Apollodorus, The Library Book 3

Overview

• Focuses on the house of Agenor and associated mythological accounts.
• Describes the lineage and exploits of key mythological figures such as Europa, Cadmus, Minos, and Theseus.
• Covers events including the foundation of cities, divine interventions, and legendary battles.

Key Families and Characters

House of Agenor

• Agenor had children: Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix.
• Europa was abducted by Zeus, who transformed into a bull, and taken to Crete.
• Europa’s children with Zeus: Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys.
• Minos became king of Crete, known for the Minotaur and Labyrinth.

Cadmus

• Sent in search of Europa, ended up in Thrace, then founded Thebes.
• Killed a dragon of Ares, sowed its teeth, and founded the city of Thebes with the Spartoi.
• Married Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.

Minos and Crete

• Minos ruled over Crete, married Pasiphae.
• Pasiphae fell in love with a bull due to Poseidon's curse, leading to the birth of the Minotaur.
• Daedalus constructed the Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur.

Theban Cycle

• Story of Oedipus: Killed his father Laius, married his mother Jocasta, fathered Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene.
• Polynices and Eteocles' conflict led to the Seven Against Thebes.
• Antigone’s defiance of Creon by burying her brother Polynices.

Important Myths and Events

Europa and Zeus

• Zeus abducted Europa, she bore him Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys.
• Minos established Cretan dominance, infamous for the Minotaur.

Cadmus and Thebes

• Founded Thebes after following a cow per oracle's advice.
• Defeated Ares' dragon, sowed its teeth to create Spartoi warriors.

Minos and the Minotaur

• Poseidon’s bull curse led to the birth of the Minotaur.
• Daedalus created the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur.

Oedipus and Thebes

• Oedipus's tragic fate: Killed his father, married his mother.
• His downfall led to the power struggle between his sons Polynices and Eteocles.

Seven Against Thebes

• Argive army led by Adrastus against Thebes.
• Ends in mutual destruction of Polynices and Eteocles.

The Epigoni

• Ten years after the Seven, the sons of the fallen leaders attempt to avenge their fathers.
• Successful in capturing Thebes after the Thebans flee.

Legacy and Influence

• Introduces many key mythological characters whose stories influenced later Greek literature.
• Themes of fate, divine intervention, and tragic downfall are central.

Additional Notes

• The book contains numerous genealogical details and mythic stories which are central to Greek mythology.
• Apollo’s wrathful actions against the Cyclopes for Zeus’s thunderbolt against Asclepius show the interplay of divine favor and wrath.
• The lineage of Dardanus links to the eventual Trojan War narratives.