Αιγυπτος
The hero who gave his name to Egypt, the son of Belus and Anchinoe (Table 3). On his father's side her was a direct descendant of Poseidon, and on his mother's a descendant of the river Nile. He had a brother, Danaus. Belus, who reigned over the lands of Africa, established Danaus in Libya and gave Arabia to Aegyptus who also conquered the land of the Melampodes (meaning, literally, 'black feet') which he renamed Egypt. Aegyptus had fifty sons by different women, and his brother Danaus had fifty daughters (see Danaides). The two brothers quarrelled and eventually Danaus fled to the Argolid. Aegyptus' sons went to meet Danaus there and asked permission for his daughters to marry them; Danaus agreed, but on the eve of this marriage he contrived for all the sons to be killed by their intended wives. Aegyptus, his sons all dead, became afraid of his brother and he retired to Aroe where he died.
{E2 DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY}
Table of Sources:
- Apollod. Bibl. 2, 1, 4
- schol. on Hom. Il. 1, 42
- Hyg. Fab. 170
- Paus. 7, 21, 6