The Myth of the brothers Amphion and Zythus
Amphion and Zethus were born in a cave, near Eleftheres, on the borders of Attica and Boeotia. Their mother Antiope was persecuted by her father, Nycteus, because she had become pregnant by Zeus. Antiope was famous for her beauty and when Zeus saw her, he was dazzled and wanted to conquer her by transforming into a satyr.
She had been captured by her uncle Lykos after an oath he had made to her father before the latter’s death, and was taking her to Thebes. On the way she was seized with labor pains and her attendants were forced to let her give birth in the cave to the twins Amphion and Zethus. Lykos abandoned the newborns alone in a gorge of Kithairon and fled with their mother to Thebes.
The children were brought up by a shepherd and grew up without learning the circumstances into which they were born. As the two brothers grew up in the tranquility of outdoor life, they formed two completely different characters, presenting different inclinations and talents. Zethos was strong and tough, the type of practical man. He indulged in weapons, hunting, shepherding and cultivating the land. Amphion was tender and sensitive, the type of theoretical man. He loved to deal with music, he loved to sing while in his hands the lyre made people ecstasy and animals tamed.
Zethus became the brave warrior and the fearless hunter, whom no one could surpass in his strength and skill with weapons and the mark of the quiver, who loved nothing but the din of battle and the spartan of the tyrams. Amphion was Apollo’s favorite lyre player and the magical notes of the golden-stringed lyre, given to him by the silver-armed god, managed to shake even the trees and rocks.
This contrast of their character made the two brothers in the eyes of the world, so that they became the representatives of musical harmony, but also manual arts, philosophical reflection, but also practical life. The two lads lived in the shepherd’s house without knowing their parents.
Once Antiope managed to escape and find them, but they did not recognize her as their mother and even held her captive. Only with the help of Zeus were they able to recognize her, after which they severely punished her pursuers, Lycus and his wife Dirce, and settled with their mother in Thebes, where they became legendary heroes of Boeotia.
To them the myth attributes the construction of the first walls of the “seven-gate” Thebes: Zethos helped to erect the walls of Thebes: With his great strength he carried on his shoulders rocks from the neighboring mountains, which, with the divine melodies of the lyre of Amphion’s brother, they climbed alone and built the walls. Amphion had masterfully learned to play the seven-stringed lyre from the god Hermes.
The twin heroes lived happily in Thebes until Amphion’s wife, Niobe, boasted that she was much happier and more fertile than Leto. Then the children of Letos, the gods Apollo and Artemis, killed the children of Niobe and Amphion killed himself.
Pausanias tells us that the Thebans carefully guarded the tomb of Amphion because, according to an oracle, if the inhabitants of the neighboring city of Tithorea ever took soil from the tomb and carried it to the tomb of Antiope in Tithorea, the their area would become fertile and the area around Thebes barren. It is mentioned that Zethus took part in the Trojan War as one of the leaders of the Boeotians.
The story of the brothers Amphion and Zethus was circulated during antiquity in many variations, This is evident from the information given by the ancient sources. The different versions basically refer to how Antiope left Thebes.
Euripides made a synthesis of these traditions, and from the variety of myths he wrote the tragedy “Antiope”. Its selection and composition prevailed as a now unified myth. Some passages have been preserved, from which it seems that the main premise of the work was the conflict between two human types, the theoretical Amphion and the practical Zethos.
We have the juxtaposition of two sides of life, expressed through the character and actions of two human types, who are twins, conceived in the same womb. This opposition, arising from nature, leads to evolution, produces work, gives impetus to mobility and overcoming inertia.
We find the same contrast in other cases of our mythology, as in the case of Castor and Polydeuces, the earthly and the heavenly, the mortal and the immortal. Myro from Byzantium, a poet of epics and elegies, says that Amphion was the first to establish an altar for Hermes and in return took the lyre from him. They say that Amphion is punished in Hades, because he too had defrauded Leto and her children. The epic poem “Minyas” speaks of the punishment of Amphion, referring jointly to Amphion and the Thracian Thamyris. When Amphion’s family was wiped out by an epidemic disease and when Zethus’ son was killed by some mistake by his mother and Zethus himself died of grief, the Thebans brought back Laius and made him king.
In a list of musicians, found in Sikyona, Amphion was at the top, while tradition states that among the musicians, such as Orpheus, Thamyris, Linus, Arion, the musician of Thebes was considered the most ancient. The base of the two brothers, when they set out against Thebes, was Eutrysis, near Leuctra, to the south-west of Thebes. The two sons of Antiope had previously fortified Eutresis, but later they would also fortify Thebes.
Zethus married Thebe, after whom the city of Thebes is said to be named, though some versions of the myth mention him marrying Aedon instead, leading to further family tragedies. The end of Zethus is less documented than that of Amphion, but it is generally assumed that he too met an untimely death.
The story of Amphion and Zethus is rich with symbolism and themes that resonate deeply within Greek mythology. They embody the duality of human nature, representing the harmonious blend of artistic creativity and practical strength. Their narrative highlights the interplay between divine intervention and human action, illustrating how both forces shape the destinies of mortals.