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

Libya of Egypt ( Ancient Greek: Λιβύη, romanizedLibýē) 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]

Greek mythology

In Greek 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—King of Egypt, and the son of Zeus and Io—and Memphis. Libya was ravished by the god Poseidon to whom she bore twin sons, Belus and Agenor. Some sources name a third son, named Lelex. According to late accounts, Lybee (Libya) consorted instead with Zeus and became the mother of Belus. [2] In Hyginus' Fabulae, Libye was called the daughter of Palamedes (corrected as Epaphus), who mothered Libys by Hermes. [3]

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology
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

Notes

  1. ^ Marshall, Eireann. "Constructing the self and the other in Cyrenaica". In Laurence, Ray; Berry, Joanne (eds.). Cultural Identity in the Roman Empire. Routledge. pp. 49–63. ISBN  0-415-13594-X.
  2. ^ Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21–23
  3. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 160

References