EPOPEUS (mortal king of the Epopeus tribe)

The Thebans fought against Epopeus in a military engagement where he was wounded but won the battle.⁷ To celebrate this military victory, he performed a sacrifice.⁸ He expanded his kingdom to include the Ephyraeans after Bunus died.⁹ Epopeus married Antiope after she fled from her father.^5,3

He initiated the construction of a temple dedicated to Athena that was larger and more splendid than others of its time.^10,8 Epopeus prayed to the goddess to confirm if the temple met her approval.^10,8 The altar in the temple of Athena remains as Epopeus originally constructed it.¹⁰ He constructed an altar to Pan behind the sanctuary of Hera.¹⁰ Epopeus built an altar to Helius made from white marble.¹⁰ People claim Epopeus built the nearby sanctuary dedicated to Artemis and Apollo.¹⁰

Epopeus seduced the daughter of Lycus.¹¹ Nycteus asked Lycus to attack Aegialea to avenge Epopeus.⁷ Accounts differ on his death; one says Lycus killed him after conquering Sicyon, while another says he was utterly destroyed after seducing Lycus's daughter.^5,11 Another account says he died from a wound he had initially neglected.⁸ Another account says he was killed by a savage woman while he was playing among garlands and couches.¹² Yet another says a whale attacked his ship and ate him while his son watched.¹³ He died before Marathon returned to the Peloponnesus.¹

Lamedon succeeded Epopeus as the king of Sicyon.⁸ Marathon divided Epopeus's kingdom among his own sons.¹ A burial mound for Epopeus stands before the altar in the temple of Athena.¹⁰ He went fishing with his son and caught only pompili, which they ate together.¹³