides, minus Hypermnestra (or sometimes alternately Amymone) were punished in Tartarus by being forced to carry water through a jug with holes, or a sieve, so the water always leaked out.[1][2][3][4]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Danaus |
King of Argos | Succeeded by Abas |
Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
See also
References
- ↑ Bibliotheca Book I, Chapter VIII, p. 2 and Chapter 9, p. 16; Book III, Chapter X, p. 3 and Chapter IX, p. 2.
- ↑ Apollonius Rhodius. Argonautica. Book I, 151-155.
- ↑ Ovid, Metamorphoses. Book VIII, 304.
- ↑ "Lynceus". Greek Myth Index. Retrieved 3 December 2012.