Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Amphion explained
Amphion, son of Jupiter and Antiope, and his twin brother Zethus are exposed at birth and raised by shepherds.
What happens
Amphion, son of Jupiter and Antiope, and his twin brother Zethus are exposed at birth and raised by shepherds. Mercury gives Amphion a lyre. Their mother Antiope, abused by King Lycus and Dirce, summons her sons, who kill Lycus and have Dirce dragged to death by a bull. Amphion becomes king of Thebes and fortifies the city with a wall, the stones moving into place as he plays his lyre.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional peak of Tristram’s brief reunion with…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hubris and Divine Retribution
Lycus and Dirce's cruelty toward Antiope leads to their violent deaths at the hands of her sons.
- Love and Transformation
Amphion's lyre, a gift of love from Mercury, transforms the natural world as stones move to build Thebes' wall.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Amphion was the son of Jupiter and Antiope, queen of Thebes.”
Amphion's parents were Jupiter and Antiope, the queen of Thebes.
Establishes Amphion's divine and royal lineage.
“Mercury gave Amphion a lyre and taught him to play upon it.”
Mercury presented Amphion with a lyre and instructed him in its use.
Highlights the god's role in Amphion's musical gift.
“It is said that when he played on his lyre the stones moved of their own accord and took their places in the wall.”
According to legend, the stones of the wall arranged themselves spontaneously as Amphion played his lyre.
Describes the miraculous construction of Thebes' wall.
