Libya of Egypt

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) 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.

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.^[1] In Hyginus' Fabulae, Libye was called the daughter of Palamedes (corrected as Epaphus), who mothered by Hermes.^[2]

Roman mythology[]

In Roman mythology, Libya was the daughter of Epaphus, King of Egypt, and his wife Cassiopeia. She married Neptune, a foreigner of much power whose real name is unknown. Libya and Neptune had a son called Busiris, who became a brutal tyrant of Upper Egypt.^[3]

The territory that she ruled, Ancient Libya, and the country of modern-day Libya are named after her.^[4]

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology[]

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

Agenor

Colour key:

Male
Female
Deity

Notes[]

^ Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21–23
^ Hyginus, Fabulae 160
^ Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Famous Women, pp. 24–25; Harvard University Press 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9
^ Id., p. 25

References[]

Isidore, Etymologiae xiv.4.1, 5.1
Augustine, De civitate dei xviii.12
Lactantius Placidus, Commentarii in Sattii Thebaida iv.737
Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions from Ante-Nicene Library Volume 8, translated by Smith, Rev. Thomas. T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh. 1867. Online version at theio.com

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[1] Pseudo-Clement, Recognitions 10.21–23

[2] Hyginus, Fabulae 160

[3] Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Famous Women, pp. 24–25; Harvard University Press 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9

[4] Id., p. 25

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