Nycteus
- a son of Hyrieus and the nymph Clonia, and father of Antiopa: Nycteos Antiope, Prop. 3, 15 (4, 14), 12.—Hence,
- II Nyctēis, ĭdis, f., the Nycteide, i.e. Antiopa: Nycteida, Ov. M. 6, 111: Nycteidos, Stat. Th. 7, 190; Hyg. Fab. 7 and 155.
(Νυκτεύς), a son of Hyrieus by the nymph Clonia, brother of Lycus and Orion, and husband of Polyxo, by whom he became the father of Antiope. (Apollod. 3.10.1; Ant. Lib. 25.) According to others Antiope was the daughter of the river-god Asopus. (Apollod. l.c.; Hom. Od. 11.259, &c.) Antiope was carried off by Epopeus, king of Aegialeia; and Nycteus, who, as the guardian of Labdacus, was staying at Thebes, took revenge by invading with a Theban army the territory of Sicyon : but he was defeated; and being severely wounded, he was carried back to Thebes, where, previous to his death, he appointed his brother Lycus guardian of Labdacus, and at the same time demanded of him as a duty to take vengeance on Epopeus. But the died before Lycus could fulfil his promise. (Paus. 2.6.2; Hygin. Fab. 7, 8.) When Labdacus had grown up, Lycus surrendered the government to him; but as Labdacus (lied soon after, Lycus again became the guardian of his son, Laius, but was expelled by his own great-nephews, Amphion and Zethus. (Paus. 9.5.2; Eur. Her. 27.) A very different account is found in Apollodorus (3.5.5), for according to it, Nycteus and Lycus were the sons of Chthonius, and were obliged to quit their country on account of the murder of Phlegyas. They then settled at Hyria; but Lycus was chosen commander by the Thebans, and usurped tile government which belonged to Laius, and in which he maintained himself for twenty years, until he was slain by Amphion and Zethus. Nycteus made away with himself in despair, because his daughter, who was with child by Zeus, fled to Epopens at Sicyon; but before he died, he commissioned Lycus to take vengeance on Epopeus. Lycus promised, and kept his word, for he slew Epopeus, and kept Antiope as his prisoner. According to Hyginus (Hyg. Fab. 157), Nycteus and Lycus were the sons of Poseidon and Celaeno. (Völcker, Mythol. des Japet. Geschlechts, p. 116.) [L.S]
(Νυκτεύς). Son of Hyrieus and Clonia and father of Antiopé, who is hence called Nycteïs. Antiopé was carried off by Epopeus, king of Sicyon; whereupon Nycteus, who governed Thebes, as the guardian of Labdacus, invaded Sicyon with a Theban army. Nycteus was defeated, and died of his wounds, leaving his brother Lycus guardian of Labdacus. See Hyg. Fab. 7, and Lycus.
- father of Nycteis: Apollod. 3.5.4
- brother of Lycus: Apollod. 3.5.4
- banished for murder, settles at Hyria: Apollod. 3.5.4
- comes to Thebes: Apollod. 3.5.5
- regent of Thebes for Labdacus: Paus. 9.5.4ff.
- father of Antiope: Paus. 2.6.1
- marches against Aegialea to recover Antiope, but is defeated and slain: Paus. 2.6.2
- threatens his daughter Antiope, and kills himself: Apollod. 3.5.5
- father of Callisto, according to Asius: Apollod. 3.8.1
- father of Antiope: Apollod. 3.10.1