Lycurgus of Arcadia

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Lycurgus, in Greek mythology, was the king of Arcadia. He was the son of Aleus, the previous ruler, and Neaera, daughter of Pereus.[1] Lycurgus married either Cleophyle, Eurynome or Antinoe and fathered these sons: Ancaeus, Epochus, Amphidamas, and Iasius.[2][3]

Lycurgus was said to have killed Areithous whom he attacked unexpectedly in a narrow passage where Areithous' famous club was useless. He took Areithous' armor as spoils and wore it himself, but handed it over to Ereuthalion when he had grown old.[4] According to scholia on the Argonautica, Ereuthalion was also vanquished by Lycurgus, who laid an ambush against him and overcame him in the ensuing battle. The Arcadians celebrated a feast known as Moleia in commemoration of this mythical event (mōlos being a word for "battle" according to the scholiast), and paid general honors to Lycurgus.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Pseudo-Apollodorus, 3.9.1.
  2. ↑ Pseudo-Apollodorus, 3.9.2. Pausanias, 8.4.10 mentions only Ancaeus and Epochus.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1. 164.
  4. ↑ Homer, Iliad, 7. 136 - 150

References

  • 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.
  • Pausanias, 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. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
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