Lycāon

Lycāon, in Greek myth, son of Pelasgus and king of Arcadia, who founded the cult of Zeus Lycaeus. He sacrificed a child on the altar and was thereupon turned into a wolf (lykos). From that time onwards, every time sacrifice was made at that altar a man turned into a wolf; the creature might revert to human shape in the ninth year if it had not tasted human flesh. Another story said that when Zeus and Hermes visited Arcadia, Lycaon, to test Zeus, served him human flesh. Zeus as punishment blasted all Lycaon's sons except one, turned Lycaon into a wolf, and sent a great flood (see DEUCALION). The story seems to represent a belief that the weather-god (Zeus) could be moved by human sacrifice.