In Greek mythology, Lyrkus was described as the son of Phoroneus, the primordial king of Argos (son of the river god Inakhos). When Io, daughter of Inakhos, was captured by brigands, her father sent several men to search for her. One of these was Lyrkus, who searched land and sea without finding the girl, and finally quit the quest. But Lyrkus was too afraid of Inakhos to return to Argos without her, and went instead to Kaunus in Karia, where he married the daughter of King Aegialus, Hilebia, who fell in love with Lyrkus as soon as she saw him and persuaded her father to arrange for their marriage. Aegialus gave Lyrkus a good share of his kingdom as a dowry, and accepted him as his son-in-law.
Years passed and Lyrkus and his wife had no children. Lyrkus made a journey to the oracle at Didyma to ask how he might obtain offspring. The oracle told him that he would beget a child upon the first woman with whom he should have sex with after leaving the shrine. At this he was mighty pleased, and began to hasten on his journey home to his wife, sure that the prediction would be fulfilled. When Lyrkus reach Bubastos, Staphylus, the son of Dionysus and Ariadne, welcomed Lyrkus in a friendly manner and enticed him to much drinking of wine. Staphylus had a hidden motive behind it, as Staphylus wanted a male heir and knew about prediction made by the oracle at Didyma. When Lyrkus had his senses dulled with wine, Staphylus sent his own daughter, Molpadia, into Lyrkus' bed chamber. The drunken Lyrkus had sex with Molpadia and then both fell asleep.
The next morning Lyrkus discovered the trap that his host had laid for him. When Lyrkus saw Molpadia by his side, he was exceedingly angry. He upbraided Staphylus violently for his conduct. Finally seeing that there was nothing to be done, Lyrkus took off his belt and gave it to Molpadia, telling her to keep it until their future child had come of age. Then the child would possess a token by which he might be recognized, if he should ever come to his father at Kaunus. Lyrkus then sailed away to his home.
When King Aegialus heard the whole story about the oracle and about Molpadia, he banished Lyrkus. There was then a war of great length between Lyrkus and Aegialus. Hilebia was on the side of Lyrkus, for she refused to repudiate her husband. Lyrkus became king of Kaunus. Years later Basileus, the son of Lyrkus and Molpadia, came to the land of Kaunus. Lyrkus recognized him as his son, and made him ruler over his peoples.
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