Lynceus of Argos

In Greek mythology, Lynceus (/ˈlɪnsjuːs/; Ancient Greek: Λυγκεύς, Lynkeús means "lynx-eyed") was a king of Argos, succeeding Danaus on the throne.

For other uses, see Lynceus (mythology) and Lynceus (disambiguation).
Hypermnestra watching Lynceus take her father's crown; Cupid holds up the motto "Love Conquers All" (maiolica plate, 1537, by Francesco Xanto Avelli)

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 Danaïdes. 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 Danaïdes 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 Danaïdes. 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 Danaïdes, 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]

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Danaus		 King of Argos Succeeded by
Abas

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
InachusMelia
ZeusIoPhoroneus
EpaphusMemphis
LibyaPoseidon
BelusAchiroëAgenorTelephassa
DanausPieriaAegyptusCadmusCilixEuropaPhoenix
MantineusHypermnestraLynceusHarmoniaZeus
Polydorus
SpartaLacedaemonOcaleaAbasAgaveSarpedonRhadamanthus
Autonoë
EurydiceAcrisiusInoMinos
ZeusDanaëSemeleZeus
PerseusDionysus
Colour key:

     Male
     Female
     Deity

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See also

References
  1. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.8.2, 1.9.16, 3.9.2 & 3.10.3
  2. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.151-155
  3. Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.304
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