 Pausanias writes that Nycteus waged war on Epopeus, but in battle was wounded, and died after being carried back to Thebes, appointing Lycus as regent for Labdacus.Nycteus urged Lycus to continue to attack Epopeus, and to retake and punish Antiope.Epopeus died of a wound just as Nycteus did, and his heir Lamedon gave Antiope up freely to avoid war.