View source for Epaphus

{{Short description|Figure in Greek mythology}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Epaphus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛ|p|ə|f|ə|s}}; {{Langx|grc|Ἔπᾰφος}}), also called [[Apis (Greek mythology)|'''Apis''']]<ref>[[Herodotus]], 3.27.</ref> was a son of [[Zeus]] and king of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]].

==Family==
Epaphus was the son of [[Zeus]]<ref name=":0">[[Hesiod]], ''[[Catalogue of Women|Ehoiai]]'' 40a as cited in ''[[Oxyrhynchus Papyri]] 1358'' fr. 2</ref> and [[Io (mythology)|Io]]<ref>[[Euripides]], ''[[The Phoenician Women|Phoenissae]]'' 678; ''Oedipus'' 1.638–689; [[Aeschylus]], ''[[The Suppliants (Aeschylus)|Suppliant Women]]'' 48; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.1.3 2.1.3]; [[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 1.747–748; [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#155 155]; [[Nonnus]],  3.284–285.</ref> and thus, [[Keroessa|Ceroessa]]'s brother.<ref>Nonnus, 32.70.</ref> With his wife, [[Memphis (wife of Epaphus)|Memphis]]<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.1.4 2.1.4].</ref> (or according to others, Cassiopeia<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#149 149].</ref>), he had one daughter, [[Libya of Egypt|Libya]]<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+1.44.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Epphus 1.44.3]; Nonnus, 3.287; Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#157 157]; [[Gaius Julius Solinus|Solinus]], ''Polyhistor'' [https://topostext.org/work/747#24.1 24.1]; [[John Tzetzes|Tzetzes]] ad [[Lycophron]], [https://topostext.org/work/860#649 649]; [[Scholia]] ad [[Euripides]], ''[[The Phoenician Women|Phoenissae]]'' [https://archive.org/details/scholiaineuripi00schwgoog/page/n286/mode/1up?view=theater 5].</ref>{{AI-generated source|date=November 2024}} while some accounts added another one who bore the name [[Lysianassa]].<ref>Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.5.11&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%20:book=0:chapter=0&highlight=Epaphus 2.5.11].</ref> These daughters later became mothers of [[Poseidon|Poseidon's]] sons, [[Belus (Egyptian)|Belus]], [[Agenor]] and possibly, [[Lelex of Megara|Lelex]] with the former while [[Busiris (king of Egypt)|Busiris]] was born to the latter. Through these daughters, Epaphus was the ancestor of the "dark [[Ancient Libya|Libyans]], and high-souled [[Aethiopia]]ns, and the Underground-folk and feeble [[Pygmy peoples|Pygmies]]".<ref name=":0"/>

In one account, Epaphus had a son, [[Dorus (mythology)|Dorus]], who fathered [[Pygmaeus]], ancestor of the Pygmies.<ref>[[Stephanus of Byzantium]], s.v. ''Pygmaioi (Πυγμαῖοι)''</ref>  Otherwise, this tribe of diminutive men was instead born from Epaphus and [[Gaia|Gaea]] (Earth).<ref>Hesiod, ''[[Catalogue of Women]]'' fr. 40A.</ref>

==Mythology==

===Birth===
The name/word Epaphus means "Touch". This refers to the manner in which he was conceived, by the touch of Zeus' hand.<ref>Aeschylus, ''Suppliant Women'' 315; Aeschylus, ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' 850–852.</ref> He was born in [[Euboea]], in the cave [[Boösaule]] according to [[Strabo]]<ref>[[Strabo]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D10%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D3 10.1.3].</ref> or according to others, in Egypt, on the river [[Nile]],<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#145 145].</ref> after the long wanderings of his mother. He was then concealed by the [[Korybantes|Curetes]], by the request of [[Hera]], but Io sought and afterward found him in [[Syria]] where he was nursed by the wife of the king of [[Byblos|Byblus]].<ref name=":1">Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.1.3 2.1.3].</ref>

===Phaethon===
Epaphus was also a contemporary and the rival of [[Phaethon]], son of [[Helios]] and [[Clymene (mythology)|Clymene]]. He criticized his heraldry saying, "Poor, demented fellow, what will you not credit if your mother speaks, you are so puffed up with the fond conceit of your imagined sire, the Lord of Day."<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 1.749–743.</ref> This prompted Phaethon to undertake his fateful journey in his father's chariot of the sun.

===Reign and death===
Epaphus is regarded in the myths as the founder of [[Memphis, Egypt]].<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#149 149] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#275 275].</ref> Hera being envious that her husband's bastard ruled such a great kingdom,<ref>[[Statius]], ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' 7.186.</ref> saw to it that Epaphus should be killed while hunting.<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#150 150].</ref>

[[David Rohl]] identifies Epaphus with the Hyksos pharaoh [[Apepi (pharaoh)|Apophis]].<ref>David Rohl: ''The Lords of Avaris''. London, Arrow Books 2007.</ref>

==Argive genealogy==
{{Argive genealogy in Greek mythology}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*[[Aeschylus]], translated in two volumes. 2. ''Suppliant Women'' by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0016 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0015 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Aeschylus]], translated in two volumes. 1. ''Prometheus Bound'' by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0010 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0009 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|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. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Euripides]], ''The Complete Greek Drama'', edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 2. Phoenissae, translated by Robert Potter. New York. Random House. 1938. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0118 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Euripides, ''Euripidis Fabulae.'' ''vol. 3''. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. Clarendon Press, Oxford. 1913. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0117 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Herodotus]], ''The Histories'' with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. [https://topostext.org/work/22 Online version at the Topos Text Project.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0125 Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Nonnus|Nonnus of Panopolis]], ''Dionysiaca'' translated by William Henry Denham Rouse (1863-1950), from the Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1940.  [https://topostext.org/work/529 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Nonnus of Panopolis, ''Dionysiaca. 3 Vols.'' W.H.D. Rouse. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1940–1942. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0485 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Clementine literature|Pseudo-Clement]], ''Recognitions'' from [[Ante-Nicene Period|Ante-Nicene]] Library Volume 8'','' translated by Smith, Rev. Thomas. T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh. 1867. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/ClementRecognitions.html Online version at theoi.com]
*[[Ovid|Publius Ovidius Naso]], ''Metamorphoses'' translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0028 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses.'' Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0029 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Statius|Publius Papinius Statius]]'', The Thebaid'' translated by John Henry Mozley. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. [https://topostext.org/work/149 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Publius Papinius Statius, ''The Thebaid. Vol I-II''. John Henry Mozley. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1928. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0498 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*[[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

{{SmithDGRBM|author=Leonhard Schmitz|title= Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mythological city founders]]
[[Category:Sons of Zeus]]
[[Category:Kings of Egypt in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Egyptian characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Pharaohs of the Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt]]
[[Category:16th-century BC pharaohs]]