View source for Lycus of Athens

{{Other uses|Lycus (mythology)}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Lycus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aɪ|k|ə|s}} {{respell|LY|kəs}}; {{langx|grc|Λύκος|Lúkos|wolf}}) was a prince as the son of King [[Pandion II]] of [[Athens]] who later ruled [[Megara]].

== Family ==
Lycus' mother was [[Pylia (mythology)|Pylia]], daughter of King [[Pylas]] of Megara.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 3.15.5</ref> He was the brother of [[Aegeus]], [[Nisos|Nisus]], [[Pallas (son of Pandion)|Pallas]] and the wife of [[Sciron]].<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 1.39.6</ref>

== Mythology ==
Upon the death of Pandion, Lycus and his brothers took control of Athens from [[Metion]] who had seized the throne from Pandion. They divided the government in four but Aegeas became king.<ref>Apollodorus, 3.15.5–6</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] reports that after getting driven out of Athens by his brother Aegeus, Lycus came to [[Aphareus of Messenia|Aphareus]] and introduced him and his family to the rites of the [[Demeter|Great Goddess]].<ref>Pausanias, 4.2.6</ref> ''"The Lykos tradition is probably a pseudo-myth of no great antiquity, as the German scholar Treuber claimed on the grounds that there is no evidence of a family tree in Athenian genealogy; Treuber suggests that political motives may have helped to foster the tradition"'', reported T. R. Bryce.<ref>Bryce, T. R. "The Arrival of the Goddess Leto in Lycia" ''Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte'' '''32'''.1 (1983:1-13) p. 4.</ref> 

According to [[Herodotus]], he gave his name to [[Lycia]] in [[Asia Minor]], hitherto known as [[Tremilus|Tremilis]]/[[Lycians|Termilae]].<ref>[[Herodotus]], 1.173 & 7.92, also referenced by [[Strabo]], 12.8.5</ref>

== Notes ==
<references />

== 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].
* [[Herodotus]], ''The Histories'' with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|0-674-99133-8}}. [https://topostext.org/work/22 Online version at the Topos Text Project.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0125 Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library].
* [[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].
* [[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lycus Of Athens}}
[[Category:Princes in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Ancient Megarians]]
[[Category:Mythological people from Attica]]
[[Category:Ancient Megara]]