Lynceus (; ) is in Greek mythology a Messenian prince and one of the ArgonautsApollonius of Rhodes, 1.151-155; Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.304; Apollodorus, 1.9.16 who served as a lookout on the Argo. He also participated in the hunt for the Calydonian boar.Apollodorus, 1.8.2
Family Lynceus was a son of AphareusApollodorus, 1.9.16 and AreneApollonius of Rhodes, 1.151-155; Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.304; Apollodorus, 3.10.3 or Polydora or Laocoosa (Λαοκόωσα) Scholia ad Apollonius Rhodius, 1.152, with a reference to Peisander for Polydora and to Theocritus for Laocoosa, see Theocritus, Idyll 22. 206, and thus brother to Idas and Peisus.
Mythology Lynceus, along with his brother Idas, murdered Castor. He helped Idas to spot and kill Castor, and was in turn killed by Castor's brother Pollux, though he first managed to wound Pollux by throwing a rock.Apollodorus, 3.11.2 Idas and Lynceus murdered Castor because he and Pollux had kidnapped and married Phoebe and Hilaeira, the daughters of Leucippus, who were betrothed to Lynceus and Idas or possibly their relatives.Apollodorus, 3.10.3
Lynceus was said to have excellent sight; enabling him to see through walls, trees, skinIamblichus, Exhortation to Philosophy and the ground.Apollonius of Rhodes, 1.151-155; Apollodorus, 3.10.3 According to some versions he was also able to see in the dark; in others his reputation for being able to see through the ground was simply a rumor that resulted from his knowledge of geology and gold-mining.Hyginus, Fabulae 14 This ability has been compared to the real technique of x-ray photography and to Superman's x-ray vision.
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References Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica translated by Robert Cooper Seaton (1853-1915), R. C. Loeb Classical Library Volume 001. London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1912. Online version at the Topos Text Project. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica. George W. Mooney. London. Longmans, Green. 1912. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library. Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project. Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses. Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.