Libya (mythology) 643646 219046974 2008-06-13T09:40:18Z CommonsDelinker 2304267 Removing "Neptune_amphitrite_mosaic.jpg", it has been deleted from Commons by [[commons:User:Siebrand|Siebrand]] because: In category [[w:commons::category:Unknown as of 2 June 2008|Unknown as of 2 June 2008]]; no source. {{For|the present-day North African nation|Libya}} {{Argive genealogy in Greek mythology}} '''Libya''' is the name given to both a region of [[North Africa]] ([[Ancient Libya]]) and a daughter of [[Epaphus]], King of Egypt, in both [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]]. ==Greek mythology== [[Image:Herodotus world map-en.svg|left|thumb|Ancient map from [[Herodotus]] showing the area of Libya in north Africa, circa 450 BC.]] In [[Greek mythology]], Libya, like [[Ethiopia (Mythology)|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]] — a son of [[Zeus]] and King of Egypt — and [[Memphis (mythology)|Memphis]]. Libya was ravished by the god [[Poseidon]] to whom she bore twin sons, [[Belus (Egyptian)|Belus]] and [[Agenor and Phoenix|Agenor]]. Some sources name a third son, named [[Lelex]]. Such genealogies, when applied to a personification of a land, were suggestive to Greek audiences, but need some explication for ordinary modern readers. ==Roman mythology== In [[Roman mythology]], Libya was the daughter of Epaphus, King of Egypt, and his wife Cassiopeia. She married [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]], a foreigner of much power whose real name is unknown. Libya and Neptune had a son called [[Abusir|Busiris]], whom became a brutal tyrant of [[Upper Egypt]]. <ref>Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio’s ''Famous Women'', pp. 24-25; Harvard University Press 2001; ISBN 0-674-01130-9</ref> The territory that she ruled, [[Ancient Libya]], and the country of modern day [[Libya]] are named after her.<ref>Id., p. 25</ref> == Notes == {{reflist}} ==References== *Isidore, ''Etymologiae'' xiv.4.1, 5.1 *Augustine, ''De civitate dei'' xviii.12 *Lactantius Placidus, ''Commentarii in Sattii Thebaida'' iv.737 [[Category:Locations in Greek mythology]] [[ca:Líbia (filla d'Èpaf)]] [[de:Libya]] [[fr:Libye (mythologie)]] [[it:Libia (mitologia)]] [[lb:Libye]] [[no:Libya (mytologi)]] [[pt:Líbia (mitologia)]] [[ru:Ливия (мифология)]] [[sr:Либија (митологија)]] [[fi:Libya (mytologia)]] [[sv:Libya]] [[uk:Лібія]]