Antiope (daughter of Nycteus)

Overview

Antiope was the beautiful daughter of either King Nycteus of Thebes or of the river god Asopus. Zeus fell in love with her and slept with her in the form of a satyr.

Fleeing to conceal her pregnancy, Antiope wound up in the custody of King Epopeus of Sicyon. But she was forced to return to Thebes, where she was put in the care of her uncle Lycus. Antiope’s sons, Amphion and Zethus, were taken from her, and she herself was abused for years by Lycus’ wife Dirce.

Amphion and Zethus were raised by shepherds and eventually returned to Thebes, where they rescued their mother and punished Dirce. In some accounts, Antiope eventually married a Thessalian named Phocus. The couple’s shared grave in Tithorea was connected with a local fertility cult.^[1]