Autolycus

[ aw-tol-i-kuhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Classical Mythology. a thief, the son of Hermes and Chione, and the grandfather of Odysseus. He possessed the power of changing the shape of whatever he stole and of making it and himself invisible.

Autolycus

/ ɔːˈtɒlɪkəs /

Autolycus

/ ɔːˈtɒlɪkəs /

Greek myth a thief who stole cattle from his neighbour Sisyphus and prevented him from recognizing them by making them invisible

A comic adventure told of Hermes may not have in it any more of myth than a similar story told of Autolycus.

Then came the ghost of my dead mother Anticlea, daughter to Autolycus.

Autolycus is also said to have instructed Heracles in the art of wrestling, and to have taken part in the Argonautic expedition.

Sisyphus accordingly burnt his name into the hoofs of his cattle, and, during a visit to Autolycus, recognized his property.

A happy chance brings me across your path, just when I am about to entertain Autolycus and his father at a feast.

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