Amphion

Half-Olympian son of Zeus by Antiope; twin of Zethus. With his brother, founded the second walls of Thebes — Amphion's lyre-music caused the stones to move into place. Husband of Niobe; their fourteen children were killed by Apollo and Artemis after Niobe's boast that she had outdone Leto. Amphion died of grief or by his own hand following the Niobid massacre.

Parentage

• paternal: Zeus
• maternal: Antiope of Thebes

Children

• Amyclas
• Chloris

Domains

• music and foundation

Powers

• lyre mastery
• raise the walls of Thebes by charming stones into place with his lyre
• Move stones with lyre-music

Epithets

• Ἀμφίων φιλόμολπος greek · Amphíōn philómolpos'Amphion lover of song' — the lyre-player whose music raised the walls of ThebesHomer, Odyssey 11.262-265 (primary); Pausanias 9.5.7-8 (primary)
• Ἀμφίων ὁ τειχιστής greek · Amphíōn ho teichistḗs'Amphion the wall-builder' — who raised Thebes' walls by lyre-musicPausanias 9.5.7-8 (primary); Homer, Odyssey 11.262-265 (primary)

Relations

• sibling: ZethusHom. Od. 11.260-265 (primary)
• spouse: NiobeHom. Il. 24.602-617; Apollod. 3.5.6 (primary)
• father of: ChlorisApollod. 3.5.6; Hom. Od. 11.281-284 (primary)
• father of: AmyclasApollod. 3.5.6 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Homer Odyssey 11.260-265, Iliad 24.602-617; Hesiod fr. 181-182; Apollodorus 3.5.5; Euripides Antiope (fragments) (primary)