< Zethus, son of Eleuther >
1 Origin
Zethus was born in 1365 BC at Eleutherae in Attica.
Zethus' mother was Antiope, daughter of Nycteus. [Apo.3.5.5, Paus.2.6.3]
1.1 Father of Zethus
Based on the following, it is assumed that Eleuther was Zethus' father and Antiope's husband.
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 shortly after it was 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
Zethus married Thebe, daughter of Physcius. [Apo.3.5.6]
Zethus and Thebe had a son, Neis. [Paus.9.8.4]
3 Others
3.1 Founding of Eutresis
In 1345 BC, Zethus and Amphion migrated from Eleutherae to near Thespiae and founded Eutresis. [Strabo.9.2.28]
3.2 Battle against Lycus
In 1326 BC, Zethus and Amphion attacked Cadmeia, but were 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]
3.3 Occupation of Cadmeia
In 1325 BC, Zethus and Amphion attacked Cadmeia, killed Lycus, and occupied 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]
Zethus and Amphion are presumed to have become guardians of Laius.
3.4 Founding of Thebes
In 1324 BC, Zethus and Amphion founded Thebes, surrounding a large area with a wall, including Cadmeia. [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]
3.5 Death of Zethus
In 1322 BC, Zethus died of grief after the death of his son Neis due to Thebe's negligence. [Paus.9.5.9]