Amphictyon or Amphiktyon (; Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀμφικτύων), in Greek mythology, was a king of Thermopylae and later Athens. In one account, he was the ruler of Locris.[1]
The name of Amphictyon is a back-formation from Amphictyons, plural, from Latin Amphictyones, from Greek Amphiktyones, Amphiktiones, literally, "neighbors" or "those dwelling around" from amphi- + -ktyones, -ktiones (from ktizein to found); akin to Sanskrit kṣeti he dwells, kṣiti abode, Avestan shitish dwelling, Armenian šen inhabited, cultivated.[2]
Amphictyon was the second son of Deucalion and Pyrrha,[3] although there was also a tradition that he was autochthonous (born from the earth);[4] he was also said to be a son of Hellen, his brother in the first account.[5] Amphictyon's other (possible) siblings besides Hellen were Protogeneia, Thyia, Pandora II, Melantho[6] (Melanthea) and Candybus.
Amphictyon married a daughter of King Cranaus of Athens.[7]
Amphictyon had a son, Itonus, who in his turn became the father of Boeotus, Iodame and Chromia by Melanippe.[8] He also had a daughter, never mentioned by name, who became the mother of Cercyon by Poseidon, and of Triptolemus by Rarus.[9] Some added that Amphictyon had another son, Physcus, by Chthonopatra,[10] daughter of his brother Hellen.[11] However, others stated that Physcus was the grandson of Amphictyon through Aetolus.[12] In this late account, the kingdom of Locris was ruled from Amphictyon to Aetolus, then Physcus and eventually, Locrus who gave his name to the land.
One account related that during the reign of King Cranaus, Deucalion, who founded and ruled over Lycoreia in Mt. Parnassus, was said to have fled from his kingdom during the great flood with his sons Hellen and Amphictyon, and seek refuge to Athens.[13] Later on, the latter became king of Thermopylae and brought together those living round about the temple and named them Amphictyons, and sacrificed on their behalf. While ruling in his new kingdom, Amphictyon's brother Hellen emigrated to Phthiotis where he became the ruler.[14]
Eventually, Amphictyon deposed Cranaus and proclaimed himself king of Athens. Amphictyon ruled the kingdom for 10, or in some accounts, 12 years and founded the Amphictyonic League which traditionally met at Thermopylae in historical times.[15] During his rule, Dionysus was supposed to have visited him in Athens and taught him how to mix water with wine in the proper proportions.[16] Amphictyon was later on dethroned by Erichthonius, another autochthonous king of Athens.