Nyctimene (mythology)

Nyctimene /nɪktɪmæni/ was, according to Roman mythology, the daughter of Epopeus, a king of Lesbos. In some versions of the story she was raped by their father, while in others she was seduced. Out of shame or guilt, she fled to the forest and refused to show her face in daylight. Taking pity on her, Minerva transformed her into the nocturnal owl which, in time, became a widespread symbol of the goddess.[1] In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the transformation was a punishment for "desecrating her father's bed" (patrium temerasse cubile), which insinuates that she had sexual intercourse with her own father, but no further explanation is given of whether she was raped, seduced or herself the seducer.[2]

Minerva transforms Nyctimene into an owl. The Latin distich says: "Nyctimene is Minerva's nightly (fowl) for being wanton. Thence the crow contests her." The German couplet says: "Nyctimene commits an atrocity with her father and becomes an owl."

In Metamorphoses, Cornix (the crow) complains that her place as Minerva's sacred bird is being usurped by Nyctimene, who is so ashamed of herself that she will not be seen by daylight.[3]

Her name has been given to a genus of bats and an asteroid.