In Greek mythology, Autolycus (Greek
Αὐτόλυκος - 'Lone Wolf') was the son of Chione and Hermes. He was the father of Anticlea (who married Laertes of Ithaca and
was the mother of Odysseus), and of several sons, of whom only Aesimus is named.
Autolycus was a renowned thief (skills passed down from his father, the God of Thieves) and
wrestler (which he taught to Heracles). Autolycus stole the
cattle of Sisyphus and the helmet that his grandson,
Odysseus, eventually wore during the Trojan War. Autolycus
was one of the Argonauts.He is also supposed to have been the one who took Eurytus' (see Eurytus main article) mares (or cattle), leading to the murder of one his sons, Iphitus, in Heracles' hands.
Autolycus as portrayed by Bruce Campbell
Though not as well known as many other Greek mythological figures, Autolycus has appeared in a number of works of fiction. A
comic thief in Shakespeare's The Winter's
Tale boasts that he is named after Autolycus and, like him, is "a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles". In the
television series Hercules: The
Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, Autolycus
appeared as a somewhat bumbling and comical antihero, referring to himself as the "King of
Thieves." Although occasionally uncoordinated, he was also a cunning thief. He was portrayed by cult actor Bruce Campbell. Autolycus is also the name of a fictional racehorse in the 1934 film The Clairvoyant, starring Claude Rains.
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