Nyctimus

Lore & Background

Nyctimus' role in the death of Lycaon varies from source to source. One version tells that he was killed and served up as part of a feast to Zeus, and was later brought back to life. Another story claims that he was the only son of Lycaon to survive the blast of thunderbolts of Zeus as a result of the interference of Gaia, who quickly had laid hold of his right hand and so appeased his wrath. In both versions, Nyctimus succeeds his father as king of Arcadia, but his rule was short-lived due to floods in the age of Deucalion, which some speculate was caused by the impiety of his brothers.

Reader's Guide

Nyctimus holds a place in Greek mythology as a figure whose story encapsulates themes of divine retribution, succession, and the cyclical nature of day and night. Some scholars identify Lycaon with Zeus Lycaeus, an archaic form of Zeus possibly associated with light, who slays Nyctimus (the dark), or is succeeded by him, in allusion to the perpetual succession of night and day. The succession of Nyctimus to the throne of Arcadia was explained by Sir James George Frazer as a possible survival of ultimogeniture—the custom of inheritance by the youngest son—among the ancient Greeks or their ancestors, particularly in the secluded highlands of Arcadia where ancient customs lingered. Nyctimus' brief reign, ended by floods, also ties him to the Deucalion myth, a Greek flood narrative. His legacy is thus twofold: as a mythological king whose rule was overshadowed by his brothers' impiety, and as a figure whose name and story have been interpreted to reflect deeper cultural and symbolic patterns.

Did You Know?

• Nyctimus' name derives from the Greek root nyx, meaning 'night'.
• In one version, Nyctimus was killed and served to Zeus, then brought back to life.
• According to Pausanias, Nyctimus was the youngest son of Lycaon and held all power while his brothers founded cities.