AUTOLYCUS

in Greek mythology, the father of Anticleia, who was the mother of the hero Odysseus. Later ancient authors made Autolycus the son of the god Hermes. He was believed to live at the foot of Mount Parnassus and was famous as a thief and swindler. On one occasion Sisyphus (the son of Aeolus), during a visit to Autolycus, recognized his stolen cattle. It is said that on that occasion Sisyphus seduced Autolycus' daughter Anticleia and that hence Odysseus was really the son of Sisyphus, not of Laertes, whom Anticleia afterward married. The object of the story probably was to establish the close connection between Hermes, the god of theft and cunning, and the three personsSisyphus, Odysseus, and Autolycuswho were the incarnate representations of that practice and quality.