Niobids
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In Greek mythology the Niobids were the children of Amphion and Niobe, slain by Apollo and Artemis because their mother had unfavourably compared the number of her own offspring with those of Leto, who had only borne two.
The number of Niobids mentioned varies greatly. Most usually they numbered as twelve or fourteen, but other sources mention twenty, ten, or even five children (two sons and three daughters). Generally half these children were considered sons, the other half daughters. The names of same of the children are mentioned; these lists vary by author:
- Apollodorus (Library, 3.5.6): Agenor, Astycratia, Astyoche, Cleodoxa, Damasichthon, Eupinytus, Ismenus, Neaera, Ogygia, Pelopia, Phaedimus, Phthia, Phylomache, Sipylus, Tantalus
- Hyginus (Fabulae, 11,69): Archenor, Astycratia, Astynome, Chias, Chloris, Cleodoxa, Damasichthon, Eudoxa, Eupinytus, Ismenus, Neaera, Ogygia, Phaedimus, Phthia, Sipylus, Tantalus, Thera
- Ovid (Metamorpheses, 6.255ff): Alphenor, Damasichthon, Ilioneus, Ismenus, Phaedimus, Sipylus, Tantalus.
Apollo and Artemis slew them all with their arrows, Apollo shooting the sons, Artemis the daughters. They were buried by the gods at Thebes.
Another version of the myth states that two of the Niobids were spared, Chloris and Amyclas.
[edit] Variant Myth
In another version of the myth, the Niobids are the children of Philottus and Niobe, daughter of Assaon. Assaon made advances to her which she refused. He then invited her children to a banquet and burnt them all to death. Philottus had perished whilst hunting. As a result of these calamities, she flung herself from high rock. Assaon, reflecting over his crimes, also killed himself. [1]
