The Impiety of Lycaon’s Sons (English) in: Europe – Greek
Pelasgos, Lycaon, and Lycaon’s Sons
Let us return now to Pelasgos, whom Acousilaos says was the son of Zeus and Niobe (just as we assumed), but Hesiod says was an autochthon. Pelasgos and Meliboia, the daughter of Oceanos (or, as others say, the nymph Cyllene) had a son Lycaon, who was king of the Arcadians and had by many women fifty sons: Melaineus, Thesprotos, Helix, Nyctimos, Peucetios, Caucon, Mecisteus, Hopleus, Macareus, Macednos, Horos, Polichos, Acontes, Euaimon, Ancyor, Archebates, Carteron, Aigaion, Pallas, Eumon, Canethos, Prothoos, Linos, Corethon, Mainalos, Teleboas, Physios, Phassos, Phthios, Lycios, Halipheros, Genetor, Boucolion, Socleus, Phineus, Eumetes, Harpaleus, Portheus, Platon, Haimon Cynaithos, Leon, Harpalycos, Heraieus, Titanas, Mantineus, Cleitor, Stymphalos, Orchomenos, and <fiftieth name missing>.
These surpassed all mortals in arrogance and impiety. Zeus, desiring to test their impiety, visited them disguised as a manual laborer. They invited him in to eat with them; they slaughtered one of the sons of the locals, mixed his innard with those of the sacrificial animal, and set them before him. The eldest brother, Mainalos, was behind this plan. Revolted, Zeus overturned the table {trapeza} (in the place that is now called Trapezous) and struck Lycaon and his sons with thunderbolts, all except the youngest, Nyctimos. For before Zeus could strike him, Ge checked his anger by laying hold of his right hand.
But after Nyctimos succeeded to the kingdom, there occurred the flood that happened in the age of Deucalion. Some have said that it occurred because of the ungodliness of Lycaon’s sons.
(a.b.i) Greek — (a.b.ii) Smith & Trzaskoma (2007) — (a.b.iii) Hard (1997) — (a.b.iv) Frazer (1921) — (a.b.v) Secondary sources
– Smith, R. Scott and Trzaskoma, Stephen M., Apollodorus’ Library and Hyginus’ Fabulae, Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology, (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2007), pp. 56-57.
Flood Stories 