LABDACUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​Labdacus was a King of Thebes from the tales of Greek mythology. A grandson of Cadmus, Labdacus was also the grandfather of Oedipus. 

​Labdacus Son of Polydorus

Labdacus was the son of Polydorus and Nycteis, and was thus a grandson of the founding hero Cadmus. Polydorus was the King of Cadmea, the city which would later become known as Thebes. The rule of Polydorus though, was relatively short, and whilst Labdacus was still young, his father died. It was though, considered that Labdacus was too young to rule. 

Nycteus, Labdacus’ grandfather on his mother’s side, would act as a Regent for the young Labdacus.

​King Labdacus

At this time Thebes and Sicyon went to war, for Epopeus of Sicyon abducted Antiope, the daughter of Nycteus. The war would see both Nycteus and Epopeus injured, and although Nycteus would return to Thebes, he would die of his injuries, and the care of Labdacus and the Theban throne would pass to Lycus, the brother of Nycteus. 

Eventually Labdacus came of age, and Lycus released the throne of Thebes to Polydorus; son. 

​Labdacus’ Time as King

Amazon Advert

The rule of Labdacus was a short one recognised for two main events. 

Firstly a war occurred between Thebes and Athens, when disagreement arose about the boundaries between the two. Athens at the time was ruled by Pandion I, but Pandion managed to find an ally in Tereus, King of the Thracians, and so Labdacus lost this war. 

The second noteworthy aspect of Labdacus’ rule was the manner of his death. Although told in less detail, the Bibliotheca recalls the death of Labdacus at the hands of Maenads, for Labdacus, like his cousin Pentheus objected to the worship of Dionysus, who whilst a god, was also their cousin as well. 

​Laius Son of Labdacus

Labdacus though had fathered a son whilst king, a son called Laius, but he was too young to become King of Thebes, and so Lycus once again became Regent. Lycus was less willing to release the kingdom again, and so he sent Laius into exile, and became King of Thebes himself. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Labdacus - 10th April 2023