Editing Niobids

[[File:Wall painting - death of the Niobids - Pompeii (VII 15 2) - Napoli MAN 111479.jpg|thumb|302x302px|Roman fresco: [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]] shoot the sons of [[Niobe]], who flee (partly on horseback) in an idyllic landscape, 1st c. BC - 1st c. AD]]
[[File:Sarcophagus Niobids Glyptothek Munich 345 front.jpg|thumb|right|302x302px|Roman sarcophagus: [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]] killing the 14 children of Niobe (front side). Artemis; 5 daughters with a nurse; younger son with a pedagogue; 3 other sons; Apollo. Top: dead Niobids. 160–170 Ad]]
In [[Greek mythology]], the '''Niobids''' were the children of [[Amphion]] of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] and [[Niobe]], slain by [[Apollo]] and [[Artemis]] because Niobe, born of the royal house of [[Phrygia]], had boastfully compared the greater number of her own offspring with those of [[Leto]], Apollo's and Artemis' mother: a classic example of ''[[hubris]]''.<ref>[[Robert Graves]], ''The Greek Myths'', 1960, §77.</ref>

== Names ==
The number of Niobids mentioned most usually numbered twelve ([[Homer]]) or fourteen ([[Euripides]] and [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]]), but other sources mention twenty,<ref>A number attributed to [[Hesiod]] by various scholiasts (Graves 1960:259.</ref> four ([[Herodotus]]), or eighteen ([[Sappho]]). Generally half these children were sons, the other half daughters. The names of some of the children are mentioned; these lists vary by author:
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>List of Niobids</big>
! colspan="2" rowspan="3" |Names
! colspan="7" |Sources
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| rowspan="2" |''Ovid<ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 6.255 ff.</ref>''
| rowspan="2" |''Apollodorus<ref name="Apollodorus">[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 3.5.6</ref>''
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''Hyginus<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' 11 & 69</ref>''
| rowspan="2" |''Lactantius<ref>[[Lactantius Placidus]] on [[Statius]], ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' 3.198; [[Vatican Mythographers|First Vatican mythographer]], 153</ref>''
| colspan="2" |''Scholia on'' Euripides<ref>[[Scholia]] on [[Euripides]], ''[[The Phoenician Women|Phoenissae]]'' 159</ref>
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|[[Pherecydes of Athens|''Pherecydes'']]
|[[Hellanicus of Lesbos|''Hellanicus'']]
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| rowspan="21" |''Males''
|[[Damasichthon (King of Thebes)|Damasichthon]]
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|[[Ismenus]]
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|[[Phaedimus (mythology)|Phaedimus]]
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|[[Sipylus (mythology)|Sipylus]]
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|[[Agenor (mythology)|Agenor]]
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|[[Alalcomeneus (mythology)|Alalcomeneus]]
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|[[Eudorus (mythology)|Eudorus]]
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|[[Argeus (Greek myth)|Argeius]]
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|[[Lysippus (mythology)|Lysippus]]
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! colspan="2" |'''Number'''
!'''7'''
!'''7'''
! colspan="2" |'''7'''
!'''7'''
!'''6'''
!'''3'''
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| rowspan="20" |''Females''
|[[Astycrateia]]
| rowspan="20" |''not given''
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|[[Ogygia (mythology)|Ogygia]]
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|[[Phthia (mythology)|Phthia]]
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|[[Neaera (mythology)|Neaera]] or
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|[[Cleodoxa]]
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|[[Pelopia]]
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|[[Astyoche]]
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|[[Ethodaia]]
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|[[Chloris]]
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|[[Eudoxa (mythology)|Eudoxa]]
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|[[Astynome]]
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|[[Chias]]
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|[[Clytia]]
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! colspan="2" |'''Number'''
!0
!7
!6
!7
!7
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!3
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Other different names were also mentioned, including [[Amaleus]], Amyclas and Meliboea (also in Apollodorus, see below).

[[Manto (mythology)|Manto]], the seeress daughter of [[Tiresias]], overheard Niobe's remark and bid the Theban women placate Leto, in vain. Apollo and Artemis slew all the children of Niobe with their arrows, Apollo shooting the sons, Artemis the daughters. According to some sources, however, two of the Niobids who had supplicated Leto were spared: Apollodorus gives their names as [[Meliboea]] (Chloris)<ref>Meliboëa had turned so pale with fear that she was still nicknamed Chloris when she married [[Neleus]] some years later." (Graves 1960:259).</ref> and [[Amyclas]].<ref name="Apollodorus" /> Another apparent survivor is Phylomache, who is mentioned by Apollodorus as one of the two possible spouses of [[Pelias]].<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.10</ref>

The Niobids were buried by the gods at [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. [[Ovid]] remarked that all men mourned Amphion, for the extinction of his line, but none mourned Niobe save her brother [[Pelops]].<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 6.401–404</ref>

==Parthenius variant==
In another version of the myth, the Niobids are the children of Philottus<ref>Possibly the same as Philottus, son of [[Hephaestus]], mentioned in [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]]' Fabulae, 158</ref> and Niobe, daughter of Assaon. When Niobe dares to argue with Leto about the beauty of her children, Leto comes up with multi-stage punishment. First, Philottus is killed while hunting. Then, her father Assaon makes advances to his own daughter, which she refuses. He invites her children to a banquet and burns them all to death. As a result of these calamities, Niobe flings herself from a rock. Assaon, reflecting over his crimes, also killed himself.<ref>[[Parthenius of Nicaea|Parthenius]], ''Erotica Pathemata'' 33</ref>

==Art==
Due to their appearance in the mythology of Apollo, male and female Niobids frequently appeared in classical art. One of the two ivory reliefs added to the doors of the [[Temple of Apollo Palatinus]] in its [[Augustus|Augustan]] rebuild depicted their death.<ref>[[Propertius]], ''Elegies'' [http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk/PropertiusBkTwo.htm#_Toc201112288 2.31.12‑16] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305065046/http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk/PropertiusBkTwo.htm|date=2009-03-05}}.</ref> They are also known from figurative sculpture, examples of which are to be found at the [[National Museum of Rome#Palazzo Massimo alle Terme|Palazzo Massimo]] in Rome and in the group of Niobids (including Niobe sheltering one of her daughters) found in Rome in 1583 along with the ''[[Wrestlers (sculpture)|Wrestlers]]'' and brought to the [[Uffizi]] in Florence in 1775.<ref>[http://www.oldandsold.com/articles26/florence-28.shtml Uffizi Gallery - The Portrait, Baroccio And Niobe Rooms].</ref>

A terracotta figurine of Astycrateia is shown in the MAK Collection Online.<ref>[https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collection_online?id=collect-9663 Inventory number: MAK, KE 1218-7]</ref> A 3D-model of the same figurine was published on [[sketchfab]].<ref>[https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/astykratia-niobe-figure-1a5755aaba2244ca919c4098dcc8d6a4 Sketchfab: Astykratia (Niobe) Figure from the MAK]</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:03 2015 Niobide che sale su una roccia (scultura), I - II secolo opera romana-Galleria degli Uffizi (Firenze) Photo Paolo Villa FOTO9242.JPG|Niobid rises on a rock [[Galleria degli Uffizi]]
File:Firenze - Florence - Galleria degli Uffizi - Sala della Niobe 1782 - View East.jpg|The Niobe Room ({{langx|it|Sala della Niobe}}) at the Uffizi
Image:Niobid Sallustiani Massimo Inv72274.jpg|''Dying Niobid'', found in the [[Gardens of Sallust]] ([[National Museum of Rome#Palazzo Massimo alle Terme|Palazzo Massimo]]).
Image:Niobe1.jpg|''Niobe and her children'', ([[Uffizi]]).
File:Andrea Camassei - The Massacre of the Niobids - WGA03791.jpg|''The Massacre of the Niobids'' by [[Andrea Camassei]], [[Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica]]
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Commons category}}

* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Parthenius of Nicaea|Parthenius]], ''Love Romances'' translated by Sir Stephen Gaselee (1882-1943), S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 69. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1916.  [https://topostext.org/work/550 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Parthenius, ''Erotici Scriptores Graeci, Vol. 1''. Rudolf Hercher. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1858. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0643 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Ovid|Publius Ovidius Naso]], ''Metamorphoses'' translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0028 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses.'' Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0029 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Propertius|Sextus Propertius]], ''Elegies'' from ''Charm.'' Vincent Katz. trans. Los Angeles. Sun & Moon Press. 1995. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0067 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0066 Latin text available at the same website].

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Princes in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Princesses in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological Thebans]]
[[Category:Deeds of Apollo]]
[[Category:Deeds of Artemis]]
[[Category:Niobids| ]]
[[Category:Leto]]