View source for Nycteus

{{Short description|Greek mythological Theban king}}
{{For|the insect genus|Nycteus (beetle)}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Nycteus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɪ|k|tj|uː|s}}; {{langx|el|Νυκτεύς|Nukteús|nocturnal}}) was a king of [[Ancient Thebes (Boeotia)|Thebes]]. His rule began after the death of [[Polydorus]], and ended when he was succeeded by his brother [[Lycus (brother of Nycteus)|Lycus]].
==Family==
Nycteus and his brother Lycus were the sons of either [[Chthonius]], one of the [[Spartoi]],<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.5.5 3.5.5].</ref> or of the [[nymph]] [[Clonia (nymph)|Clonia]] and [[Hyrieus]], the son of [[Poseidon]] and the Atlantid [[Alcyone (Pleiad)|Alkyone]],<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:3.10.1 3.10.1].</ref> or of Poseidon and the [[Pleiades (Greek mythology)|Pleiad]] [[Celaeno]]. Nycteus had two daughters by [[Polyxo]], [[Nycteis (mythology)|Nycteis]] and [[Antiope (mother of Amphion)|Antiope]].
==Mythology==
The Nycteus and Lycus fled from [[Euboea]] after they murdered King Phlegyas, settling in Hyria and then moving to Thebes, because they were friends with [[Pentheus]], its king.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 3.5.</ref> Nycteus's daughter, Nycteis married Polydorus, who was the successor of Pentheus, and their son was [[Labdacus]]. However, Pentheus and Polydorus both died soon after, and Nycteus became regent for Labdacus.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
After Antiope was impregnated by [[Zeus]] and fled to marry king [[Epopeus]] in [[Sicyon]], the ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'' reports that Nycteus killed himself in shame, after asking Lycus to punish her.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 3.5.5</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], however, states that Nycteus led the Thebans against Epopeus, but was wounded and carried back to Thebes, where he died after asking Lycus to continue the battle.<ref>Pausanias, 2.6.2</ref> Lycus succeeded him as regent of Thebes.
{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Polydorus (son of Cadmus)|Polydorus]]
| title = [[Theban kings in Greek mythology|Regent of Thebes]]
| after = [[Lycus (brother of Nycteus)|Lycus]]
| years =
}}
{{s-end}}
== Theban royal family tree ==
{{Family tree of the Theban royal house}}
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
== References ==
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
{{Theban Kings}}
[[Category:Suicides in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Theban kings]]
[[Category:Mythological Euboeans]]
{{Greek-myth-stub}}