View source for Labdacus

{{Short description|Mythological king of Thebes}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Labdacus''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|æ|b|d|ə|k|ə|s}} ({{langx|grc|Λάβδακος}}, ''Lábdakos'') was the only son of [[Polydorus (son of Cadmus)|Polydorus]] and a king of [[Ancient Thebes (Boeotia)|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 (brother of Nycteus)|Lycus]] soon replaced him in that office.<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''[[Description of Greece]]'', 9.5.4.</ref> 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 I|Pandion]], over their borders.<ref>Tripp, Edward. ''Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology''. New York: Thomas Crowell Company, 1970, p. 335.</ref> Apollodorus writes that he, like his cousin [[Pentheus]], was ripped apart by women in a [[Dionysus|bacchic]] frenzy for disrespect to the god [[Dionysus]].<ref>''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'' 3.5.5.</ref> 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 ==
{{Family tree of the Theban royal house}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Lycus (brother of Nycteus)|Lycus]] (as regent)
| title = [[Theban kings in Greek mythology|King of Thebes]]
| after = [[Lycus (brother of Nycteus)|Lycus]]
| years = 
}}
{{s-end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* [[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].
* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
* Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].

{{Theban Kings}}

[[Category:Theban kings]]
[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological Thebans]]

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