A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Καπανεύς), a son of Hipponous and Astynome or Laodice, the daughter of Iphis. (Hyg. Fab. 70; Schol. ad Eurip. Phoen. 181; ad Pind. Nern. 9.30.) He was married to Euadne or laneira, who is also called a daughter of Iphis, and by whom he became the father of Sthenelus. (Schol. ad Pind. Ol. 6.46; Apollod. 3.10.8.) He was one of the seven heroes who marched from Argos against Thebes, where he had his station at the Ogygian or Electrian gate. (Apollod. 3.6.6; Aeschyl. Sept. c. Theb. 423; Paus. 9.8.3.) During the siege of Thebes, he was presumptuous enough to say, that even the fire of Zeus should not prevent his scaling the walls of the city; but when he was ascending the ladder, Zeus struck him with a flash of lightning. (Comp. Eur. Phoen. 1172, &c.; comp. Soph. Antig. 133; Apollod. 3.6.7; Ov. Met. 9.404.) While his body was burning, his wife Euadne leaped into the flames and destroyed herself. (Apollod. 3.7.1; Eur. Supp. 983, &c.; Philostr. Icon. 2.31; Ov. Ars Am. 3.21; Hyg. Fab. 243.) Capaneus is one of those heroes whom Asclepius was believed to have called back into life. (Apollod. 3.10.3.) At Delphi there was a statue of Capaneus dedicated by the Argives. (Paus. 10.10.2.)

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