Editing Autolycus (section)

== Mythology ==

=== Adventures ===
According to ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'', Autolycus was counted as one of the Argonauts.<ref name=":3" />

Autolycus obtained most of the same skills that his supposed father Hermes possesses, such as the arts of theft and trickery. It was said that he "loved to make white of black, and black of white, from a hornless animal to a horned one, or from horned one to a hornless". He was given the gift that his thievery could not be caught by anyone.<ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 11.301; Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#201 201]</ref>

Autolycus, master of thievery, was also well known for stealing [[Sisyphus]]' herd right from underneath him – Sisyphus, who was commonly known for being a crafty king that killed guests, seduced his niece and stole his brothers' throne<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#50 50] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#99 99]</ref> and was banished to the throes of [[Tartarus]] by the gods. However, according to other versions of the myth, Autolycus failed to steal Sisyphus' herd and the king banished him from his city. 

[[Heracles]], the great Greek hero, was taught the art of [[wrestling]] by Autolycus.<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 2.4.9</ref> However, Autolycus was a source of trouble in Heracles' life, because when Autolycus stole some cattle from Euboea and Eurytus, they accused Heracles of the deed; upon going mad from these accusations, Heracles killed them and another one of Eurytus' sons, [[Iphitus of Oechalia|Iphitus]]. This led to Heracles serving three years of punishment to repent the deed.<ref>Apollodorus, 2.6.3</ref>

=== Odysseus' name ===
Through Anticleia, Autolycus was also the grandfather of the famous warrior [[Odysseus]],<ref name="Od1" /> and he was responsible for the naming of the child as well. This happened when the nurse of the child [[Eurycleia]] "laid the child upon his knees and spoke, and addressed him: Autolycus, find now thyself a name to give to thy child's own child; be sure he has long been prayed for". Then Autolycus answered: "Since I have been angered (ὀδυσσάμενος ''odyssamenos'')<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Do)du%2Fssomai ὀδύσσομαι] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106112951/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Do%29du%2Fssomai |date=2021-01-06 }} at [[LSJ]].</ref> with many, both men and women, let the name of the child be Odysseus".<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0136%3Abook%3D19%3Acard%3D361 19.400-405]</ref>