Libya (daughter of Epaphus)

For the present-day North African nation, see Libya.

For other uses, see Libya (Greek myth).

For other uses, see Lybie.

Libya (Ancient Greek: Λιβύη, romanized: Libýē) is the daughter of Epaphus, King of Egypt, in both Greek and Roman mythology. She personified the land of Ancient Libya in North Africa, from which the name of modern-day Libya originated.^[1]

Modern representation of the geography in Herodotus's Histories, showing the area of Libya in north Africa, circa 450 BC

Mythology

Libya, like Ethiopia or Scythia was one of the mythic outlands that encircled the familiar Greek world of the Hellenes and their "foreign" neighbors.

Personified as an individual, Libya was the daughter of Epaphus^{[2][AI-generated source?]}—King of Egypt, and the son of Zeus and Io—and Memphis,^{[3][AI-generated source?]} daughter of the river-god Nilus.^[4] In one account, her mother was called Cassiopeia.^[5]

Libya was ravished by the god Poseidon to whom she bore twin sons, Belus^[6] and Agenor.^[7] Some sources name a third son, named Lelex.^[8] According to late accounts, Lybee (Libya) consorted instead with Zeus and became the mother of Belus.^[9]

Libya is also the mother of Calliste by Triton.^[10]

In Hyginus' Fabulae, Libye was called the daughter of Palamedes (corrected as Epaphus), who mothered Libys by Hermes.^[11]

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

v t e

Inachus Melia Zeus Io Phoroneus Epaphus Memphis Libya Poseidon Belus Achiroë Agenor Telephassa Danaus Elephantis Aegyptus Cadmus Cilix Europa Phoenix Mantineus Hypermnestra Lynceus Harmonia Zeus Polydorus Sparta Lacedaemon Ocalea Abas Agave Sarpedon Rhadamanthus Autonoë Eurydice Acrisius Ino Minos Zeus Danaë Semele Zeus Perseus Dionysus

Colour key:   Male   Female   Deity