< Amphion, son of Eleuther >
1 Origin
Amphion was born in 1365 BC in Eleutherae, Attica.
Amphion's mother was Antiope, daughter of Nycteus. [Apo.3.5.5, Paus.2.6.3]
1.1 Amphion's father
The following suggests that Amphion's father, Antiope's husband, was Eleuther.
1) Antiope lived in Hysiae in southern Boeotia. [Strabo.9.2.12, FGrH.333.5]
2) Antiope gave birth to twin brothers Amphion and Zethus at Eleutherae in Attica. [Apo.3.5.5, Paus.2.6.3]
3) Eleuther, son of Aethusa, lived in Eleutherae, which had just been founded. [Apo.3.10.1, Paus.9.20.1]
4) Eleutherae was located south of Hysiae over Mount Cithaeron.
5) Eleuther was a cousin of Antiope's father, Nycteus.
2 Family
Amphion married Niobe, daughter of Tantalus. [Apo.3.5.6, Hyginus.9]
Amphion and Niobe had sons: Sipylus, Eupinytus, Agenor (or Archenor), Phaedimus, Tantalus, Ismenus, and Damasichthon. [Apo.3.5.6, Hyginus.11]
Amphion and Niobe had a son, Amyclas. [Paus.2.21.9]
Amphion and Niobe had daughters: Ethodaia (or Neaera), Cleodoxa (or Eudoxa), Astyoche (or Astycratia), Phthia, Pelopia, and Ogygia. [Apo.3.5.6, Hyginus.11]
Amphion and Niobe had a daughter, Meliboea (or Chloris). [Apo.3.5.6, Diod.4.68.6, Hyginus.14, Paus.2.21.9]
3 Other
3.1 Founding of Eutresis
In 1345 BC, Amphion, together with Zethus, moved from Eleutherae to near Thespiae and founded Eutresis. [Strabo.9.2.28]
3.2 Marriage with Niobe
In 1332 BC, Amphion married Niobe, daughter of Tantalus. [Apo.3.5.6, Paus.9.5.7]
The marriage between Amphion, who lived in Boeotia, and Niobe, who lived in Lydia, is thought to have been related to the sanctuary of Cabeiri, located about 5 km west of Thebes.
The sanctuary of Cabeiri was near Eutresis, where Amphion lived.
Cabeiri, which spread from Samothrace to Boeotia, also included the cult of Cybele, which Niobe's ancestors espoused.
Niobe's brother Broteas created the oldest statue of the Mother of the Gods. [Paus.3.22.4]
3.3 Battle against Lycus
In 1326 BC, Amphion, together with Zethus, attacked Cadmeia, but was defeated by Lycus, son of Hyrieus. [Estimated from FGrH.Nr333.F170 and Paus.9.5.6]
Amphion and Zethus defected to Physcius, son of Aetolus, who lived in Locris. [Estimated from FGrH.Nr333.F170]
Physcius was the father of Zethus' wife Thebe. [Apo.3.5.6]
3.4 Occupation of Cadmeia
In 1325 BC, Amphion and Zethus attacked Cadmeia, killed Lycus, and captured the city. [Apo.3.5.5, Diod.19.53, Paus.9.5.6]
Probably, the cause of the fight with Lycus was that Lycus, despite being his guardian, neglected Laius, king of Thebes.
Lycus was the uncle of Amphion's mother Antiope, while Laius was the son of Labdacus, Amphion's cousin. [Aelian.13.5, Athen.603a, Plut.Mor.313e]
Amphion and Zethus are presumed to have become guardians of Laius.
3.5 Founding of Thebes
In 1324 BC, Amphion and Zethus founded Thebes, surrounding a large area including Cadmeia with a wall. [Home.Od.11.253, Paus.9.5.7]
The wall was necessary to protect the city from the tyrannical Phlegyes who lived nearby. [FGrH.Nr333.F41]
Cadmeia was called Thebes after Zethus' wife Thebe. [Paus.2.5.2]
3.6 Death of Amphion
In 1320 BC, Amphion died of the plague along with his family. [Apo.3.5.6, Paus.9.5.9]
Only Amphion's son Amyclas and daughter Meliboea (Chloris) survived. [Apo.3.5.6]
