Nisos was one of the four sons ofPandion II, King ofAthens, andPylia, daughter of KingPylas of Megara. He was the brother ofAegeas,Pallas,Lykos[1] and the wife ofSciron.[2] According toHyginus, Nisos's father was the god Ares[3] while other authors affirmed that he was the offspring ofDeion.[4]
Nisos was married toAbrota, sister ofMegareus, and when she died, Nisos commanded that the Megarian women should wear clothes like she had.[5] His daughterEurynome, withPoseidon, had the famous sonBellerophon.[6] The second daughterIphinoe married Megareus, her maternal uncle.[7] Lastly, the third princessScylla was responsible for Nisos' death.[4]
Metion, the uncle of Nisos, had seized the throne from Pandion II. However, upon their father's death, Nisos and his brothers returned to Athens and took back control. They drove out the sons of Metion, put Aegeus on the throne, and divided the government in four. Aegeas became king of Athens, and Nisos the King of Megara.[8]
Minos, King ofCrete, attacked Nisos's kingdom during a war with Athens over the death of his sonAndrogeus. Nisos, however, had a lock of purple hair that kept him safe from harm.[9]Eros caused his daughterScylla to fall in love with Minos.[10] In one version, Minos tempts Scylla with a golden necklace to betray and kill her father.[11] In another version, she fell in love with Minos from a distance, and after cutting off the purple lock, she presented it to Minos. However, Minos was disgusted with her act, calling her a disgrace. As Minos's ships set sail, Scylla attempted to climb up one of them. But Nisos, who had turned into asea eagle orosprey, attacked her. His daughter transformed into a bird as well. There is also a version with Ares.[12] According to another account, Nisos killed himself when he lost his vital lock of hair.[13]
Hesiod,Catalogue of Women fromHomeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914.Online version at theio.com
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