LYNCEUS (mythical brother of Ida, son of Aphareus)

From the place called Arene, Lynceus traveled to Messene and joined other nobles to sail on the Argo.^6,8,9,2 He later came from Messene to join the hunt for the Calydonian boar, assembling with other heroes.¹ Lynceus was present at the gathering of heroes.¹⁰ Lynceus acted together with Idas in the abduction of Helen, a deed attributed to them by some writers.¹¹ He was destined to be the bridegroom of one of the daughters of Lycippus, whom the Dioscuri had abducted.¹²

The conflict with the sons of Tyndareus began when Lynceus spied Castor and Polydeuces hiding inside a hollow oak.^8,3,13 Lynceus jumped from his chariot to fight the pursuers at the tomb of Aphareus, shouting loudly from beneath his helmet.¹² He threw a stone that wounded Pollux in the head.⁸

Lynceus fought Castor with a spear and shield until their weapons broke, then drew his sword to attempt the kill.¹⁴ He struck Castor's shield and cut a scarlet plume with his blade, but Castor hacked off the fingers of Lynceus's hand.¹⁴ Wounded, Lynceus fled toward the tomb of Idas.¹⁴ In one version, Castor killed him by driving a sword through his bowels and navel, causing him to fall and die immediately.¹⁴ Another account states that Polydeuces defeated and killed Lynceus in a contest over cattle, after which a trophy was raised.^15,16,8

Lynceus had no known children, leaving the house of Aphareus without any male heirs.^17,16 The kingdom of Messenia passed to Nestor after Lynceus died.¹⁶ He was not buried in Sparta, but the author suggests he was actually buried in Messenia.^13,15 Despite his death, Zeus granted immortality every other day to Castor, Polydeuces, Idas, and Lynceus.⁹