Dirce

Dircē, ēs (acc. Dircam, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 65 (196)), f., = Δίρκη.

• A fountain N. W. of Thebes, in Boeotia, Plin. 4, 7, 12, § 25; Ov. M. 2, 239; Stat. Th. 1, 38.—
• • B Meton., poet., the region lying around this fountain, Stat. Th. 2, 322.
• —Hence, Dircaeus, a, um, adj., Dircean; hence (pars pro toto), Boeotian: Thebae, Prop. 3, 17, 33 (4, 16, 33 M.); cf. ager, Stat. Ach. 1, 12: arva, Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 320: Amphion, Verg. E. 2, 24: cygnus, i.e. Pindar, Hor. C. 4, 2, 25: heros, i.e. Polynices, Stat. Th. 2, 142 et saep.—
• II The wife of the Theban prince Lycus, who, on account of her cruelty to Antiope, was tied to a bull by Amphion and Zetheus, and dragged about till dead, and was afterwards thrown (changed, acc. to the fable) into the above-named fountain, Prop. 3, 15, 13 (4, 14, 11 M.); Hyg. Fab. 7 and 8; Plaut. l. l.

Dircē, ēs, f. (Δίρκη), I) die Gemahlin des Lykus, Königs in Theben; wurde von Amphion u. Zethus wegen der an ihrer Mutter Antiopa verübten Grausamkeit an einen Stier gebunden, herumgeschleift u. dann in die nach ihr benannte Quelle geworfen od. (nach der Sage) verwandelt, Plaut. Pseud. 199 (wo Akk. -am). Prop. 3, 15, 13; vgl. Hyg. fab. 7 u. 8. – II) die Quelle Dirce nordwestlich von Theben in Böotien, Plin. 4, 25. Stat. Theb. 1, 38 (wegen Ov. met. 2, 239 s. Amȳmōnēa.E.): dah. meton. für Böotien, Stat. Theb. 2, 322. – Dav. Dircaeus, a, um (Διρκαῖος), dircäisch, poet. = thebanisch od. böotisch, Amphion, Verg.: cygnus, Pindar, Hor.: heros. Polynices, Stat.: catervae dente Dircaeo satae, die aus den von Kadmus gesäten Drachenzähnen entstandenen Menschen, Sen. poët.

Dirce

(Δίρκη), a daughter of Helios and wife of Lycus. Respecting her story, see Amphion, p. 151a. Her body was changed by Dionysus, in whose service she had been engaged, into a well on mount Cithaeron. (Hyg. Fab. 7.) A small river near Thebes likewise received its name from her. (Paus. 9.25.3.) [L.S]

DIRCE

DIRCE [THEBAE]

Dircé

(Δίρκη). The wife of Lycus , who married her after divorcing his former wife Antiopé. Dircé treated Antiopé with great cruelty; and accordingly, when Amphion and Zethus, the sons of Antiopé by Zeus, obtained possession of Thebes, they took a signal vengeance upon Dircé. They tied her to a wild bull, which dragged her about till she perished. They then threw her body into a fountain near Thebes, which was henceforth called the fountain of Dircé. (See Antiopé.) The adjective Dircaeus is frequently used as equivalent to Boeoticus.

Dirce Dirce, river at Thebes

• Paus. 9.25.3

Dirce(2), wife of Lycus

• illtreats Antiope: Apollod. 3.5.5; Paus. 9.25.3
• honours Dionysus: Paus. 9.17.6
• is tied by Antiope's sons to a bull: Apollod. 3.5.5
• her body thrown into a spring, which is called Dirce after her: Apollod. 3.5.5