View source for Nisos

{{Short description|Greek mythological figure}}
{{For|other meanings of Nisos|Nisus (mythology)}}
[[Image:Minos scylla.jpg|thumb|right|300px|17th-century engraving of Nisos's daughter [[Scylla (princess)|Scylla]] falling in love with his enemy [[Minos]].]]

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Nisos''' or '''Nisus''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Νῖσος) was a King of [[Megara]].

== Family ==
Nisos was one of the four sons of [[Pandion II]], King of [[Athens]], and [[Pylia (mythology)|Pylia]], daughter of King [[Pylas]] of Megara. He was the brother of [[Aegeas]], [[Pallas (son of Pandion)|Pallas]], [[Lycus (mythology)|Lykos]]<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.15.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Nisus 3.15.5]</ref> and the wife of [[Sciron]].<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+1.39.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Nisus 1.39.6]</ref> According to [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], Nisos's father was the god Ares<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Odyssey]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0136:book=16:card=393&highlight=nisus 16.393] & [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0218:book=16:card=9&highlight=nisus 16.9]; [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#198 198] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#242 242]</ref> while other authors affirmed that he was the offspring of [[Deioneus|Deion]].<ref name=":1">Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#198 198]</ref>

Nisos was married to [[Abrota]], sister of [[Megareus of Onchestus|Megareus]], and when she died, Nisos commanded that the Megarian women should wear clothes like she had.<ref>[[Plutarch]], ''[[Moralia]]'' 4.21.16</ref> His daughter [[Eurynome of Megara|Eurynome]], with [[Poseidon]], had the famous son [[Bellerophon]].<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Catalogue of Women|Ehoiai]]'' fr. 7</ref> The second daughter [[Iphinoe (mythology)|Iphinoe]] married Megareus, her maternal uncle.<ref>Pausanias, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+1.39.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Nisus 1.39.6]</ref> Lastly, the third princess [[Scylla of Megara|Scylla]] was responsible for Nisos' death.<ref name=":1" />

== Mythology ==

=== Early days ===
[[Metion]], the uncle of Nisos, had seized the throne from Pandion II. However, upon their father's death, Nisos and his brothers returned to Athens and took back control. They drove out the sons of Metion, put Aegeus on the throne, and divided the government in four. Aegeas became king of Athens, and Nisos the King of Megara.<ref>Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.15.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Nisus 3.15.6]</ref>

=== War with Minos ===
[[Minos]], King of [[Crete]], attacked Nisos's kingdom during a war with Athens over the death of his son [[Androgeus]]. Nisos, however, had a lock of purple hair that kept him safe from harm.<ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 8.5</ref> [[Eros]] caused his daughter [[Scylla (princess)|Scylla]] to fall in love with Minos.<ref>[[Nonnus]], 25.150</ref> In one version, Minos tempts Scylla with a golden necklace to betray and kill her father.<ref>[[Aeschylus]], ''[[The Oresteia|The Libation Bearers]]'' 610</ref> In another version, she fell in love with Minos from a distance, and after cutting off the purple lock, she presented it to Minos. However, Minos was disgusted with her act, calling her a disgrace. As Minos's ships set sail, Scylla attempted to climb up one of them. But Nisos, who had turned into a [[sea eagle]] or [[osprey]], attacked her. His daughter transformed into a bird as well. There is also a version with Ares.<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 8.90</ref> According to another account, Nisos killed himself when he lost his vital lock of hair.<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#242 242]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Byzas]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

* [[Aeschylus]], translated in two volumes. 2. ''Libation Bearers'' by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0008 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0007 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}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[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.]
* [[Hesiod]], ''Catalogue of Women'' from ''Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica'' translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodCatalogues.html Online version at theio.com]
* [[Homer]], [[Odyssey|''The Odyssey'']] with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, PH.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. {{ISBN|978-0674995611|}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0136 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0135 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[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].
* [[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}}. [https://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.  [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[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].

{{Metamorphoses in Greek mythology}}

[[Category:Kings of Athens]]
[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Children of Ares]]
[[Category:Metamorphoses into birds in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological Megarians]]
[[Category:Suicides in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Attic mythology]]

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