ANTIOPE (mother of Amphion)
Figure of myth · Greek mythological figure; daughter of Nycteus and mother of Amphion
- Parents
- Asopus, Nycteus, Polyxo
- Siblings
- Nycteïs
- Consorts
- Zeus, Epopeus, Phocus
- Children
- Amphion, Zethos
- In the sources
- 18 ancient passages
While most accounts name Nycteus as her father, some reports claim she was the daughter of the river Asopus instead. [f: 3, 5, 12, 33]1,2,3,4,5 Polyxo is identified as her mother in one tradition. [f: 13, 33]3 Raised as a maiden in the Boeotian town of Hyria, she grew up in that region.6
Zeus, disguised as a Satyr, impregnated Antiope, and she conceived a twin offspring from this union. [f: 4, 10, 34]3,5,7,8 These children, Amphion and Zethus, were born of Zeus and Antiope. [f: 2, 6, 35]1,9,3,5 When her father threatened her during her pregnancy, Antiope fled to Sicyon. [f: 18, 22]10,7 There, she married Epopeus, a shepherd of peoples, though some accounts suggest he simply carried her off. [f: 7, 21, 34]7,9,11
Nycteus instructed Lycus to punish Antiope if he captured her, leading to a march against Sicyon. [f: 26, 27]11,7 Lycus and his wife Dirce imprisoned Antiope and mistreated her severely. [f: 11, 25]7,12 Despite her captivity, her bonds loosed themselves, and she was eventually released by Lamedon, the son of Coronus. [f: 15, 24]13,7 Escorted toward Thebes via Eleutherae, she was set free on the road near that town. [f: 16, 17]13
Antiope came to her sons' cottage and begged them to take her in. [f: 20]7 Her sons recognized her and subsequently slew Lycus in retaliation. [f: 28]7 They also killed Dirce for her part in Antiope's mistreatment. [f: 25]12 Due to the excessive punishments she endured, Dionysus became angry with her, and Antiope went mad. [f: 9]14,15
In her deranged state, she wandered throughout Greece. [f: 23]15 Phocus, son of Ornytion, cured Antiope of her madness and subsequently married her. [f: 14, 19, 34]15 Antiope is buried in the same grave as Phocus, located at the base of Amphion's tomb. [f: 29, 30]16 Another tomb for Antiope exists in the city of Tithorea. [f: 32]14
The codex facts behind this entry
Antiope was the beautiful daughter of Nycteus. Apollodorus 3.5.5 +2
Appearance
Antiope was renowned among the Greeks for her beauty and was described as being fair of face. Argonautica 4 ¶63 +1
In the myths
Antiope went mad due to the wrath of Dionysus, who became angry with her because of the excessive punishments she endured. Pausanias 10.32.10 +1 Zeus impregnated Antiope while disguised as a Satyr, and she conceived a twin offspring from this union. Apollodorus 3.5.5 +1 Lycus and his wife Dirce imprisoned Antiope and mistreated her. Apollodorus 3.5.5 +1
