Labdacus
mythological king of Thebes
In Greek mythology, Labdacus (Ancient Greek: Λάβδακος, romanized: Lábdakos, lit. 'lame' or 'defective in the legs') was the only son of Polydorus and a king of Thebes. Labdacus was a grandson of Thebes's founder, Cadmus. His mother was Nycteïs, daughter of Nycteus.
Mythology
Polydorus died while Labdacus was a child, leaving Nycteus as his regent, although Lycus soon replaced him in that office. When Labdacus had grown, he briefly ruled Thebes. He died while he was still young, after he lost a war with the king of Athens, Pandion, over their borders. Apollodorus writes that he, like his cousin Pentheus, was ripped apart by women in a bacchic frenzy for disrespect to the god Dionysus. Lycus became regent once more after his death, this time for Labdacus's son, Laius. His descendants were called the Labdacids, and included his son Laius, who fathered Oedipus; Oedipus's children were Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.
Family tree of Theban Royal House
Notes
References
Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd.
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