Autolycus: Encyclopedia - Autolycus

Autolycus

The name Autolycus refers to several people:

• In Greek mythology, Autolycus, or Autólykos was the son of Chione and Hermes and father of Anticlea. He was a renowned thief (skills passed down from his father) and wrestler (which he taught to Hercules). Autolycus stole the cattle of Eurytus and the helmet that his grandson, Odysseus, eventually wore during the Trojan War. Autolycus was one of the Argonauts. (Apollodorus. Bibliotheke I, ix, 16; II, iv, 9; vi, 2; Ovid. Metamorphoses XI, 301-17; Homer. Iliad X, 265-271; Homer. Odyssey XI, 84-6; XIX,395-566.)

• Autolycus is also the name of a thieving pedlar in William Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale

• Autolycus is also a character played by Bruce Campbell in Hercules: the Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess who styles himself "the King of Thieves". The character was inspired by the mythic figure.

• Autolycus may refer to Autolycus of Pitane, a Greek mathematician.

The name may also refer to:

• The lunar crater Autolycus, which is named after Autolycus of Pitane.

Category: Argonauts

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Autolycus", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki